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Tokyo Denim Shopping Guide

LJ

— 6 min read
Tokyo Denim Shopping Guide

Tokyo stands as a premier destination for denim enthusiasts seeking the pinnacle of Japanese craftsmanship. While the roots of Japanese denim are deeply embedded in the textile-rich prefecture of Okayama, Tokyo is the ultimate showcase, bringing together the most revered domestic brands and a diverse range of specialized boutiques.

The city's fashion districts, from the heritage shops in Ueno to the trend-setting stores in Harajuku and Shibuya, offer an unparalleled shopping experience. Here are some of the best stores for Japanese denim shopping.

Hinoya
Hinoya is a well-known denim and streetwear institution in the Ueno district of Tokyo, specifically located in the Ameyoko alleyways. It's considered one of the city's oldest denim shops, with over 65 years of experience. Brands carried by Hinoya includes Big John, Momotaro, Sugar Cane, Pure Blue Japan, and more.

The company has several stores in the area, including:

  • HINOYA: 6-chōme-10-14 Ueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0005, Japan
  • HINOYA ONE: 6-chōme-10-16 Ueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0005, Japan
  • HINOYA PLUS MART: 6-chōme-10-22 Ueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0005, Japan

Bears
Bears is a Japanese jeans store located in the Shimokitazawa district of Tokyo. The store is known for its selection of Japanese denim brands like Oni, Momotaro, TCB Jeans, Full Count, and more.

  • Address: 2-chōme−10−１５ マルシェ下北沢 2階, , Setagaya City, Kitazawa, Tokyo, 155-0031 , Japan

The Real McCoys
The Real McCoy's is a highly regarded clothing brand and store in Tokyo known for its meticulous and high-quality reproductions of vintage American military, workwear, and sportswear. Founded by Hitoshi Tsujimoto, the brand is celebrated for its commitment to historical accuracy, using the same materials and construction methods as the original garments from the 1940s and 1950s.

  • Address: 6-chōme-25-8 Jingūmae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan

Americaya
Americaya is a well-known, long-established clothing store located in the Ameyoko market of Ueno, Tokyo. The store specializes in American casual wear, with a particular focus on Japanese-made denim and vintage reproductions. Brands include Japan Blue Jeans, TCB, Samurai, etc.

  • Address: 6-chōme-10-3 Ueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0005, Japan

Jelado
Jelado is a Japanese brand that specializes in high-quality, vintage-inspired workwear, military apparel, and American casual clothing. Founded in 2005 by Youhei Goto, a former vintage clothing dealer and professional kickboxer, the brand is known for its meticulous attention to detail in reproducing historical garments.

The Jelado flagship store is located in Tokyo's Ebisu district. It recently relocated and was renovated.

  • Address: Sanshin Bldg. 2F, 1-20-3 Ebisunishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0021, Japan

Junky Special
Junky Special is an American casual clothing store located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The store features a variety of classic American-style items, including flight jackets from Buzz Rickson's, Sukajan jackets from Taylor Toyo, denim from Sugar Cane, and Hawaiian shirts from Sun Surf.

  • Address: 2-chōme−46−５ ＫＭ新宿ビル １F, Kabukichō, Shinjuku City, Tokyo, 160-0021, Japan

Tools Infinity
Tools Infinity is a select shop located in Shibuya, Tokyo. It specializes in American casual and workwear styles, as well as high-quality, long-lasting clothing and boots. The shop aims to be a comfortable and enjoyable space for both customers and staff, where people can connect and share their passion for fashion. Brands carried include TCB, Sugarcane, Made in Japan LVC, and more.

  • Address: 6-9-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.

Okura
Okura in Daikanyama is the flagship for Blue Blue Japan and specializes in items, especially clothing, dyed with natural indigo. The name "Okura" means "storehouse" in Japanese, and the building itself is designed to resemble a traditional Japanese warehouse, creating a rustic and authentic atmosphere.

  • Address: 20-11 Sarugakuchō, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0033, Japan

Pure Blue Japan
Pure Blue Japan is a highly respected Japanese denim brand founded in 1997 in Kurashiki City, Okayama, a region renowned as the birthplace of Japanese denim. The brand is celebrated for its distinctive and highly textured "slubby" denim, which is produced on vintage, low-tension looms.

