Discovering the antenna shops in Tokyo
Japan is made up of 47 prefectures altogether, and avid travellers often aim to cover all of them whenever they travel to the country. But travelling to the different prefectures requires a lot of effort and dedication, and some travellers can’t afford to do so, and hence they would miss out on the amazing souvenirs and specialty goods that each prefecture offers. So in response, the prefectures established “antenna shops” (アンテナショップ antena shoppu) which are representative shops set up by local governments and private companies to introduce their local products and souvenirs.
These shops are often set up in central areas and big cities such as Tokyo and Osaka, as well as other countries (such as Singapore), so that customers can enjoy the products without them having to travel to the prefectures in person. The products at these shops include souvenirs and foodstuffs that are representative of and exclusive to the respective prefectures, and furthermore, participating small companies can benefit by introducing their products at the shops and reaching out to a bigger market.
Antenna shops in the Yurakucho, Ginza, and Nihonbashi districts. (Image credit: Google Maps)
Antenna shops in other parts of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. (Image credit: Google Maps)
Do you know that there are many antenna shops in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area alone? The capital city of Japan is home to all kinds of antenna shops showcasing the best of what their respective prefectures have to offer, and it’s exciting to see these shops displaying their prefectures' finest products. For this article, we will be exploring antenna shops that represent prefectures that are accessible by JR East train lines, so let’s see what kind of exclusive offerings they have in store for us!
Aomori (青森)
① Aomori Hokusaikan
Aomori Hokusaikan in Iidabashi. (Image credit: 青森県)
Aomori is the northernmost prefecture of the Tohoku Region (東北地方), and it is famous for many things: splendorous natural beauty, awe-inspiring architectures, and in particular, their scrumptious foods (especially fruits). Hence, it comes as no surprise that Aomori has an antenna shop right in the heart of Tokyo.
Aomori Hokusaikan's retail space. (Image credit: 青森県)
Located in Iidabashi, Aomori Hokusaikan was established in 2002 and it introduces to its visitors some of the prefecture’s best offerings, including processed agricultural and seafood products, and traditional handicrafts. Their most popular items include fatty tuna, apples and apple products, Aomori beef platters, butters, jams, and many more.
Aomori is known for its high-quality fruits and agricultural produce. (Image credit: 青森のうまいものたち)
Interestingly, the shop will share their best-selling products of the month, and in recent months they included aged black garlic, senbei (せんべい rice crackers), and pickles. The shop also features an event space and a tourist information counter where visitors can find out more about places of interest in Aomori.
Aomori Hokusaikan (あおもり北彩館)
Address: Aomori Kaikan 1F, 2-3-11 Fujimi, Chiyoda, Tokyo 102-0071
Nearest station: 2-minute walk from JR Iidabashi Station (JR飯田橋駅)
Opening hours: 10am–7:30pm (closed at 6pm on the last day of every month, closed on 31 December and New Year holidays)
Tel: +81-3-3237-8371
Akita (秋田)
② Akita Bisaikan
Akita Bisaikan in Shinagawa. (Image credit: あきた美彩館)
Mention “Akita” and it would conjure images of magical winter, beautiful hot springs, delectable food from the mountains and the sea, and delicious sake. For people who are interested in capturing a glimpse of what the prefecture has to offer, they can check out its antenna shop located in one of Tokyo’s major business districts.
Akita Bisaikan's first floor. (Image credit: あきた美彩館)
Just a few minutes’ walk from JR Shinagawa Station is Akita Bisaikan, an antenna shop for the prefecture of Akita. Opened in 2008, the shop showcases some of Akita’s best local fresh and manufactured products, and features an event space and a tourist information counter.
Akita Bisaikan’s restaurant. (Image credit: あきた美彩館)
There is also a restaurant next to the shop where visitors can enjoy Akita’s most loved soul food and ingredients such as kiritanpo (きりたんぽ toasted rice skewers), hata-hata (はたはた Japanese sandfish), Hinai jidori (比内地鶏 Hinai chicken), Inaniwa udon (稲庭うどん), and a wide range of its sake. It’s a place where visitors can sample the best of Akita’s gourmet food in one spot, so don’t miss it!
