Aoyama is located in the northeastern Minato ward of Tokyo. During the Edo period it was made up of samurai homes, shrines, and various temples. Today it is well known for its fashion houses, interior design shops, art galleries, restaurants, and shopping plazas for the Tokyo people.

 

On a beautiful day in early fall, our one day exploration in Aoyama began.
After getting off at Aoyama 1-chome station, we strayed into an avenue of maidenhair trees called "Icho-Namiki" located at the Outer Garden of the Meiji shrine. The colonnade leads to a museum and baseball stadium, and people enjoy brunch or cup of coffee at KIHACHI SELAN, a cozy restaurant & café under the beautiful trees.

 

11:00 A.M.

Walking along Aoyama-Dori, we saw a vivid tricolored French flag come into our sight,　blowing in front of the Aoyama Unimat Museum near the Gaienmae station. At the museum we lost ourselves in fascinating western European paintings such as the works of Marc Chagall.

 

 

 

We crossed the road to find a tiny little store called AOYAMA ART COLLECTION where we went crazy for all the nice postcards and stickers. The Cosmos flower on a postcard quietly told us of the coming autumn.

 

 

Turning the corner of Aoyama Bell Commons to the right, we entered Gaien Nishi-Dori. This street has been also known as the "Killer Street," named by top Japanese fashion designer Junko Koshino. As the name "Killer" tells us, we found many shoe boutiques with shoes being displayed that varied from adorable to gorgeous. Opelka Gallery and BARCLAY were also irresistible stores. 

 

We turned onto a lane to find a small bakery stand, Camomille Deli, that looks just like ones in picture books. Their homemade cupcakes and cookies are too cute to eat!

 

 

0:30 P.M.

Zenkoji stands behind Aoyama Dori as though hidden from the hustle and bustle of the city. We took a short rest there to think about what we wanted for lunch.

 

 

  

In the back lane of Aoyama Dori which joins Omotesando, there was a café called Brassarie Tours. The café absolutely reminded us of the world of Peter Rabbit, even hurried businesspeople walking past seemed to have their attention pulled away by the little secret garden on the back street.

 

 

 

We then reached Omotesando and walked over the crossroad to the Minami Aoyama side to see the architecture of PRADA Boutique Aoyama. Looking at the luxurious and eccentric building, we even forgot about our hunger!

 

Lunch at last! We walked in Café Madu and had a bagel plate. The lively café, located near the first corner of Kotto-Dori, welcomes people with its relaxing and cozy ambience.

 

 

After relishing our lunch, we walked three blocks along Kotto-Dori and found a pen boutique called Shosaikan where they display and sell various fountain pens. They also have a space where you can actually sit down and write with your pen. Taking up my own, we wrapped up our one day walk on the cosmos postcard we bought on the way.