Studio GLUE visited Tokyo, the design capital of Asia Pacific, just as Japan began to open up for visitors. It was a perfect winter destination. It was sub-zero but the weather was consistently sunny. It was easy for us to walk everywhere within the tourist districts of Shinjuku and Shibuya. Our Roses Series backpacks, inspired by flowers we grew and drew in London, provided a cheerful contrast to the majestic mega architectures of Tokyo.
The organised public transport system and pedestrian crossings provided inspiration for our Design Shop. With a population of 37 million, Tokyo has a higher density than London. Its meticulous ecosystem design efficiently facilitates the high-volume movement of the inhabitants. After a few hours in the underground, we got used to the city’s highly automated and robotised system.
During the short visit, we managed to check out one of the famous Konikuniya bookstores, where you could find manga comics, illustrated books and the latest pop culture magazines. It was a dream destination for our creative director, an avid illustrated book collector.
Tokyo’s metropolitan skyline is occupied with soaring grey towers. We discovered that in contrast, the city became alive during night time when the neon signs, buildings and taxis lit up the atmosphere. The local cafes and restaurants were effervescent with sounds and activities. The traditional fish restaurants offered us unforgettable dining experience. Just don’t forget to spray your jacket with fabric deodoriser afterwards. This was helpfully supplied by our hotel.
We visited the stylish Harajuku district in Shibuya to soak up the creative and funky vibe. The area is full of fashion boutiques and dazzling shops selling adorable kawaii or cute merchandise. The trip provided plenty of ideas for our Design Shop inspiration.
The Tokyo experience didn’t stop in the city. We flew back to London via Japan Airlines. The onboard service was top quality and on-brand. Tokyo is a complete cultural, arts and design experience that we’d recommend to everyone.
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