Akita Bisaikan (あきた美彩館)
Address: Wing Takanawa WEST-Ⅲ 1F, 4-10-8 Takanawa, Minato, Tokyo 108-0074
Nearest station: 4-minute walk from JR Shinagawa Station (JR品川駅)
Opening hours:
Store: 11am–11pm
Restaurant: 11am–3:30pm (last order at 2:30pm), 5pm–10pm (last order at 9pm)
Tel: +81-3-6450-3030
Iwate (岩手)
③ Iwate Ginga Plaza
Iwate Ginga Plaza in Ginza. (Image credit: いわて銀河プラザ)
As the second largest prefecture in Japan, Iwate is famous for its pristine natural beauty and delicious seafood. In particular, the prefecture is located along the Sanriku Coast (三陸海岸), one of the world’s greatest fishing grounds, so it is home to some of the country’s best and freshest seafood. Tokyoites and visitors to Tokyo can enjoy Iwate’s products at its own antenna shop right in one of the city’s busiest districts.
The different sections of Iwate Ginga Plaza. (Image credit: いわて銀河プラザ)
Iwate Ginga Plaza is an expansive antenna shop of Iwate and is located in the heart of Ginza. Established in 1998, the shop features over 1,800 “Iwate Brand” products that include agricultural produce, local specialty liquors, traditional handicrafts such as Nanbu ironware; a sweets corner, a dairy corner dedicated to products from the famous Koiwai Farm, and many more. In fact, with this antenna shop, visitors can have taste of some of Iwate’s delicacies such as reimen (冷麺), jajamen (じゃじゃ麺), Nanbu senbei, and more!
Iwate Ginga Plaza (いわて銀河プラザ)
Address: Nankai Tokyo Building 1F, 5-15-1, Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo 104-0061
Nearest station: 2-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Higashi-Ginza Station (東京メトロ東銀座駅)
Opening hours: 10:30am–7pm (closed at 5pm on the last day of every month, closed on 31 December and New Year holidays)
Tel: +81-3-3524-8282
Yamagata (山形)
④ Oishii Yamagata Plaza
Oishii Yamagata Plaza in Ginza. (Image credit: おいしい山形プラザ)
Known for its mountainous terrain, Yamagata is another prefecture in the Tohoku Region that is famous for its agricultural products. To enjoy some of the prefecture’s finest products, visitors can pay a visit to its antenna shop right in the heart of Tokyo.
Set up in 2009, Oishii Yamagata Plaza is another antenna shop that’s only a walking distance away from JR Yūrakuchō Station. The shop consists of two floors, where the first is a product sales and exhibition hall featuring Yamagata’s finest products such as its renowned cherries and pears; sweets, miso pastes, sake, wines, and more.
Some of the products on sale at Oishii Yamagata Plaza. (Image credit: おいしい山形プラザ)
Guests should not forget to drop by the second floor too, where they can find a tourist information counter with staff that are more than happy to share information on the most popular tourist spots in Yamagata, and an Italian fine-dining restaurant “YAMAGATA San-Dan-Delo” that specially uses ingredients from Yamagata for its exquisite dishes.
Oishii Yamagata Plaza (おいしい山形プラザ)
Address: Ginza First Five Building 1F / 2F, 1-5-10 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo 104-0061
Nearest station: 5-minute walk from the Kyobashi exit of JR Yūrakuchō Station
Opening hours:
Tourist information counter: 10am–8pm (closed on 31 December and New Year Holidays, window / telephone service break from 1pm–2pm every Monday)
Product sales and exhibition: 10am–8pm (closed on 31 December and New Year Holidays)
YAMAGATA San-Dan-Delo: 11:30am–3pm (last order at 2pm), 5:30pm–11pm (last order at 8pm)
Tel:
Tourist information center: +81-3-5250-1755
Product sales and exhibition: +81-3-5250-1752
YAMAGATA San-Dan-Delo: +81-3-5250-1755
Miyagi (宮城)
⑤ Miyagi Furusato Plaza / COCO MIYAGI
Miyagi Furusato Plaza in Ikebukuro. (Image credit: 宮城ふるさとプラザ)
Another prefecture that is located along the Sanriku Coast is Miyagi, and many people who have travelled to the Tohoku Region would have passed through it, especially via its capital city Sendai (仙台市). A land of beautiful natural scenery and diverse cuisines, Miyagi is increasingly becoming more popular among visitors, and they can now check out what the prefecture has to offer via its antenna shop.
