LOOKING GOOD
In store


Globe Specs
The newly opened Globe Specs in Daikanyama Address may be the most stylish eyeglass store in Tokyo. The small but chic store sports an Bang & Olafsen stereo on the wall, and a state of the art Macintosh with a super sleek monitor plays cash register. This eyewear store even boasts a museum-quality collection of old frames, eyeglass cases and optometry equipment encased in glass, some from the 19th century. Owner Tetsuya Okada is the brainchild behind the operation, who worked in New York before returning to Tokyo to open up his chic shop, first in Shibuya and last month . Globe Specs carries an impressive array of designer frames such as LA' Sama, The American Spectacle (old 1930s and 40s gold and white gold frames fitted out with stylish pastel lenses), Hartmann Wien, Robert Marc, Morucci and more. Such a haute selection of eye wear attracts John Lennon look alike fashion stylist to. The service is impeccable. Okada gives the eye examines that are so thorough, they last half an hour. And if your Japanese is at pidgin level, it's no problem.
Andos Bldg 3B, 1-7-5 Jinnan, Shibuya, 03-54598386; 17/dizsept. 3F, 17-6 Daikanyamacho, Shibuya, 03-5459-3645.


The TinTin Shop
TinTin fanatics both young and old head to Harajuku to a world filled with HergEs hero. Step inside the stylish little store to find an impressive range of goods featuring perennial favorites from the classic comics. The original stories are available in languages from the five continents the boy explorer ranged over. Snuggle up to read them in TinTin pajamas, sweatshirts, brew tea in a TinTin and Snowy teapot or pick up a Thompson Twins (yes, that's where the 80s' pop group got their name from) key chain. Owner Yoshio Kanno makes regular trips to Belgium to keep up to date with developments in the diminutive country's most famous export.
1-9-12 Jingumae, 03-5474-2781



Zakkaya
Tucked away in the back streets of Kichijoji is this charming little retro sweet store that is overflowing with fun. Pick up a basket on the way in and pop in handfuls of the old-fashioned rice cakes, traditional sweets and novelties. The mini-bento filled with sugar sushi makes a great gift or if you feel like torturing your friends pick up some of the dried eel chews or Kakko I-Ka squid-on-a-stick. Also this is one of the few places left to stock the classic unchinkun lollipops. Traditional fish-shaped paper balloons are stacked up against plastic frogs, sets of fake train tickets (complete with the ticket puncher) and a plastic smoking monkey. The cozy interior, designed to look like a barn, gets crowded with kids of all ages, so squeeze in and pick up some treats. You'll be amazed at what you find.
Zakkaya, Nakamichi-dori, Kichijoji