Tokyu Hands is a popular department store chain that escapes easy definition. It calls itself a “hint market” and specializes in everything from plumbing supplies and interior goods to character merchandise and stationery, with an emphasis on home improvement and hands-on projects (hence the name). Because it has a bit of everything, Tokyu Hands has appealed to Japanese and foreign shoppers following its founding in 1976.
Tokyu Hands can be accessed from Takashimaya Department Store and the Shinjuku Southern Terrace boardwalk
There’s a large outlet of six floors in the Takashimaya Times Square Building on the south side of Shinjuku Station. It begins on the second floor, and there’s an entrance on the elevated Shinjuku Southern Terrace boardwalk.
Picnic sets are one example of the many outdoor goods at Tokyu Hands
On the second floor, there are travel accessories and suitcases as well as wallets, umbrellas and rain gear. Healthcare and beauty products are one floor up.
Sugimoto carbon steel knives are used at Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market
Kitchen and bath goods are on the fourth floor, where you’ll find a number of interesting Japanese products including high-quality carbon-steel and stainless steel kitchen knives.
The fourth floor also has ceramic cups with traditional designs and wooden boxes featuring calligraphy that are sold as sets
Nearby are traditional masu nested cypress boxes, which can be used for drinking sake or as storage containers
Past the interior products on the fifth floor, the sixth floor has a plethora of hardware, gardening and electrical supplies. This is also where you can find Japanese earthquake survival kits, which can be very handy in the event of a disaster.
Earthquake survival kits, like this 28-piece set for 12,000 yen, are a must for many Tokyo residents
The seventh floor stocks games, toys and character goods, both foreign and domestic. There are Star Wars Lego figurines as well as stuffed animals and puzzle sets based on Totoro and other characters from anime powerhouse Studio Ghibli. There are also hobby, craft and party goods.
Stuffed toys inspired by the Studio Ghibli anime “My Neighbor Totoro”
The eighth and uppermost floor of Tokyu Hands is stocked with agendas, notebooks and other stationery including goods featuring manga and anime characters such as Crayon Shin-chan.
Crayon Shin-chan is the mischievous main character in manga by Yoshito Usui
Article by Tim Hornyak. All rights reserved.
