Asakusa – Bengara

You can’t walk around Japan without seeing the beautiful noren hanging in the doorways of shops and restaurants, but what if you wanted a unique one to take home as a souvenir? The ability to custom order a noren combined with a friendly owner who can communicate fairly well in English makes Bengara the place…

Nippori Fabric Town

For those with crafty leanings, Nippori Fabric Town is a neighborhood of northern Tokyo populated by over 100 shops selling all sorts of fabrics, ribbons and buttons and as well as over a dozen shops specializing in leather. Fabrics ranging from simple cotton to silk, from plain and printless to elaborate Japanese traditional designs are…

のれん Noren

The Some No Komichi, or Fabric Dyeing Festival is held annually in the neighborhood of Nakai, just north of Shinjuku. Nakai’s history dates back centuries when it was the center for production of cloth used to make kimono and other traditional Japanese crafts. During the festival (the last weekend in February or first in March),…