fabric shopping

Where to Buy Fabrics in Tokyo

by modes4u March 18, 2020

Tokyo is one of the most amazing cities in the world; it’s no wonder people flock to the city as it has something for everyone there. It’s especially fun to visit if you’re a fabric enthusiast and you are looking for some cute designs to work with! Here are some of our suggestions on where you can get some fabric shopping done in Tokyo:

The first is, of course, Nippori Fabric Town! Just head to Nippori Station and it’s a short walk from there. Check out this handy map of the shops you can find in the area. There you’ll find TONS of fabrics, you may not want to ever leave! They have a diverse range of textiles so whether you just sew on a casual basis or a professional one, and whether you’re looking for light cotton designs or heavier fabrics, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for there.

Next up is Okadaya Shinjuku, which offers lots of different fabrics for you to choose from, as well as all kinds of sewing notions and accessories such as thread, clips, buttons, clasps and more.

Then there’s Tokyo Hands, which has multiple branches across the country. For Tokyo, you can check out their larger branches in Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ikebukuro. They have a huge range of kawaii stationery but also carry fabrics and you can find many arts and crafts supplies there to match your sewing projects!

We simply have to mention the Tomato fabric shop in Nippori Fabric Town as well! It’s 5 floors of textile goodness, you’ll want to spend all day there. Each floor is dedicated to particular types such as cotton, knits, voile etc. They also carry plenty of sewing notions too. There’s one floor in particular that people especially like to visit for bargains. On that floor you’ll find many fabrics for just 100 Yen per meter!

Finally we have Yuzawaya, a store which is home to many stunning Liberty Japan fabrics as well as lots of sewing notions such as thread, needles, buttons, tape etc. They too, have multiple branches around the country.

These are just some of the fabric shops you can find in Tokyo! If you come across any others, drop us a comment and tell us about the ones you discovered! Happy shopping!

Pokemon fabric!

Lots of kawaii iron-ons

Tons of fabric rolls!

How pretty!!

We love these shiny designs!

Super cute sewing pattern (in Japanese)

Beautiful designer fabrics!

There are fabrics everywhere!

This is a really great designs for all kinds of sewing projects!

You can spend hours going through all the fabrics!

How colorful and kawaii!

March 18, 2020 1 comment

Tomato Fabric shop in Nippori, Tokyo

by modes4u March 17, 2020

If you’re looking to do some fabric shopping in Tokyo, Japan, then you simply HAVE to drop by Tomato in Nippori! Their incredible store sports 5 levels of fabric goodness that any sewing enthusiast is simply going to love. Sandra and Alan visited Tomato and snapped tons of lovely pictures featuring fabric rolls, designer textiles, discounted items, kawaii designs and more. The store is amazing! Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll find per floor:

Floor 1: You’ll find great bargains here, with fabrics around 100 Yen per meter. Depending on when you go, you may come across many other shoppers looking for big discounts so just be prepared!

Floor 2: Here is where you’ll find lots of knit fabrics, synthetic leathers, velour and more.

Floor 3: This floor is for luxury fabrics and features a bridal corner, as well as materials like silk, tulle, satin, velvet etc.

Floor 4: You’ll see tons of cotton fabrics here including character prints, organic fabrics, corduroy etc.

Floor 5: This is where they sell imported fabrics from the US, accessories, patchwork supplies, quilt batting, Japanese prints and tons of other goodies.

Make sure to check out the images below for more details! This is a shop you simply CANNOT miss out on visiting!

To get there, head to Nippori Station (JR Line, Keisei Line – Yamanote/Keihin-Tohoku, Joban, Keisei Line) and follow the signs to Nippori Fabric Town which is just about a few minutes walk away (you may see signs referring to it as ‘Nippori Textile Town’). Check out this handy Nippori Fabric Town map to help you locate Tomato.

Details:

Location: 6 Chome-44-6 Higashinippori, Arakawa City, Tokyo 116-0014, Japan

Opening times: Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm (they’re closed on Sundays and public holidays)

Website: https://www.nippori-tomato.com/

Here’s the floor guide to Tomato

A helpful map!

Look at all these fabric rolls!

The 100 Yen section is great for bargains

We love how the fabrics are mostly arranged by color here

You’ll see lots of designer fabrics here

Lovely yellow and pink prints!

Green fabric goodness!

More and more rolls!

