The Loft
The Loft is a great store in Japan that caters to a younger crowd than many of the established department stores in Tokyo. If you are looking for souvenirs you won't find a better selection than The Loft and it's not a tourist trap, in fact you will be find that you are browsing through the store with many local residents.
The Loft is holding a "Summer Festival", through August 17th, with a wide selection of seasonal products that would make great souvenirs for yourself or gifts for friends and family. On a recent trip to the Shiubya location, I fell in love with the colorful fans displayed on an array of bamboo polls hung from the ceiling. The presentation was modern and artful and the selection was amazing.
In addition to the beautiful fans, there were tenugui, Japanese towels, made of 100% cotton that can be used as head coverings, environmentally friendly gift wrap, or simply hung on the wall as art. Some of the designs were stunning and I found it hard to limit myself to purchasing just one. Lovely yukata (cotton summer kimono), geta (Japanese sandals), and hand bags made from furushiki were also available.
The Loft offers a lot more than souvenirs and seasonal goods in their Tokyo area stores. When you visit make a point of taking in all of the floors of this modern and upbeat department store. Along with season goods, you will find distinctly Japanese house wares, stationery, games and toys that you may find hard to resist.
Take some time to visit The Loft any time of the year - you'll be glad you did!