The best shops in Shibuya

Shibuya's famed Cat Street welcomes the first-ever flagship for Tokyo-based brand Ambush. The space stretches across 140 square metres and its design remains true to the gender-neutral vibes of the brand’s collections. Situated in the former site of American Apparel’s Shibuya Men’s store, the store houses the brand’s conceptual jewellery alongside a growing number of its original apparel range...

The world's first completely kitchen-focused Conran Shop is found inside the Hikarie building and sells stylish supplies hand-picked from all over the globe. Alongside kitchenware is also a range of tasteful home decor, lighting and lifestyle items. It's all very pricey, sure, but just looking at the displays might inspire you to start freshening up your own kitchen...

The eighth-floor museum in the towering Hikarie building is all about spreading the love: each exhibition is devoted to showcasing a particular theme, as represented by all 47 of Japan's prefectures. The retail space also sells and supports a range of items focused on Japanese craftsmanship from each of the different prefectures...

You don’t have to go all the way to Akihabara to get your otaku fix: this subterranean shop in central Shibuya is overflowing with manga, anime, collectible toys and more. Stay tuned for store events and auctions where collectors can get their hands on rare finds...

Imagine a place where all is calm and beautifully designed with clean lines and a neutral palette. This is Muji. It stocks everything from home and office accessories to toys, crafts and even a range of skincare. A recent revamp saw it reopening in November 2013 and this branch now also features a delicatessen, Café & Meal Muji, which offers some much-needed respite from the madding Shibuya crowds...

If you need to spice up your outfit before hitting a fashionable party in Shibuya (perhaps at hipster playpen Trump Room, just upstairs), stop by this long-standing vintage clothing shop beforehand. Run by absurdist fashionista Hayao Matsumura (who originally started the shop in Koenji in the late ’80s), Nude Trump is a chaotic jumble of outré garments and accessories...

Offering a wide range of both popular international labels and Japanese brands, Paris Miki is your one-stop shop for all your eyewear needs. The Shibuya location could easily be mistaken for a ’70s diner, as its bright red interior is decked out with flashy retro furniture and nostalgic accents amidst the stock of glasses...

Steeped in the atmosphere of a bygone era, Postalco is proof that good taste never goes out of style. This classy stationery and accessory shop started life in Brooklyn in 2000 and did a lengthy stint in Kyobashi before relocating to its current home in Shibuya at the end of 2012. If you still prefer paper to iPads, you're probably going to appreciate their fabric and calfskin legal envelopes...

Housed inside the new Shibuya Cast complex at the south end of Cat Street, this streetwear shop is the epitome of cool. Attached to their adjoining café and restaurant, it lets you lick on an ice cream cone as you browse through the selection of labels and footwear for both men and women. Although they do have designated men’s and women’s items, most things in the shop are meant to be unisex...

This landmark store is the domain of the joshikosei – the fashion-obsessed teenage girls who don’t just follow trends but start them. Take a stroll around to see them in action and indulge in some amateur anthropology...

The staff at this ultra-hip bookshop are more interested in encouraging new discoveries than hawking the latest bestseller. Magazines and books, both new and used, are arranged according to theme, meaning that you might find a philosophical tract alongside some manga or art books...

Stocking Japanese brands only, Studious is a rising 'select' store that seeks to promote local products to a global audience. Its store in Jinnan is a high-end version selling leading Japanese brands like N.Hoolywood and White Mountaineering. Be sure to check out the ‘Tokyo Souvenir’ section for stylish Tokyo-related goods...

From stationery to toilet-seat covers, this is the largest household goods store in Tokyo, packed with knick-knacks for the home. Particularly interesting is the party supplies section, which gives a unique glimpse into the Japanese sense of humour. It can be difficult to find your way around the multitude of floors, but getting a bit lost is part of the fun, right? 

Tower Records was given an extensive overhaul in late 2012 that increased its whopping 5,000 square metres of floor space. There’s now a bookstore and a decent café on the second floor, the music sections now give prominent placement to back catalogue stock as well as new arrivals...