Following last week’s post about Nakameguro and whether it’s a hip neighborhood or not, I feel like I need to post a follow-up, since I think a lot of people have gotten the wrong impression regarding my feelings on the area. I love Nakameguro, it’s an area I like to go to and spend time in, and I’d say it’s one of the nicest neighborhoods in Tokyo. Marxy’s original post was about whether it’s a super-hip area or not, which is how western media likes to position it.
Some people pointed to the segment I did for TOKYO EYE. When they approached me about doing it, they asked me what neighborhoods I would be interested in presenting, and Nakameguro was at the top of my list, and I’m glad we were able to feature it.
Category: Meta • Tokyo Walking
If we are going to get super meta, I am not even saying whether it’s “hip” or not. I think it’s “hip” enough or whatever. The neighborhood just never really exploded like the previous “Right Here is Hot in Tokyo Now” places, and in fact, the stores that really made Nakameguro kinda disappeared (other than Cow Books and maybe Cha no Ma).
I’m with you Jean. I love a relaxing day in Nakameguro. It’s fun to stumble across things new and old, whether it’s a clothing or craft shop, street art, interior design/architecture, or a nice salad and bowl of pasta at the Omamori Cafe. Always a good time.
How was PEdAL.E.D?
the original sin here was associating too closely (and cynically) hip with retail i think.
i think for example the area around yoyogi hachiman is as hip as anything berlin or brooklin have to offer yet there’s hardly any groundbreaking retail going on. sendagaya would be even further, way further, down on the retail scale yet still undoubtedly hip (and i’m only looking at a very small patch now).
i think marxy really needs to state more clearly that more often than not he’s not talking about japan but about ‘cool japan’ that american fiction and he’s doing it brilliantly; maybe his internet name should be David “not talking about japan but about ‘cool japan’ Marx
Jean, it’s too late. I was at Combine just last night, and let me tell you, the tastefully dressed and friendly mob there were just about ready to burn you in effigy.
Hahaha… I am now persona non grata there now! Oh well…
I wasn’t able to get to PEdAL.E.D this week, too much stuff going on (mixed with a really bad case of allergies this year).