The different sections of the Miyagi Furusato Plaza. (Image credit: 宮城ふるさとプラザ)
Located in the popular entertainment district of Ikebukuro, the Miyagi Furusato Plaza is an antenna shop that has a total of four floors altogether, showcasing the finest cuisine and products, and recommending the best tourist attractions in the prefecture. Visitors can check out the first floor and see all the diverse local specialty products of Miyagi, and take part in special events held by different local companies showing their latest offerings.
For visitors wanting to learn more about the fascinating tourist spots that they can visit in Miyagi, or try some of the prefecture’s wide range of soul food, they can head up to the second floor. Here, they can drop by the Sightseeing and Information Counter to learn more about Miyagi’s four seasons and attractions, and enjoy Miyagi’s delectable local delicacies such as the irresistible grilled gyūtan (牛タン) at the restaurant “Date no Gyūtan Honpo” (伊達の牛たん本舗). Itadakimasu!
Miyagi Furusato Plaza / COCO MIYAGI (宮城ふるさとプラザ コ・コ・宮城)
Address: Higashiike Building 1F / 2F, 1-2-2 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo 170-0013
Nearest station: 2-minute walk from the East Exit of JR Ikebukuro Station (JR池袋駅)
Opening hours: 11am–8pm (closed on 31 December and New Year holidays)
Tel: +81-3-5956-3511
Fukushima (福島)
⑥ Nihonbashi Fukushima-kan - MIDETTE
Nihonbashi Fukushima-kan - MIDETTE in Nihonbashi. (Image credit: 日本橋ふくしま館 - MIDETTE)
What comes to mind when “Fukushima” is mentioned? The name literally translates as "blessed island", and hearing it would invoke images of the imposing Tsuruga Castle, the amazing fruits and eclectic range of delicacies, the profound culture, and many more. Do you know that in the heart of Tokyo’s financial district, there is a special place where visitors can enjoy a glimpse of all that on just one floor?
Nihonbashi Fukushima-kan - MIDETTE is an antenna shop dedicated to the “blessed island” and is located in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district. Opened in 2014, the shop is made up of one extensive floor that is divided into several sections to showcase the wide variety of offerings from the prefecture.
Enjoy the wide range of products, delicacies, and tourist information at MIDETTE. (Image credit: 日本橋ふくしま館 - MIDETTE)
Visitors will be spoiled for choice with the different kinds of sweets, souvenirs, traditional handicrafts, sake and wines, fruits, and a lot more that are on sale. And of course, there’s a sightseeing information counter where visitors can learn more about the many sightseeing spots found throughout Fukushima.
In particular, visitors should not miss out on Fukushima’s famous high-quality fruits that are on showcase, as well as their range of sake, several of which have even won the National New Sake Appraisal for 7 consecutive years!
Nihonbashi Fukushima-kan - MIDETTE (日本橋ふくしま館 - MIDETTE)
Address: Yanagiya Taiyo Building 1F, 4-3-16 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo, Tokyo 103-0022
Nearest station: 1-minute walk from Exit 2 of JR Shin-Nihombashi Station (JR新日本橋駅)
Opening hours: 10:30am–8pm (weekdays), 11am–6pm (weekends and national holidays), closed on 31 December and New Year holidays
Tel: +81-3-6262-3977
Niigata (新潟)
⑦ Omotesando Niigata-kan N'ESPACE
Omotesando Niigata-kan N'ESPACE in Omotesando. (Image credit: 表参道・新潟館ネスパス)
Known for its unparalleled rice and wines, delicious seafood, and magnificent ski resorts thanks to its extremely high snowfall, Niigata is one of the most loved tourist destinations in eastern Japan. Guests who would like to know more about Niigata can check out its antenna shop located in the chic fashion district of Omotesando.
Niigata-kan Shokuraku-en on the first floor. (Image credit: 表参道・新潟館ネスパス)
Established in 2006, Omotesando Niigata-kan N'ESPACE is an antenna shop that showcases the charms of Niigata, where the "N" means "Niigata" / "Network" and "ESPACE" is French for "space". The shop has four floors altogether, and the first floor is the retail space Niigata Shokuraku-en (新潟食楽園) where visitors can find a wide range of local specialty food products such as seafood, agricultural produce, dairy products, confectioneries, craft beers, and more. Don't miss the prefecture's popular onigiri (おにぎり rice balls) made from its renowned Koshihikari (コシヒカリ) rice, and the wide variety of sake! There is also BAR COCO, a standing bar where visitors can enjoy Niigata's wide range of sake and liquors.
