Neighbourhood Guide: Nakameguro

While Ginza is tops for luxury shopping, those in search of an edgier, underground vibe should hotfoot it to Nakameguro. Here’s a walking guide through our favourite boho nabe.

Like the canal that runs through it, you should start your meander at epic bibliophile bolthole Tsutaya Books, tucked under the tracks of Nakameguro station. Three spaces look after your 'lifestyle', ‘inspiration', and 'events' needs with a drool-worthy selection of global tomes and mags, plus there’s a loungey cafe to peruse your potential purchases.

Scoot out left, towards the canal (gathering all your willpower to waft past the yum ramen at Afuri), and hop over the canal bridge. Dip left at the barber – note rowdy, sceney izakaya Otaru for laters – keeping the canal on your left, and voila: Vase. Set in an old manse, this impeccably curated boutique stocks both rare vintage and avant-garde designer togs for him and her. Now scamper down the small lane, just before Vase, for more retro girly covetables at Tokyo Lampoon.

At the end of the lane you’ll spot a grey building to the left, home to minimalist lifestyle hub 1LDK Apartments. Browse so-now clothing for men and women, a trendoid selection of homewares, and thoughtfully curated art books, before kicking back in the buzzy pancake cafe.

Exit left and flounce back to the canal, then swipe right and continue along the nearside bank until you reach Kobayashi Setsumasa’s streetwear label General Research, while just next door is quirksome Cow Books, a library of out-of-print titles, with a focus on 1960-70s social movements and progressive politics, as well as first editions of forgotten modern authors.

At the next bridge, cross over and strut right on the canal path, with the water on your left. Gals can swish into Kapuki for an exquisitely hand-sewn, screen-printed, next-gen kimono, while guys should mooch along to Vendor (look for the neon ‘V’ sign), shelving a wallet-wilting selection of sneaks, man-bags and urban threads.

Champion Shopper! Now skip back to the station where Baird Beer Taproom beckons with salty, moreish, meaty yakitori and ice-cold seasonal craft brews – kanpai!

Tsutaya Books / 1-22 Kamimeguro / +81 3 3711 1333 / 7am-midnight daily / real.tsite.jp

Vase / 1-7-7 Kamimeguro / +81 3 5458 0337 / noon-8pm daily / vasenakameguro.com

Tokyo Lampoon / 1-7-6 Kamimeguro / +81 3 3780 0076 / 1-8pm daily / lampoonereva.jp

1LDK Apartments / 1-7-13 Kamimeguro / +81 3 5728 7140 / noon-8pm daily / 1ldkshop.com

General Research / 1-14-11 Aobadai / +81 3 3463 6376 / noon-8pm daily / sett.co.jp

Cow Books / 1-14-11 Aobadai / +81 3 5459 1747 / 1-9pm Tue-Sat / cowbooks.jp

Kapuki / 1-25-3 Aobadai / +81 3 5724 3779 / noon-7pm Mon-Tue & Thu-Sun / kapuki.jp

Vendor / 1-23-14 Aobadai / +81 3 6452 3072 / noon-8pm daily / vendor.co.jp

Baird Beer Taproom / 2/F / GT Plaza Building / Kamimeguro / +81 3 5768 3025 / 5pm-midnight Mon-Fri, noon-midnight Sat-Sun / bairdbeer.com