There’s a department store in Japan called Tokyu Hands which started out as a hobbies and crafts store, but now it has something for anyone who likes doing creative things. In the Shibuya neighborhood of Tokyo, the Tokyu Hands store has the most amazing cycling section I’ve ever seen. Next to a display case of Dura Ace 7800, they have a shelf full of anodized track handlebars, racks of leather toe straps, bags of powdercoated spokes. This is a store that also has everything from calligraphy to model trains. You could easily kill 2 hrs shopping here and still miss a floor of interesting things.
Thanks for the tip. In addition to the branch in Shibuya, they have a newer, bigger branch in the Takashimaya Times Square department store. Tokyu Hands also a great place to pick up gifts if you’re a foreigner visiting Japan - very cool stationery, housewares, tools, sporting goods, models, toys….
Yeah, the one in Shinjuku is pretty cool, and possibly larger, but I don’t know if their cycling section is as sweet as the Shibuya one. I went to both in November, but I didn’t make it to the cycling section at Shinjuku before closing time. I’m serious when I say you can lose track of time shopping there. If you are visiting Tokyo, it’s easier to get to the Shinjuku store in Takashimaya department store because it’s really close to the station.
I just read this about Tokyu Hands in Wikipedia:
Nekobukuro, or “Cat’s House” is part of the Ikebukuro Tokyu Hands store, located on the eighth floor. For the price of admission (¥600 per person, or ¥1,000 for a couple as of April 1, 2007), customers can interact and play with the 20 or so cats running free around Nekobukuro at any given time.
I spent four years living in Tokyo when I was a kid. We lived near Shibuya (just over the hill in Meguro), and I used to spend a lot of time looking through Tokyu Hands. Great store, good to hear it’s still going strong!
Great Bike Porn! I have to check it out when I go to Tokyo…..
Shibuya’s Tokyu Hands upgraded its bike department since I was last there in 2007. I don’t remember Colnagos hanging on the wall back then. Too bad that you didn’t get to the Shinjuku store’s bike department, as I’d love to know if they’d done the same.