Pure Blue Japan's official store is located in Tokyo's Harajuku district, and it is a destination for denim enthusiasts.

  • Address: 3-31-20-102 Jingūmae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan

Momotaro Jeans Aoyama
Momotaro Jeans is a premium Japanese denim brand established in Kojima, Okayama—a region widely regarded as the birthplace of Japanese domestic jeans. The brand, founded in 2005, is known for its "Made by Hand Without Compromise" philosophy. They are famous for their use of high-quality Zimbabwean cotton, which is prized for its durability and unique fading characteristics.

he Momotaro Jeans store in Tokyo is located in the upscale Aoyama district.

  • Address: Ao Building 2F, 3-chōme-11-7 Kitaaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0061, Japan

Japan Blue Jeans
Japan Blue Jeans is a denim brand that is part of the Japan Blue Group, which also owns the prestigious Momotaro Jeans. Founded in 2010, the brand was created to use the same high-quality fabrics produced by the group's COLLECT mill but in more modern, slimmer cuts and at a more accessible price point than Momotaro.

The Japan Blue Jeans has two store locations in Tokyo, one in Ueno and the other in Shibyuya.

  • Address: 6-chōme-8-22 Ueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0005, Japan
  • Address: 5 Chome-28-7 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan

Studo D'Artisan
Studio D'Artisan is a pioneering Japanese denim brand and a founding member of the "Osaka Five," a group of brands credited with leading the vintage denim revival in Japan. Established in 1979, the brand is known for its high-quality selvedge denim, which is woven on vintage shuttle looms in Okayama. Their philosophy combines French design with traditional Japanese craftsmanship.

The Studio D'Artisan store in Tokyo is located in the Shibuya district.

  • Address: 6-chōme−13−1, Shibuya, Jingūmae, Tokyo, 150-0001 Japan

Full Count
Full Count is one of Japan's most respected denim brands and a founding member of the "Osaka Five," a group of companies credited with sparking the vintage denim revival. Founded by Mikiharu Tsujita in 1992, Full Count was the first brand to utilize hand-picked, extra-long staple Zimbabwean cotton in their denim.

The Full Count Tokyo store is located in the Shibuya district.

  • Address: 3 Chome-20-7 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan

The Flat Head
The Flat Head is a renowned Japanese denim and clothing brand founded in 1996 in Nagano, Japan. The brand is a benchmark for "repro Americana-style," meticulously reproducing vintage American workwear and casual clothing from the 1950s. They are known for their fanatical attention to detail, from using specially selected threads to creating bespoke fabrics on vintage shuttle looms.

The brand's Tokyo shop is located in the Harajuku district.

  • Address: 原宿ＭＹビル １Ｆ, 3 Chome-24-2 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan

Warehouse
Warehouse & Co., founded in 1995 by the Shiotani brothers, is a prominent Japanese denim brand and a key member of the "Osaka Five." The brand is celebrated for its highly meticulous reproductions of vintage workwear, focusing on garments from the 1870s to the 1970s.

The company's Tokyo store is located in the Ebisu district.

  • Address: , 1-chōme−29−８ 恵比寿ウエスト 1F, Ebisunishi, Shibuya, 150-0021 Japan

Kapital & Kapital Legs
Kapital Legs is one of several Kapital stores located in the Ebisu neighborhood of Tokyo. While the main Kapital Ebisu store offers a wide range of the brand's collections, Kapital Legs is a more specialized outpost that focuses specifically on jeans and skirts.

The Kapital stores in Ebisu are all located relatively close to each other, making it a popular destination for those looking to explore the brand's full range of products.

  • Kapital (Tokyo Naked Store): 2-20-2 Ebisuminami, Shibuya, Tokyo
  • Kapital Legs (Legs Craftsman Store): 2-23-12 Ebisuminami, Shibuya, Tokyo
  • Duffle with KAPITAL: 2-24-2 Ebisuminami, Shibuya, Tokyo

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