Gina Anderson

Tired of that IKEA sameness or the far-from-sturdy furniture from Nitori? Head to Meguro-dori Avenue, a large boulevard near Meguro Station. The area has Tokyo's best collection of vintage and contemporary furniture stores. Many furniture stores are pricey, but even if they’re above your budget, Meguro-dori is a great place for a stroll or just to find some design inspiration. Getting to Meguro-dori To get to the shopping area colloquially known as "Interior-dori" on Meguro-dori from Meguro Station, arriving on the Namboku line, the Mita line, or the Tōkyū Meguro Line, and take a left out of the main exit. Arriving via the JR Yamanote Line, take a right out of the west exit and cross the street towards Palette Plaza. Head downhill, in the direction of traffic, on a street where you’ll see St. Marc Café on the right and Big Echo/Pikaso (a mini Don Quijote) on the left. After about a 10-minute walk, you’ll see a temple on the right; the strip of furniture stores starts here—on the left—with Acme and Karf. There are furniture shops and boutiques on both sides of the street up until Claska Hotel. Alternatively, you could start from Claska, which is a 10-minute walk from Gakugei-daigaku Station (Tokyu-Toyoko line). It’s 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles) from one end of the strip to the other—about a 15- to 20-minute walk without stopping. Furniture and Antique Shops Here are our top picks, starting from Meguro Station and walking towards Claska Hotel. Right/left indicates side of the street. Be aware that many stores in the area are closed on Wednesdays and some are also closed on Tuesdays. Acme Furniture (right side) Acme features American vintage items and custom vintage-inspired furniture. The three-story space has a wide range of furniture and decorative items. Karf (right) Karf offers beautiful custom contemporary furniture, with a minimalistic style. Some ceramics and household goods are also for sale. COLT (right) COLT is located right across the road from the Parasitological Museum (below). Look out for the red awning. COLT carries vintage furniture and interesting accessories like vintage travel pamphlets and maps, as well as old Polaroid cameras. Lewis (right) Lewis sells Scandinavian furniture and interior items, mostly from the 1960s and 1970s. The two-room store is homey and features mainly wooden furniture with simple designs. Point No. 38 (left) Point No. 38 and its sister store Point No 39 are lighting stores; however, they also sell an eclectic mix of antique and vintage furniture and decorative items. Light bulbs and parts are on sale to construct your own lamp, including Edison bulbs. Kakinokizaka Takumi (left) Kakinokizaka Takumi features furniture made with wood from Asahikawa, in Hokkaido. The style is contemporary and some items are whimsical—like animal, or mushroom-inspired stools. Article Antique & Curiosity (right) Article sells an assorted collection of vintage decorative items and furniture, primarily imported from Europe. Contemporary vintage-style sound systems are on offer as well as some custom-order furniture. Brunch (left, on side street) Situated a block off Meguro-dori, Nordic-inspired Brunch offers primarily wooden furniture, with sleek, clean lines. Most items are custom order and the collection spreads across four floors. Point No. 39 (left) Point No. 39 features lighting, antique and vintage furniture and decorative items, as well as vintage bikes. Honorable mention: Aston Garret Room A sister store of Point No. 38 and Point No. 39, Aston Garret Room (previously Chambre de Nîmes) offers antique and vintage furniture, lighting and decorative items. The store used to be located on Meguro Dori, but now it is located a few blocks to the north. Other interesting boutiques, cafes, and attractions on Meguro Dori Furniture and interior shopping is great, but you also need sustenance and distraction. Luckily, Meguro dori has plenty of that too. Gekko Record (left) Gekko boasts an impressive collection of records (average price ) and reasonably priced secondhand items, including guitars, clothing, and housewares. Hara Donuts (left) Hara Donuts is a good option for a pit stop, offering tasty donuts (average ) and drinks (around ). A cafe space is available on the second floor, with bathrooms and water. Meguro Parasitological Museum (left) An unusual museum, dedicated to parasites. The small two-story space is free. You can read more here. Good Morning Tokyo (right) Good Morning Tokyo or GMT sells handmade granola. GMT was started by a long-term American resident in Japan, after losing weight by eating muesli. You can ask for samples! Geographica (right) Geographica specializes in antiques, and offers an impressive four-story collection. The second floor has an Italian-themed cafe/restaurant offering meals, desserts and drinks. Freddy Leck sein Waschsalon (right) A unique concept, this laundromat and dry cleaner has a cafe space, free wifi and sells household products. Claska Hotel (right) Claska boasts a cafe/restaurant, a shop, and roof deck with great views. The cafe/restaurant serves French-inspired modern cuisine, and the shop sells a range of clothing and housewares. Factory & Labo Kanno Coffee (right) If you’re a coffee aficionado, you may want to walk just past Claska to Kanno Coffee, which offers premium hand-drip coffee in an industrial design-style space. A limited selection of sandwiches and snacks are on offer. This article was originally published on July 4, 2019 and was updated on December 14th, 2021.

Gina Anderson

The Meguro-Dori Furniture Shopping Guide

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