TODD SELBY'S TOKYO GUIDE 45 places, by neighborhood.
AOYAMA / OMOTESANDO / JINGUMAE
Graphpaper AOYAMA — Concrete box, hidden rails, quietly perfect Japanese basics. https://www.instagram.com/graphpaper_aoyama/
AURALEE TOKYO — Basement flagship for the softest wool and cotton in Tokyo. https://www.instagram.com/auralee_tokyo/
KAPTAIN SUNSHINE Flagship — First flagship, CASE-REAL interior, courtyard off the selling floor. https://www.instagram.com/kaptainsunshine/
Momofuku (百福) — Small gallery shop of contemporary potters, rotating solo shows. https://www.instagram.com/utsuwa_momofuku/
at Kiln AOYAMA — Artist-made vessels downstairs, working pottery studio upstairs. https://www.instagram.com/atkiln/
VINTAGE QOO TOKYO — Two floors of vintage Hermès and Chanel under chandeliers. https://www.instagram.com/vintageqoo/
CIBONE — Design and craft under GYRE, always a show running. https://www.instagram.com/cibone_tokyo/
SunnyHills — Kengo Kuma timber lattice, free pineapple cake and tea.
Brown Rice by Neal's Yard — Macrobiotic plates in a dark wood room.
Chao! bamboo — Thai and Vietnamese street food, open front, always packed. https://www.instagram.com/chaobamboo_group/
Onden Ippo — Goto island fish, Saiki himono, serious sake list.
AFURI Harajuku — Yuzu shio, cash-free, plus a genuinely good vegan bowl. https://www.instagram.com/afuri_fineramen/
SHIBUYA / SENDAGAYA / YOYOGI / SHIMOKITAZAWA
#FFFFFFT, Sendagaya — White T-shirts only. Weekends only. He fits you himself. https://www.instagram.com/fffffft_sendagaya/
Chatei Hatou, Shibuya — Hand drip in near silence, chiffon cake, cups everywhere.
MERI PRINCIPESSA, Maruyamacho — Pizza and pasta under a dried palm canopy, warm welcome.
Starbucks Shibuya Tsutaya, 2F — Window seats over the crossing. Go behind the trash cans.
Sunday Bake Shop, Hatagaya — British cakes and scones, open three days a week. https://www.instagram.com/sunday_bake_shop/
Little Nap Coffee Stand, Yoyogi — Wedge of a room by the tracks, park across the street.
Bear Pond Espresso, Shimokitazawa — Angel Stain before one o'clock, no photos inside. https://www.instagram.com/angelstain/
AZABU / ROPPONGI / AZABUDAI
Nodaiwa Azabu Iikura Honten, Higashi-Azabu — Edo-era eel house, shirayaki, tatami rooms near Tokyo Tower. https://www.instagram.com/azabu_nodaiwa/
SAVOY, Azabu-Juban — Margherita and marinara, wood fire, counter seats only. https://www.instagram.com/savoyazabujuban/
Pizza Strada, Azabu-Juban — Wood-fired Neapolitan, takes reservations, easy with kids. https://www.instagram.com/pizzastrada10/
Roppongi FUKUZUSHI — Family run since 1917, quiet counter, reservations only. https://www.instagram.com/roppongifukuzushi/
L'ecrin Boutique Tokyo, Nishi-Azabu — Hermès specialist behind a herringbone glass facade. https://www.instagram.com/lecrin_boutique_tokyo_intl/
Taka Ishii Gallery, Roppongi — Photography-rooted program, Moriyama and Araki among the artists. https://www.instagram.com/takaishiigallery/
HARBS Roppongi Hills — Six-layer mille crepe, cut the size of a doorstop.
MIO HARUTAKA Tokyo, Azabudai — Nature-motif fine jewelry in a room by Sugimoto's design lab. https://www.instagram.com/mioharutaka/
ÉCHIRÉ L'Atelier du Beurre, Azabudai — Butter atelier, truffle macarons, croissants, expect a line.
ALCHEMY, Azabudai — Bali plant-based kitchen, salad bar, terrace above the plaza. https://www.instagram.com/alchemy.japan/
GINZA / KYOBASHI / NIHONBASHI / NINGYOCHO
Tsukiji Sushi Iwa, Ginza Mitsukoshi B2 — Nigiri handed across the case in the depachika corner.
Café de L'Ambre, Ginza — Aged beans and nel drip, unchanged since 1948.
CREATIVE MUSEUM TOKYO, Kyobashi — New museum in the Toda Building, four shows yearly. https://www.instagram.com/creative_museum_tokyo/
Tsujihan, Nihonbashi — Tuna bowl finished with sea bream broth. Expect lines.
Iwai Tsuzuraten, Ningyocho — Last Edo tsuzura maker, bamboo boxes under lacquered paper.
ASAKUSA / KURAMAE / TORIGOE / RYOGOKU / MINAMI-SENJU
MARUZEN Tea Roastery, Asakusa — Matcha whisked to order, gelato graded by roast temperature. https://www.instagram.com/matcha_asakusa_maruzen/
Kakimori, Misuji — Order a notebook, choose cover, paper and rings. https://www.instagram.com/kakimori_tokyoshop/
inkstand by Kakimori, Misuji — Blend your own ink at the counter, reserve ahead. https://www.instagram.com/kakimori_tokyoshop/
SyuRo, Torigoe — Tin canisters and daily tools inside an old warehouse. https://www.instagram.com/syuro_tokyo/
YUWAERU Main Store, Kuramae — Aged brown rice set lunches, line out the door. https://www.instagram.com/yuwaeru_honten/
Kazuya Rice Flour Bread Cafe, Ryogoku — Gluten free rice flour bakery, neighborhood prices, tiny room. https://www.instagram.com/pancafe.kazuya/
1basketry, Minami-Senju — Handwoven bamboo, vine and straw baskets since 1907. https://www.instagram.com/1basketry/
SHIROKANEDAI
AMAHARE — Craft tableware, glass and lacquer, arranged like a gallery. https://www.instagram.com/amahare/
SUGAMO
FRENCH POUND HOUSE — Strawberry shortcake worth the trip north. Cash only. https://www.instagram.com/french_pound_house/
NAKANO
BETTYROAD — Women's vintage watches, the deepest cases in Nakano Broadway. https://www.instagram.com/bettyroad/
HANEDA AIRPORT
Hakuhinkan Racing Park, Terminal 3 — Forty-five metre slot car circuit inside a toy shop.
BEFORE YOU GO #FFFFFFT is Saturday and Sunday only. 1basketry is Thursday to Saturday plus one Sunday a month. Bear Pond doesn't allow photos inside. French Pound House and Chatei Hatou are cash only.