I expect hate mail from at least one regular contributor this forum, but after my first -- and almost certainly last -- visit to Omotesando Hills today, that's my conclusion.

It is an architectually undistinguished collection of luxury shops, shops which sell things that pretty much can be found in many other locations throughout Tokyo. In addition, right now, it's new so it's hugely crowded. Management was trying to deal with this problem by posting guards at all entrances and denying entry at all of them except one.

My advice: Keep moving folks, there's nothing to see here. Sorry!

Not from me. I agree with you. In particular, the crowds have ruined the rest of the street. If I wanted to go to Shibuya or Shinjuku, I would have gone there instead.

Won't it all die down when the next new flavour opens? The Japanese in particular love "new". You should see how excited people get around here when a new Aeon shopping mall opens :p !

Hmmm... Richard, I suspect you fear verbal reprisals from me. Not to be so though. I will still drink late into the night with you even though you do not care for crowded shopping meccas. ;)

While architecturally it is little different from the Forest Plaza Omotesando Hills residence behind it, it is incorrect to say that as compared to others on the street it is not very different architecturally. Floors above and below ground to that extent do not exist anywhere else in Omotesando actually. The facade is a love or hate one and it is hard to find much overwhelmingly exciting about that aspect.

One point on which you err completely though is that the collection of shops found there is in fact significantly different than elsewhere in Tokyo though. Many of the shops are either first time efforts or first in Japan for the shop in question. Take Gieves & Hawkes for example. There are of course shops such as D&G but given the crowds for them it is clear one would be leaving money on the table by excluding them. From a business perspective which is one of the major reasons for the mall, it is sound thinking. I will be curious to see what the selection of shops looks like in 2 years. Some will make it some will possibly not. Have witnessed that elsewhere (i.e. Roppongi Hills, and still there seem to be ready replacements.

Ultimately it sounds as though do not care for the place because of the crowds. That, as you well know, is a fact of life in Tokyo. That the streets are so crowded and not set up as a pedestrian zone during the weekends is purely a function of what Shibuy-Ku's government will allow. Private firms, much to the chagrin of said firms, do not hold as much sway with local governments as they might like.

I will personally visit Omotesando Hills only after the initial hubbub has died down. This means I may not get there for a year, will only go at 1pm on a school day, etc. I too cannot abide huge crowds, and shopping is right there on my list of favorite activities next to dental work.

Everyone's comments are welome. I do think however that the Japanese fashion industry, the redevelopment of Tokyo from an architecturally unsafe hodge-podge of buildings to a more carefully considered city construction-wise, and the general shopping public are very well served by this project and others like it.

Mike



I expect hate mail from at least one regular contributor this forum, but after my first -- and almost certainly last -- visit to Omotesando Hills today, that's my conclusion.

It is an architectually undistinguished collection of luxury shops, shops which sell things that pretty much can be found in many other locations throughout Tokyo. In addition, right now, it's new so it's hugely crowded. Management was trying to deal with this problem by posting guards at all entrances and denying entry at all of them except one.

My advice: Keep moving folks, there's nothing to see here. Sorry!

I concur with what I read about Mori somewhere - the business idea behind a mall is nothing new, but he has succeeded in buying individual pieces of land in these areas to build something that resembles a mall. I liked the sloping walkways concept (never seen it before, I am sure it is not the first in the world). Shops are small, but well arranged with decent eateries (wife tried out a funny ice cream that tasted bad to me, great to her). At 11 AM on a saturday morning there was a big queue outside, we got in and no surprise, the eateries filled up first and there was a big queue outside each of them. Perhaps everyone came there and did not know what to do after getting there.

Ultimately it sounds as though do not care for the place because of the crowds. That, as you well know, is a fact of life in Tokyo. That the streets are so crowded and not set up as a pedestrian zone during the weekends is purely a function of what Shibuy-Ku's government will allow. Private firms, much to the chagrin of said firms, do not hold as much sway with local governments as they might like.


I don't know what the "new" steady state level of crowds will be once the hubbub dies down, but one of the appeals of Omotesando was precisely the wide sidewalks, which although crowded, weren't noticeably so, giving it a feel much different from other high-density areas in Tokyo.

During the bubble economy, the road was closed on weekends, which made for a great promenade. Then the lost decade set in, with traffic and people densities much reduced, just as Shibuya-ku decided to do away with the pedestrian street. It wasn't a big deal, density wise, because the area was, frankly, a little depressed and somewhat run-down. With the return of economic growth, the place is much spruced up, with the subsequent increase in foot traffic, which has now reached unpleasant proportions. Time for Shibuya-ku to get with the program, if they don't want to kill the goose of the golden eggs.

And, I find it rather odd that Mori-san doesn't have enough clout to push the city government around to even better improve the positioning of the new development. Aren't Mori-san and Ishihara-san good friends?

Has anyone been in the Hasegawa sake shop in Omotesando Hills?
I've seen some photos of it--looks kind of cool design-wise, and includes a bar area. Apparently their policy at the new shop is to only carry bottles 720ml or smaller, which is kind of fun from the perspective of trying various things.