Restaurant Shokuraku-en on the basement floor. (Image credit: 表参道・新潟館ネスパス)
Hungry for Niigata's delicious cuisine? Guests can check out not one but two restaurants that are available at N'ESPACE. Niigata no Aji Seiko-an (にいがたの味静香庵) is a restaurant on the first floor that specialises in Niigata's finest cuisines, and uses the freshest local ingredients for their amazing dishes. Another restaurant is located at the basement floor, and offers its visitors local Niigata dishes and a wide selection of local sake at affordable prices.
The second floor is made up of two sections: the tourist information counter and the residential and employment support centre. If you have plans to travel to Niigata, make your way to this floor to learn more about the prefecture's best attraction spots. And for those with queries on seeking residence and employment in the prefecture, the staff at the support centre are more than happy to be at their service. On the third floor is an exhibition and exchange space where special events and occasions are held.
Omotesando Niigata-kan N'ESPACE (表参道・新潟館ネスパス)
Address: Jingumae 4-11-7, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001
Nearest station: 1-minute walk from the A2 Exit of Tokyo Metro Omotesandō Station (東京メトロ表参道駅), or 10-minute walk from JR Harajuku Station (JR原宿駅)
Opening hours:
Niigata Shokuraku-en (1F): 10:30am–7:30pm (closed on 31 December and New Year holidays)
BAR COCO (1F): 12pm–5:30pm (break from 2:30pm–3pm, last order at 5pm, Monday–Friday), 11am–6:30pm (last order at 6pm, Fridays and weekends)
Seiko-an (1F): 11:30am–3pm (last order at 2:30pm), 6pm–10pm (last order at 9pm), closed on Sundays, national holidays, New Year holidays, and Obon Festival
Restaurant Shokuraku-en (BF): 11am–2:30pm (last order at 2pm, Monday–Friday), 11am–3:30pm (last order at 3pm, weekends and national holidays), 5pm–10pm
(last order at 9pm, Monday–Saturday), 5pm–9pm (last order at 8pm, Sunday and national holidays), closed on New Year holidays
Tourist information counter: 10:30am–6:30pm (closed on New Year holidays)
Residential and employment support centre: 10:30am–6:30pm (closed on Tuesdays, national holidays, and New Year holidays)
Exhibition and exchange space: 10:30am–6:30pm (closed from 29 December–3 January)
Tel:
Niigata Shokuraku-en (1F): +81-3-5775-4332
BAR COCO (1F): +81-3-5775-4332
Seiko-an (1F): +81-3-5771-8500
Restaurant Shokuraku-en (BF): +81-3-5775-4322
Tourist information counter: +81-25-283-1188
Residential and employment support centre: +81-3-5771-7713 / +81-3-5771-7755
Exhibition and exchange space: +81-3-5771-7711
⑧ NIIGATA1〇〇
NIIGATA1〇〇 in Yurakucho. (Image credit: NIIGATA1〇〇)
Also nestled in the heart of Yurakucho is NIIGATA1〇〇, which is another antenna shop for the prefecture of Niigata. Recently opened in 2020, this store aims to charm visitors with the prefecture's finest offerings, especially its wide range of liquors and traditional handicrafts.
Niigata’s chic sake tasting bar. (Image credit: NIIGATA1〇〇)
NIIGATA1〇〇 functions as a concept and specialty store where visitors can enjoy the best foods, products, and culture of the prefecture. Developed by JR East, the store features a chic showroom displaying Niigata's craftwork, and a standing bar where visitors can sample the wide range of special Niigata beers, wines, sake, and side dishes to pair that are carefully selected according to the season.
Niigata’s traditional handicrafts on display. (Image credit: NIIGATA1〇〇)
Step right in and appreciate the traditional handicrafts that are on display at the store, which include Tsubame-Sanjo’s metal crafts and intricate Kumiko woodcrafts that showcase the mastery of craftsmen from the region. It’s a haven for fans of Niigata and those who appreciate some of Japan’s finest craftsmanship.
NIIGATA1OO
Address: 7-1, 1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda, Tokyo 100-0011
Nearest station: 6-minute walk from JR Yūrakuchō Station
Opening hours: 11am–8pm (closed every Tuesday)
Tel: +81-3-6910-2058
Tochigi (栃木)
⑨ Tochimaru Shop
Tochimaru Shop at TOKYO SKYTREE. (Image credit: とちまるショップ)
Tochigi is a prefecture that many people associate with rich cultural history, but do you know that it is also filled with many delicious food? It is home to amazing fruits and dairy products, and visitors in Japan can check them out at the prefecture’s own antenna shop.
