How to live out your Ai Yazawa fantasy in Tokyo

The Tama River has the kind of atmosphere that swings from romantic to melancholic in a single evening. At golden hour, the water reflects both the quiet edges of suburbia and the skyline stretching out in the distance.

It’s easy to picture yourself as a character mid-transition. Caught between choices, replaying last night’s conversation, or sketching out lyrics in a notebook. Couples wander with guitars, runners drift past, and for a moment the whole place feels like a spread of Yazawa panels laid over real life.

For fans of Nana, Jackson Hole is less a restaurant than a pilgrimage destination. This cozy burger spot in Chofu is woven into the series itself, making it one of the few real-life places where you can step directly into from the manga.

Order one of their stacked burgers, claim a booth, and let yourself imagine Hachi or Shoji across the table, plotting out school projects or untangling their complicated love lives. The food itself is pure Americana, but the resonance here is unmistakably Yazawa.

Shimokitazawa’s thrift stores and vintage shops feel tailor-made for Yazawa daydreaming.

At A.m.a Store you can pick up strawberry-speckled glasses straight out of a Hachi-coded moodboard, or wander through the stylish furniture that echo her days working in interiors. 

The neighbourhood’s mix of kitsch and sharp streetwear captures the exact tension that makes Yazawa’s characters so memorable, every corner shop feeling like it could spark a subplot.

Kissa Koyuki is the kind of café that looks like it was sketched into existence for a Yazawa heroine. With its Showa-era charm and delicate strawberry cakes, it channels both nostalgia and Y2K girlishness.

The pink glow of the space feels like a backdrop for whispered gossip, diary entries, or stolen dates that will later become heartbreak. It works just as well for a solo tea time, where you can pretend you’re waiting for someone who may or may not show up.

Vivienne Westwood is practically a character in Yazawa’s work, and Closet Child gives you the chance to step into that world directly. The Harajuku branch has an entire store dedicated to Vivienne pieces – tartan skirts, orb necklaces and all the punk romanticism that defined Nana Osaki’s wardrobe.

Browsing here feels almost like handling artifacts from Yazawa’s universe. Whether you leave with a piece or not, the mood lingers like cigarette smoke on leather.

Bunka is Tokyo’s most famous fashion school, and the energy outside its campus is unmistakable. It’s often cited as the inspiration for Neighborhood Story and Paradise Kiss. Standing outside, you’ll spot current students in experimental looks that wouldn’t be out of place on George, Miwako or Yukari.