This is a great section for lots of fabrics at low prices

Who else just wants to buy everything?

March 17, 2020 0 comment

Where to go Fabric Shopping In Japan

by modes4u March 3, 2020

Japan is home to some of the most beautiful fabrics we have ever seen! Inspired by their rich culture, Japanese fabrics adorn patterns popular the world over such as cherry blossoms, dragons and more. You can of course find lots of other types of designs, such as those that feature geometric shapes, kawaii characters, funny food patterns and much more.

When in Japan, you may want to check out certain places in particular for fabrics:

Tokyo is home to Nippori Fabric Town, which is a fairly big area with lots of fabric shops. There you’ll find designs suitable for all kinds of sewing projects from simple clothes to furniture upholstery, carpeting and more. It’s home to the world famous Tomato shop, which features 5 floors dedicated to all kinds of textiles, from those that are just 100 Yen per meter to more expensive ones. Their range includes cotton, satin, knits, buttons, thread and MUCH more.

Kyoto is where you can find Nomura Tailor where you can not only get stunning designer textiles but also lots of kawaii notions to sew with and varying fabric types such as brocade. Brocade fabric is highly detailed and incredibly popular, especially because of their bold motifs. They’re often used for bags, kimonos and more.

Now if you happen to be in Okinawa, you can also check out the popular House of 66 Cents, which is home to lots of gorgeous fabrics (you’ll find it a hard task indeed to leave)! They too carry designs with flowers, food, animals and more. There are plenty of notions and sewing accessories available too should you need them.

Also on our list is ABC Craft in Osaka, which, as its name implies, sells lots of goodies for arts and crafts! They do however, also sell fabrics and items to help you embellish your sewing projects. So if you’re looking for cute accessories to jazz up your projects, this is certainly the place to visit!

These are just some of the amazing fabric shops you can find in Japan! The country is full of lovely textile stores and you’ll certainly want to buy almost everything in sight. To give you a taste of some of the pretty fabrics and notions you can pick up, check out the photos Sandra and Alan snapped when they were in Japan. Fabrics galore!

Check out all the kawaii fabrics on display!

These cords are great for projects like drawstring bags

Here are super cute iron-ons!

What an adorable design!

Lots of fun character designs

More colorful prints!

Small pieces, ideal for small projects, patchwork etc.

Plenty of sewing patterns (in Japanese)!

So many lovely fabrics to choose from!

We could stay in shops like this all day!

So many fabrics to choose from!

Many beautiful design for all kinds of fun sewing projects!

March 3, 2020 0 comment

Fabric shopping in Nippori Fabric Town, Tokyo

by modes4u February 28, 2020

Many people LOVE visiting Nippori in Tokyo, Japan, to check out the incredible range of textile designs found in Nippori Fabric Town! This is THE place to go if you’re a sewing enthusiast and are looking for lovely designs to work with.

How do you find it? Simply head to Nippori Station (JR Line, Keisei Line – Yamanote/Keihin-Tohoku, Joban, Keisei Line) and signs will be there to point you in the right direction (when you visit, you may see signs referring to it as ‘Nippori Textile Town’). From the train station, it’s just a five minute walk or so to fabric paradise! Nippori-Senigai offers a very helpful map of the Fabric Town to help you get on your way.

Once you’re there, you’ll find shops dedicated to all sorts of sewing needs. There are many stores catering to regular fabrics used by those who sew for a hobby, or make clothes to sell etc. There are also shops that sell fabrics ideal for cosplay costumes. Other shops feature heavier fabrics suitable for upholstery, curtains, rugs etc. It’s a great area to just visit as there really is something for everyone. Prices range from 100 Yen per meter of fabric, to a few thousand, depending on the fabric types you’re looking for. They have tons of materials and textiles such as regular cotton, satin, tulle, laminates, imported designs etc.

If you head there, make sure to drop by the incredible Tomato store, which boasts 5 floors of fabric goodness. The designs they carry range in price and they sell a huge variety, as well as lots of notions. Another super popular shop to check out is Mihama Cloth, located very close to Tomato in Nippori. They have many beautiful textiles with Japanese themed designs such as sakura, fans, cranes and more. The textiles are clearly labeled with prices so that your shopping experience is made easier. These are of course just a few examples of the many awesome stores there, so make sure to head on over in person!

Sandra and Alan visited the fabric town and were able to snap tons of fab pictures for you to check out. Enjoy!!