Unlike most of the other antenna shops mentioned previously, Tochimaru Shop is located right inside TOKYO SKYTREE’s shopping mall. Established in 2012, the shop showcases a wide range of food products from Tochigi, including the prefecture’s famous Tochiotome (とちおとめ) and Skyberry (スカイベリー) strawberries, soft-serve ice creams, and breads from the renowned Kanaya Hotel Bakery (日光金谷ホテルベーカリー) based in the historical city of Nikkō.
Traditional handicrafts (left) and soft-serve ice cream (right) in the Tochimaru Shop. (Image credit: とちまるショップ)
New products from Tochigi such as traditional handicrafts are also regularly exhibited at the shop’s event space, and visitors can check out the pamphlet corner to find out more about Tochigi’s best sightseeing spots and attractions. Don’t miss this store whenever you pay a visit to Japan’s tallest structure!
Tochimaru Shop (とちまるショップ)
Address: TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN® Solamachi East Yard 4F, 1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida, Tokyo 131-0045
Nearest station: 4-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Oshiage Station (東京メトロ押上駅)
Opening hours: 10am–9pm
Tel: +81-3-5809-7280
Gunma (群馬)
⑩ Gunmachan-chi
Gunmachan-chi in Ginza. (Image credit: Gunma Prefecture)
A landlocked prefecture filled with picturesque mountains, wonderful hot springs, and plentiful mountain food, Gunma is gaining a lot of attention as a popular tourist destination in Japan in recent times. To further promote the area and all its wonderful offerings, the prefecture has an antenna shop in Ginza with an adorable surprise.
Gunmachan-chi is Gunma’s antenna shop, and it is named after their prefectural horse mascot Gunma-chan. The shop name translates as “Gunma-chan’s Home”, and it aims to become a communication hub between Gunma and the Tokyo Metropolitan Area while making visitors feel welcomed with warm reception, as though they’re stepping into someone’s humble abode.
The first floor of Gunmachan-chi. (Image credit: Gunma Prefecture)
The shop features two floors altogether. The first floor is the product sales and exhibition floor where visitors can explore Gunma’s array of local specialty products, including foodstuffs and traditional handicrafts. Guests will be pleasantly greeted by the many Takasaki Daruma dolls that are on display, and they can also check out the sightseeing information counter on this floor to learn more about the prefecture’s best attractions.
Ginza TSURU on the second floor. (Image credit: Gunma Prefecture)
The second floor is where the restaurant “Ginza TSURU” is located, and visitors here can enjoy the prefecture’s best cuisine. Guests should not miss the highlights on the menu, including sukiyaki and shabu-shabu that are made with Joshu wagyu beef.
Gunmachan-chi (ぐんまちゃん家)
Address: The ORB Luminous 1F / 2F, 7-10-5 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo 104-0061
Nearest station: 8-minute walk from JR Shimbashi Station (JR新橋駅)
Opening hours:
Tourist information counter: 11am–6pm (closed on weekends, national holidays, 31 December and New Year holidays)
Shop (1F): 11am–7pm (closed on 31 December and New Year holidays)
Restaurant “Ginza TSURU” (2F): 11:30am–3pm, 5pm–10pm (closed on Sundays, national holidays, 31 December and New Year holidays)
Tel: +81-3-3571-3086 (tourist information counter), +81-3-3571-7761 (shop), +81-3-3571-7763 (restaurant)
Nagano (長野)
⑪ Ginza Nagano~Shiawase Shinshu Share Space
Ginza Nagano in Ginza. (Image credit: Nagano Prefecture)
A land blessed with splendorous mountainous views, pristine natural beauty, amazing hot springs, and diverse food culture, Nagano is a prefecture that visitors from all over the world love to visit time and time again. It’s a place that brings sheer happiness to all those who set foot in it, but visitors can also enjoy the best of Nagano by checking out their antenna shop located in Ginza.
Ginza Nagano’s first floor. (Image credit: Nagano Prefecture)
Established in 2014, Ginza Nagano aims to be more than just a regular antenna shop. Occupying three floors altogether, it offers visitors a wide range of services for visitors with different needs. The first floor is where visitors can have a look and enjoy all the different food products that are locally produced in Nagano, such as their widely prized fruits and vegetables, wines and liquors, and much more. They should especially check out the Seasonal Shinshu Food Corner, where special seasonal foods on display beckon to be tried out.
