This tree-lined avenue is the venue of Haute Couturiers - big names like Paul Stewart and Hanae Mori work side by side with street vendors selling Mexican silver and hand-painted porcelain. European-style cafes with French names populate the area, and cater to the wealthy clientele. This area is where the rich and beautiful walk their expensive, designer dogs. In short, Omotesando has often drawn comparison with the Parisian street of Champs-Élysées and strolling through this lush avenue, you will find that it is not an exaggeration.
This store, located in the Ginza district, is truly a heaven for shopaholics. Wako was established in 1881 and was originally a watch and jewelry shop. Now considered the oldest and most prestigious design store in the city, Wako has exclusive watches, jewelry, handbags, porcelain and dishware. The store also has a wide clothing collection for men and women. You can find the store's branches in Hiroo, Minato and Haneda Airport as well. Situated within an old-fashioned building with a clock tower, the store is something else to behold at night, with fancy lights drawing attention to it.
In Tokyo, a city that launched a thousand thoughtfully designed luxury stores, you could be assured that Armani was not to be outdone. The Armani Ginza Tower, home of the Armani / Ristorante, the stunning Armani / Spa along with a complete collection of Armani clothing, is both a retail and architectural triumph. The building itself is particularly dazzling at nighttime, festooned with lights and with structural supports that mimic bamboo stalks.
With top luxury brands like Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, and Azzedine Alaia, 10 Corso Como is at the top of any fashionista's list. It's the brainchild of Comme Des Garcons designer, Rei Kawakubo and Carla Sozzini, the owner of the 10 Corso Como stores in Milan. Milan and Seoul are the only other cities where you will find a 10 Corso Como branch. The shop is a concept store that brings together everything from design, architecture and culture. A must-visit, the store is bound to leave you impressed.
One Omotesando is a striking building, in a fantastic position on the so-called 'Super Brand Street'. Designed by Kengo Kuma and his associates, it is owned by Bernard Arnault, whose designer stables houses the likes of Donna Karan and Fendi. One Omotesando is seven floors of luxury clothing for men and women; the building was designed by famous architect, Kengo Kuma, to showcase eye-catching window displays and a palpable sense of luxury. The building also houses the headquarters of Louis Vuitton Japan.
When Louis Vuitton Omotesando was opened in 2003, it was the biggest of any of the luxury retailer's stores worldwide. This was in part due to the Japanese love for the brand; the ubiquitous logo is everywhere to be seen in Tokyo. The store is a staggering ten stories high and it was designed to visually simulate a stack of traditional Louis Vuitton trunks. As you would expect in a store of this scope, it stocks the entire Louis Vuitton range and is a definite port-of-call for any fans of the designer.