Neighbourhood Watch: How to Spend a Day in Aoyama, Tokyo
Aoyama is a charming neighbourhood located just a 15-minute stroll away from Tokyo’s trendy Harajuku district. With an outwardly luxurious vibe, Aoyama is home to many high-end fashion boutiques and showrooms, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find a Tokyo neighbourhood full of lesser-known corners, cultural hubs and fine cuisine. The Taro Okamoto Museum and Nezu Museum explore the eclectic local and refined international art scenes respectively, and long-standing restaurants such as Miyakawa Tempura cook traditional Japanese cuisine to satisfy any connoisseur. Spend your day visiting the following Aoyama staples and you’ll understand what makes it one of my favourite neighbourhoods in Tokyo.
Nezu Museum
Designed by Kengo Kuma, this museum is home to an impressive collection of pre-modern art from Japan, China and East Asia - close to 7,000 pieces. The garden is also a highlight: its winding paths are ideal for a post-exhibition wander, and reason alone to add Nezu Museum to your next Japan itinerary. The Nezu Cafe makes a great spot to stop for lunch, and to sip a green tea while overlooking the garden.
Pro tip: The museum is closed on Mondays and it’s advised to book ahead to avoid disappointment.
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Miyakawa Tempura
Cross the road and you’ll find Miyakawa Tempura - a tempura shop that specialises in Kansai-style offerings. Chef Isao Kanemasa has been at Miyagawa for 50 years and is evidently a master of his craft. Kanemasa lightly batters prawns, seafood and locally sourced seasonal vegetables with precision, delivering them straight to the plates of waiting diners. It’s as much an experience of taste as it is a visual one. Expect to pay ¥2,000-¥3,000 for lunch and between ¥6,000 to ¥8,000 for dinner.
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Taro Okamoto Museum
In the midst of upscale boutiques, it's easy to forget smaller museums that dot the streets of Aoyama, and the residence and studio of Taro Okamoto is one such place. Hidden in the back streets of Minamiaoyama, the residence of the late Taro Okamoto is now home to a museum which sheds light on the renowned Japanese artist’s works. A master of contemporary art, expect to find an eclectic mix of avant-garde paintings, abstract statues, a lifesize model of the artist, and a screening room showing a documentary of Okamaoto’s life.
Pro tip: Visiting Osaka? The famed ‘Tower of the Sun’ statue was made by Taro Okamoto.
Auralee
Ryota Iwai, the founder of Auralee, combines high-quality fabrics with clean and minimalist silhouettes. You’ll find them at the flagship, where open spaces and contrasting textures of concrete, fabric, and wood provide the backdrop to seasonal collections. This next-generation brand focuses on high-quality material choices with inspiration ranging from modern to vintage across the collections. The shop simply displays its garments: women’s on the left, men’s on the right.
Prada Aoyama
Walking down Aoyama’s main boulevard, you will see many high-end architecturally designed stores, but none quite as iconic or eye-catching as Prada Aoyama. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, the building’s structure, space and facade form a single self-supporting unit; a crystal form that leads visitors upwards. The curved glass of the building acts like an optical illusion for visitors, blending the boundaries of merchandise and city.
Interested in art and architecture from around Japan? Here are 10 of the best places to visit.
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Blamink
The brand’s Bauhaus-inspired flagship features the Blamink design team’s refined men’s and womenswear collections. It’s big, bold, and enticing. Three black-lined floor-to-ceiling windows flank the face of Blamink’s upper floors, bathing the clothing in sunlight and giving the store a high level of curb appeal for prospective shoppers. Inside you’ll find clean lines that complement the brand’s luxurious wares while offering a pleasant experience to patrons.
Looking for somewhere to stay? Here’s a list of my favourite hotels in Aoyama.
Getting Around
Sandwiched between Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Roppongi, Aoyama is right in the heart of the action and easy to add to your intermediate Japan itinerary during your next visit to Tokyo. Just a few minutes walk from Harajuku station, served by the Yamanote Line, it’s easy to explore nearby Tokyo neighbourhoods on foot. With so many stations in close proximity, there’s little reason to grab a taxi or rent a bicycle but if you are looking to explore on two wheels, Yoyogi Park (a few minutes walk from Aoyama) offers bike rental for ¥100.
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