Ginza Nagano’s second floor. (Image credit: Nagano Prefecture)
On the second floor, visitors can visit the tourist information counter to learn more about Nagano’s amazing spots and seek travel advice for their next adventure. There’s also an event space where events related to Nagano’s lifestyle and culture are regularly conducted. In fact, there’s also a space where visitors can take part in cooking lessons that specialise in Nagano’s cuisine!
What makes Ginza Nagano unique is the range of services offered on the fourth floor. Here, visitors can enquire about job opportunities and explore business opportunities in Nagano. The professional staff on deck are more than happy to help visitors with their business needs.
Ginza Nagano~Shiawase Shinshu Share Space (銀座NAGANO~しあわせ信州シェアースペース)
Address: 5-6-5 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo, Japan 104-0061
Nearest station: 7-minute walk from JR Yūrakuchō Station
Opening hours: 10am–8pm (closed on 31 December and New Year holidays)
Tel: +81-3-6274-6015
Yamanashi (山梨)
⑫ Cave de Wine-ken Yamanashi
Cave de Wine-ken Yamanashi in Nihonbashi. (Image credit: やまなし観光推進機構)
Do you love wine? Regarded as “Wine Prefecture”, Yamanashi is known primarily as one of the top producers of grapes in Japan, and hence is famous for its amazing wines. To appreciate the wines of Yamanashi, along with the prefecture’s food products, visitors can pay a visit to the Cave de Wine-ken Yamanashi located right in Nihonbashi.
Inside the antenna restaurant. (Image credit: やまなし観光推進機構)
Unlike other antenna shops, this is primarily an antenna restaurant that mainly focuses on showcasing Yamanashi’s food brands. Recently reopened in 2020 by Tasaki Shinya, who is the deputy governor of Yamanashi and also a world-class sommelier, the restaurant seeks to indulge visitors with the prefecture’s wines and pair them through fine dining with exquisite dishes that use locally grown ingredients.
If you fancy fine dining with Yamanashi’s best wines, do check this antenna restaurant out when in Tokyo.
Cave de Wine-ken Yamanashi (Cave deワイン県やまなし)
Address: Nihonbashi Plaza Building 1F (Fuji no Kuni Yamanashikan), 2-3-4 Nihonbashi, Chuo, Tokyo 103-0027
Nearest station: 4-minute walk from Yaesu Exit of JR Tōkyō Station (JR東京駅)
Opening hours:
Restaurant: 11:30am–2pm, 5pm–10pm (last order at 9:30pm)
Product sales and exhibition space: 11am–8pm (weekdays), 11am–5pm (weekends)
Tel: +81-3-3527-9185 (restaurant), +81-3-3241-3776 (product sales and exhibition space)
*Opening hours may be affected due to the coronavirus pandemic
Toyama (富山)
⑬ NIHONBASHI TOYAMA
NIHONBASHI TOYAMA in Nihonbashi. (Image credit: NIHONBASHI TOYAMA)
Blessed with the freshest bounties from the Toyama Bay and breathtaking sceneries of the sea and mountains, Toyama is a prefecture that is gradually gaining attention among visitors. For those in Tokyo who would like to learn more about Toyama’s offerings, they can check out not one but two antenna shops dedicated to the prefecture.
Inside the NIHONBASHI TOYAMA. (Image credit: NIHONBASHI TOYAMA)
First opened in June 2016, the NIHONBASHI TOYAMA is an antenna shop that is devoted to showcasing Toyama’s culture. It features a retail space, restaurant, tourist information space, an event area, and a bar lounge that showcases local sake from the prefecture. Guests to the shop will also be met with beautiful wooden lattice walls that are inspired by the ridgelines of the famous Tateyama Mountain Range.
