東京巡り – Shannon Teoh Club

Stylish Spots ☞ Meiji Jingumae

観光客として原宿駅と渋谷駅の周辺をよく歩き回ったが、今その二つの間にある明治神宮前駅の方が好きだ。

少し探しにくいかもしれないが、住宅地の間に挟まれている素敵な店がいくつかある。

今回、写真でレストランのCaroline Dinerとカフェ兼文具屋のThink of Thingsをご紹介したいと思う。

As a tourist, I really liked exploring the areas around Harajuku and Shibuya, but having lived here in Tokyo, I now prefer the area between the 2 near Meiji Jingu Mae station.

If you explore a little bit, you will find treasures sandwiched between residential areas.

Today, I would like to introduce the burger place “Caroline Diner” and a cafe/stationery shop “Think of Things” through photographs.

#1 A bit of Neon, a bit of American

Caroline Diner
★★★★☆
Address 2 Chome-14-11 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001

Access 11 minute walk from Meiji-Jingumae Station
Hours 12-6pm (rest on thursdays)

ネオン看板が好きだから、店の外見が魅力的だと思った。全体的にアメリカの雰囲気がある。

昔よく誕生日ケーキのチェリーを食べ時、いつも種のない偽物のチェリーだったが、今回同じ鮮やかな赤色だが、種のある本当のチェリーだ！知ったる時に一瞬の感動が
湧いてきた。

カロラインバーガー1250円（ポテト付き）
ブルーハワイフロート800円

I really like neon signs, so I found this shops’s exterior fairly charming.It has an American vibe overall.

Whenever I ate birthday cake cherries, it is always the bright red fake cherry. However, despite have the same bright red colour, the one on the soda was a real one! It was a sweet surprise.

#2 Typography Nerd’s Cafe

Think of Things

★★★★★
Address THINK OF THINGS、〒151-0051 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Sendagaya, 3 Chome−62−1
Access 5 minute from Meiji Jingumae

Hours 11am-7pm

JAGDA新人賞を得たデザイナー「金井あき」をデザインした文具店兼カフェだ。特に店の中のタイポグラフィが素敵だと思い、タイポグラフィオタクの天国だ。

時期によっていろいろな小さい展覧会が開催されたり、限定メニューも提供したりするいい点がある。今回秋メニューにあるアップルジンジャーを注文してみた。美味しいし、ジンジャーもたっぷり。

アップルジンジャー570円

This is a stationery shop/cafe designed by JAGDA newcomer award winner Kanai Aki. The typography used in the shop is on point, it is a heaven for typography nerds.

They have small exhibitions from time to time as well as seasonal menu. This time I ordered apple ginger from their autumn menu. Its delicious with a generous amount of ginger!

Apple Ginger for 570 yen

Next stop ☞ ???

Hidden Spots ☞ Shimotakaido

Another lesser known place I fancy. Shimotakaido. Its in the same ward I live in, Setagaya, but I still need to take the train for around 45 minutes to get there. It’s a peaceful place to spend a day especially with the 3 spots I will introduce, they are all within a minute walk from the station. You could catch a morning movie at Shimotakaido Cinema, have lunch at Sakahon Soba and get a haircut at Barber Sakota right after. 🌞

The interesting thing is that I got there by a train line called the Setagaya Line that is rather different from other lines. Firstly, you get on by tapping your card on the train itself rather than the gantry outside(except for the terminal stations). Next, it is smaller in size, like a tram or a bus and if you’re lucky it will travel backwards from where your seat is facing. Its weirdly fascinating to see the sceneries of Setagaya moving backwards haha. 🚃

DISCLAIMER* The opening times might be affected by the covid-19 pandemic.

#1 Indie films in the morning

Shimotakaido Cinema下高井戸シネマ
★★★★☆
Address 3 Chome-27-26 Matsubara, Setagaya City, Tokyo 156-0043
Website http://www.shimotakaidocinema.com/
Access 1 minute walk from Shimotakaido Station
Price 1700jpy for 1 ticket (1300jpy if you are a university student)

The first place I would like to introduce is an independent cinema simply known as the Shimotakaido Cinema. The building itself is rather pure-looking and unlike a usual cinema, the interiors are a little old-fashioned and a little cute too😎

Firstly they bring in interesting foreign films that major cinemas do not carry and they also put on certain japanese cult classics from time to time. As you can see in my photos, it only cost a whopping 1000yen on the “cinema day” Doesn’t it have indie vibes? Anyway its a decent place. 🎥 Note that no food allowed though. 🍿

#2 Soba with Nostalgic vibes

Sakahon Soba Noodles さか本そば店
★★★☆☆
Address 4 Chome-45-16 Akatsutsumi, Setagaya City, Tokyo 156-0044
Access 1 minute from Shimotakaido Station

Hours
Mon-Sun: 9:00~21:00; closed on thursday

This was recommended by a writer of a magazine as well. It has a wide selection of soba and I got one with some mochi in it! I never had mochi back in my home country, even if it was Japanese cuisine, it wouldn’t be included in the menu. Thus, I took the chance and went for it~it was chewy and melting! 🍜

The shop owners are old and the place is old; but I like it all the same. In fact it is the nostalgic showa retro vibes that make it special. Note that there is no English menu, only go if you know some Japanese.

#3 Barber for city folks

Barker Sakota
★★★★☆
Address 〒156-0044 Tokyo, Setagaya City, Akatsutsumi, 4 Chome−42−19 青山ビル１F
Website https://www.barber-sakota.com/
Access 1 minute walk from Shimotakaido Cinema
Price 3000jpy for cut & 1000jpy for wash

Hours
Mon-Sun: 10:00~20:00;

I was looking for haircut recommendations in Popeye magazine and most had astronomical prices. The most reasonable one I saw was Barber Sakota–they go only by reservation, no walk-in. If it’s just cutting, its 3000yen and an additional 1000yen for a wash. In an interview, the owner mentioned that if the customer left it up to him to decide the haircut, he would look at the customer’s shoes to decide what kind of person he is; to decide on his cut. 💈

The place had a cozy modern+mid century interior, I like the smell here more than most salons. My hair was cut by the disciple rather than the owner and it was intricate; the hair wash was great too! My scalp felt minty and fresh after the massage! 💆‍♂️

Next stop ☞ ???