Nippori: Visit Tokyo Craft Central

One of my FAVORITE parts of Tokyo is Nippori. If you like to craft, it is a fun area to hang out in. I’ve written about some of my craft finds before but I’m going to go into a little more detail here about three of my favorites, On Travelling, La Musee, and Tomato for fabric.

On Travelling – craft supplies

On Travelling is a funky little notions shop tucked off the main road of the area (Nippori Chuo Dori), just down from La Musee. They sell patches, beads, trims, ribbons, and buttons of the most outlandish variety. The shop is full of colorful, bright bits and bobs to make just about anything you want. I spent half an hour on the first floor just looking the last time I visited, totally forgetting they had TWO floors!! The really gems and special materials are upstairs – they have the more sophisticated looking bits and bobs up there. You can see one item I bought on my first visit in the image below. A pink cabochon with a skull and cross bones.

This skeleton cameo is also from the shop:

the front of On travelling craft supplies building

Not sure what drew me in the first time, but the paper signs in the second floor window are really charming and let you know this place is definitely for DIY.

La Musee – Buttons and Beads

This tiny little shop is PACKED with all sorts of buttons and small jewelry notions. I bought buttons and earring posts on my first visit there. You will almost miss La Musee if you don’t know what to look for. They have both vintage buttons and new stock. I like the store stock quite a bit and make sure stop here every time I am in Nippori. Whoever makes the selections for sale has great taste.

la musee nippori crafts

The store is closer to Nippori Chuo Dori than On Travelling. I dug into my OLD Instagram posts and found a picture I took of my first purchases at La Musee (eek… ~4 years ago). I’m clearly a hoarder because I have only used one set of the earring posts.

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#buttons and earrings

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They have signs all over that say “no photos” but I couldn’t help but sneak ONE in… These are some lovely metallic buttons.

Tomato

I could make Tomato it’s own post but the store is one of my favorite stores. Well, multiple stores. They have several stores scattered down the main street in Nippori. Each store specializes in something different but the selection in each one is fantastic.

There are two main locations, one has 2 floors and has some of the higher end fabrics from local designers, the other is a 4+ floor giant that has something for everyone but mainly home and clothing fabrics. I usually spend my time in the larger of the two. It is packed will all sorts of fabrics – the first floor has really interesting prints from Japanese print houses. Higher floors have quilting, foreign designers and a wide variety of dress fabrics & notions. Each floor is connected by a skinny stair well and packed tightly with fabric. You will need to pay on each floor – they used to be cash only but the seemed to take credit cards on my last visit. Here is a display for American design team of Cotton + Steel:

Tomato Cotton and Steel in Nippori

My favorite purchase from the last visit is this novelty print of the Power Puff Girls:

Nippori Craft - Power Puff Girls

Their logo is a little sewing tomato pin cushion, so look for these around Nippori:

Have you been to Nippori? What is your favorite store?

UPDATED 8-28-19 to add more about OnTravelling