NIHONBASHI TOYAMA (日本橋富山(TOYAMA)館)
Address: Nihonbashi Daiei Building (1F), 1-2-6, Nihonbashi-Muromachi, Chuo, Tokyo 103-0022
Nearest station: 8-minute walk from JR Tōkyō Station
Opening hours:
Shop: 10:30am–7:30pm
Restaurant: 11:30am–2:30pm, 5pm–10:30pm (closed at 9:30pm on Sundays and national holidays)
Bar lounge: 11:30am–2:30pm
Tel:
Shop: +81-3-6262-2723 / +81-3-3516-3020
Restaurant: +81-3-3516-3011
⑭ IKI IKI TOYAMA-KAN
IKI IKI TOYAMA-KAN in Yurakucho. (Image credit: NIHONBASHI TOYAMA)
Nestled in Yurakucho is another antenna shop of Toyama named IKI IKI TOYAMA-KAN. Here, over 800 seafood and mountain products from Toyama are on display, and cooking exhibitions that showcase the prefecture’s seasonal products are also conducted. Visitors will be spoiled for choice with all the wonderful, delicious foodstuffs available here, including the exquisite masuzushi (ます寿し)!
IKI IKI TOYAMA-KAN (いきいき富山館)
Address: Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan B1, 2-10-1, Yurakucho, Chiyoda, Tokyo 100-0006
Nearest station: 1-minute walk from JR Yūrakuchō Station
Opening hours: 10am–7pm (closed at 6pm on Sundays and national holidays)
Tel: +81-3-3213-1244
Ishikawa (石川)
⑮ Ishikawa Local Specialty Shop
The Ishikawa Local Specialty Shop in Ginza. (Image credit: Ishikawa Prefecture)
For our last antenna shop to be explored in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, we look at the one for Ishikawa, a prefecture that is steeped in history, culture, and of course delicious delicacies. Visitors in Tokyo who would like to learn more about Ishikawa can simply head over to Ginza where they can find the Ishikawa Local Specialty Shop, where interesting surprises await.
Established in 2014, the shop was set up with the concept of enabling visitors to explore the different local food products and traditional handicrafts of Ishikawa. It is made up of three floors altogether, with the basement floor being a retail space where all of Ishikawa’s local specialty food products are on sale, including processed seafood products, sake, condiments, and more.
Inside the Ishikawa Local Specialty Shop. (Image credit: Ishikawa Prefecture)
The first floor is another retail space that displays Ishikawa’s traditional handicrafts. Here, visitors can explore Ishikawa’s famous hyaku-mangoku (百万石 one million koku of rice) culture, which refers to the wealth and culture of the historical Kaga domain that once ruled the land, and is unique to the prefecture.
And on the second floor, visitors can drop by the tourism information counter to find out more about the best attraction spots in Ishikawa, and also witness workshops that are specially held to showcase the charms of the prefecture.
Ishikawa Local Specialty Shop (いしかわ百万石物語・江戸本店)
Address: TH Ginza Building, 2-2-18 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo 104-0061
Nearest station: 5-minute walk from JR Yūrakuchō Station
Opening hours:
Product sales and exhibition space (1F): 10:30am–8pm (closed on 31 December and New Year holidays)
Tourist information counter (2F): 10:30am–7:30pm
Tel: +81-3-6228-7172 (tourist information counter)
Closing
Antenna shops serve as gateways for people to learn more about the prefectures that they represent, showcasing their respective charms and beauty in terms of food, tradition, culture, and sightseeing spots. Plus, with many new products making their debut every season, and different events being held regularly, it’s always exciting to see what kind of experiences each shop offers for its visitors.
As many of the antenna shops are located right in the heart of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area and within walking distance from central railway stations, people will find it wonderfully convenient to visit them whenever they’re in town. So the next time you pay a visit to Tokyo, make sure to drop by these fun-filled shops and discover what they have in store for you!
(Tip: You can use the JR TOKYO Wide Pass to explore the antenna shops above, and many other places in Tokyo and its surrounding regions!)
JR TOKYO Wide Pass
The JR TOKYO Wide Pass and where you can use it. (Image credit: JR East)
If you are travelling to Tokyo and the surrounding areas, check out the JR TOKYO Wide Pass, an affordable pass offering unlimited rail travel on JR East lines (including bullet trains) in the valid area for 3 consecutive days. At only ¥15,000, it makes for a considerable option for those planning to travel around the region. You can also make seat reservations for bullet trains, some limited express trains and Joyful Trains online for free, up to 1 month in advance, on the JR-EAST Train Reservation.
The JR-EAST Train Reservation. (Image credit: JR East)
The JR TOKYO Wide Pass can be used for automatic ticket gates, and foreign passport holders living in Japan are also eligible to use this pass.
Header image credit: (Clockwise from top left) 青森県, Gunma Prefecture, いわて銀河プラザ, NIIGATA1〇〇