Here are some of the places I found in Japan as well as links to other people's blogs, websites and information. Please feel free to let me know of other places to find fabric or craft materials in Tokyo.
Click on the blue heading to get more information on how to get to the place mentioned. Please research and write down the station exit for Tokyo stations. If you get out of the wrong exit at Shinjuku you may never find the shop you are looking for.
A shop which sells calligraphy brushes and pigments. Its worth a visit just to see the display.
Tokyo Monorail 'Tennoza Isle Station'. very easy to find from the station.
Blue and White Shop.
Azabu Juban.
Bunka Womens University Textile Museum
Closed Sundays and public holidays
Instructions and map on the website.
Shinjuku Station South Exit. Turn right, walk about 5 minutes, museum is on the other side of the road.If possible check that its open before you go there as it is closed when they are changing over the exhibitions.
Click on the blue heading to get more information on how to get to the place mentioned. Please research and write down the station exit for Tokyo stations. If you get out of the wrong exit at Shinjuku you may never find the shop you are looking for.
Tokyo
Oedo Antique Market
This is a great market for finding old textiles. First and third Sunday of each month. 10-4pm.
The Oedo Antique Market takes place outside the Tokyo International Forum which is right next to Yurakucho Station on the JR Yamanote line. Note that there will be no market in the case of rain. I found there were quite a few boro textiles for sale when I visited.
Oi Racecourse Flea Market- Catch the Tokyo Monorail (Haneda airport line) and get off at Oi Keibajo-mae station. This flea market is massive and is on most saturdays ad Sundays but is cancelled if there is another event on. Please check the website before going. There were lots of kimono for about NZ$3 last time I went there. I also bought a roll of kimono fabric for about $10.
PigmentA shop which sells calligraphy brushes and pigments. Its worth a visit just to see the display.
Tokyo Monorail 'Tennoza Isle Station'. very easy to find from the station.
Blue and White Shop.
Azabu Juban.
Bunka Womens University Textile Museum
Closed Sundays and public holidays
Instructions and map on the website.
Shinjuku Station South Exit. Turn right, walk about 5 minutes, museum is on the other side of the road.If possible check that its open before you go there as it is closed when they are changing over the exhibitions.
Bunka Fashion School
Click for info. In the basement of the fashion school is a big shop full of everything you might need for sewing or pattern drafting as well as stationery, books, buttons etc.
Nuno Corporation
Lovely fabrics and books. Fairly easy to find
Echizenya
Echizenya is a Wool and thread shop located at 1 Chome-1-6 Kyobashi, 1 Chome Kyobashi, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0031, JP.
It's at street level of the Echizen building (looks like an office building but you'll see the display in the window.) http://www.echizen-ya.co.jp/
Directions:
From Tokyo Station walk to the Yaesu Central basement passageway. Follow the pdf map here of the underground shopping passage, go to Exit 24 for Kyobashi (the very top right on the map) Go up the stairs to street level. The store is right on the corner outside the exit. Print this map & take it with you. http://www.yaechika.com/map/map.pdf
Hobbyra Hobbyre - There are many Hobbyra Hobbyre shops across Japan, and often they are in department stores. The Keio Department store in Shinjuku has a small store on the 6th floor.
Sells Sashiko panels and very nice multicoloured sashiko thread.
Check out Floating World blog for instructions on how to get there.
Check out the store called Tomato for multi storey fabric shopping. 10-6pm. Closed sundays.
This is a craft/hobby/textile shop a bit like Spotlight in New Zealand and Australia.
Shops in Kamata, Kichijoji, Yokohama and more, click on link to see a list.
Shops in Kamata, Kichijoji, Yokohama and more, click on link to see a list.
The shop in Kanata is the biggest but there is also a store in Ikebukuro.
Hands
Tokyu Hands used to be a great place to get all sorts of craft supplies but it is now called Hands and it is most useful for stationery, luggage and beauty products. However the large store in Shinjuku does have a good woodworking section and a smaller sewing section. There are branches of Hands in cities across Japan.
Hands
Tokyu Hands used to be a great place to get all sorts of craft supplies but it is now called Hands and it is most useful for stationery, luggage and beauty products. However the large store in Shinjuku does have a good woodworking section and a smaller sewing section. There are branches of Hands in cities across Japan.
Okadaya - shinjuku
Kinokuniya Bookstore
Has a good range of English books, craft books in Japanese and English as well as calenders and magazines. The best one I found was in Shinjuku but there are other stores in cities across Japan.
Kinokuniya Bookstore
Has a good range of English books, craft books in Japanese and English as well as calenders and magazines. The best one I found was in Shinjuku but there are other stores in cities across Japan.
Maruzen
This chain of bookshops usually has a good handicraft book section (all in Japanese but the diagrams are easy to follow for sashiko and patchwork). Handicraft books are usually near the cooking section if you have trouble locating them!
For other fabric shopping ideas
For other fabric shopping ideas
https://www.seamwork.com/articles/the-seamworkers-guide-to-tokyo
https://ofcottonandwool.com/2024/04/01/a-crafters-guide-to-tokyo/
https://ofcottonandwool.com/2024/04/01/a-crafters-guide-to-tokyo/
Yokohama
World Quilt Festival : Yokohama
Held in mid November at PACIFICO , Minatomirai, Yokohama.
Quilt exhibitions from Japan and invited exhibitions from around the world.
There are also merchants selling fabric, sewing machines, thread etc.
Kawagoe
Kawagoe is small town north of Tokyo which is a great day trip from Tokyo (although a bit of a walk from the station) and has some nice old shops, a good museum, a lot of second hand clothing shops and a sashiko shop. The sashiko shop is hard to find as it often has canvas awnings down to prevent glare. It is located about halfway down Taisho Roman street. I've been there several times but still find it hard to locate so always end up going to see the friendly ladies at Tourist Information in the older part of town.
Kamakura
Kamakura is another good day trip from Tokyo but avoid weekends as it was extremely busy even on a weekday. There are lots of things to do in Kamakura.
Swany is a fabric shop with 4 floors of quilting fabric, stretch fabric, notions etc. There is a little sitting area next door to park the non stitching friends. Nearest station is JR Kamakura.
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