The Japanese take their washi seriously and Itoya‘s flagship store is situated in fashionable Ginza, alongside high-end fashion brands, department stores and Tiffany’s! Newly refurbished, there are now twenty floors split over two buildings where handmade papers, stationery and supplies for art, calligraphy, origami and more are all laid out in beautiful displays.
The main attraction is the gorgeous handmade washi and chiyogami papers, which are displayed in racks on the walls, in drawers and displayed in glass cabinets. With all the colours and patterns you could ever want, the only difficulty is making a choice. Whatever you choose, it will all be expertly rolled by the sales people – my paper made it back to the UK in perfect condition. If you can’t decide, they also sell a big range of mixed paper packs. You can also use the Wrapping Stylist to have your gifts wrapped traditionally and perfectly.
I would recommend Itoya to everyone as there are so many pretty and useful things to look at. As well as stationery and paper, you’ll find travel goods, office decor, homeware and pretty souvenirs like fans and furoshiki. If you need a break, you can stop off at the juice bar or top floor cafe.
[Photo by sundaebest]
How to get there
The main Itoya store is in Ginza between the Ginza and Higashi-Ginza subway stations. Check the website for an English floor guide. There are other branches throughout Tokyo and Japan, but some will just be small franchises so make the trip to the main store if you can.
Last updated: 25 August 2016