I'll see if I have the strength to brave the crowds while I'm there...

I may have snuck in for a peek........... ;)

I cannot handle the crowds, but as that shop is on a top floor you are not in the middle of an area getting traversed to reach somewhere else.

Mike

Has anyone been in the Hasegawa sake shop in Omotesando Hills?
I've seen some photos of it--looks kind of cool design-wise, and includes a bar area. Apparently their policy at the new shop is to only carry bottles 720ml or smaller, which is kind of fun from the perspective of trying various things.

I'll see if I have the strength to brave the crowds while I'm there...

I may have snuck in for a peek........... ;)

I cannot handle the crowds, but as that shop is on a top floor you are not in the middle of an area getting traversed to reach somewhere else.

Mike

I wonder if they sell potato hooch there?

Not sure as I visited before the project opened, but they may well do. Have sent you e-mail on that very topic just now in fact.

Mike

I wonder if they sell potato hooch there?

Not sure as I visited before the project opened, but they may well do. Have sent you e-mail on that very topic just now in fact.

Mike

Information guide just sent......
QSG

I have to admit that I didn't stop to look carefully at what shops were there, I was just so overwhelmed by the crowds, but I still think the place isn't that distinguished architecturally either. The sloping levels bit is mildly cute, but that huge long stairway in the middle looks like it belongs in an Oedo line station!

Won't it all die down when the next new flavour opens?

Don’t worry, if Pickles is real lucky, it could all pick up again should they decide to stage the equivalent of a TOKYO MILLENARIO (http://www.nifty.com/millenario/flash/) there next Christmas.

Don’t worry, if Pickles is real lucky, it could all pick up again should they decide to stage the equivalent of a TOKYO MILLENARIO (http://www.nifty.com/millenario/flash/) there next Christmas.

Don't joke about it -- the Millenario is is on "hiatus" for 2 or 3 years because of building work near Tokyo Station. Don't even suggest in jest that they should move to Omotesando!

Don’t worry, if Pickles is real lucky, it could all pick up again should they decide to stage the equivalent of a TOKYO MILLENARIO (http://www.nifty.com/millenario/flash/) there next Christmas.

I made the mistake of going to the Millenario with some Japanese friends one year. It was memorable how unpleasant it was. At least during the Emperor's birthday, you get to see them wave at the crowds, which makes the crowds and the wait bearable. But for a bunch of lights? Feh!

Speaking of lights Pickles, I just had a wonderful walk with the dog and saw a dark sky full of bright stars.

I'm always amazed to see the building that goes on in the cities here. Take a walk down this town's main drag and all you will find are shuttered store fronts. Although I would never want the crowds of Tokyo, I wouldn't mind a few places that weren't attached to an Aeon shopping centre or stip mall. Perhaps the realty people of Tokyo would like to take a whirl in this neck of the woods........lot's of space available!

Deleted - too far off topic

FT boys and girls, allow me to serve as apologist for Omotesando Hills, since mjm was busy squiring a bunch of Gaia KK shinnyushain around Roppongi Hills. I went again on Saturday early evening, around 7:30 or so. The crowds had died down substantially (except at the top floor restaurants, which were mobbed), although it is still quite busy. I had a chance to calmly walk up and down the entire complex, including the dojunkai annex, and get a couple of drinks at Bisty.

I take my feh position back. This is not a mall, it's an extremely upscale artisan's market, like the ones you'd find in Latin America. The stores are quite small, and each specializes in some strange, hard to characterize goods. Very diverse offerings, not really chain stores, even Japanese ones. Although there are a number of well-known brands represented here, only a couple (like YSL and D&G) are considered "aspirational luxury" and widely available elsewhere. The rest are either very small companies (Harry Winston) or one-off's.

In its own way, very Japanese, and continues the Japanese tradition of "mom and pop" artisanal approach to retail that is pervasive everywhere in Japan.

Out doing my "support crew" thing that fine, albeit cold, Saturday. Make-up day off next week though. :)

But that sure was one heckuva big bunch of soon to be Pachinko parlor staff.

Hope you and the Mrs. enjoyed the Hills and glad to hear you liked Bisty's. I am keen to try it myself. It, of all the shops at OH, has my interest very piqued.

Tell me more............

Mike



FT boys and girls, allow me to serve as apologist for Omotesando Hills, since mjm was busy squiring a bunch of Gaia KK shinnyushain around Roppongi Hills.

Don't joke about it -- the Millenario is is on "hiatus" for 2 or 3 years because of building work near Tokyo Station. Don't even suggest in jest that they should move to Omotesando!

http://www.iberimage.com/es/fotodetalle.jsp?id_foto=209_V_0194.jpg

photo would have been taken in March this year in Sueca (a teeny little place on the outskirts of Valencia, Spain), At least here there was the additional attraction of an artistically constructed mega bonfire (http://www.iberimage.com/es/fotodetalle.jsp?id_foto=209_V_0197.jpg) and some proper fireworks.