Marisa Ribisi, one half of the design duo (with Sophia Coloma) of LA based line Whitley Kros, follows her musician husband, Beck, on tour through Japan.

I could spend days shopping in Shibuya. One of my favorite stops is Parco; a massive department store that houses a number of respected Japanese labels; Tsumori Chisato, Cabane de Zucca, United Bamboo and Frapbois to name a few.

         Around the corner from Parco are Vanessa Bruno, American Rag (way better in Japan than the States) and Midwest Home, which are all very cool stores to explore while in Shibuya. At the top of Midwest Home is a tiny French café with amazing food and delectable coffee.

         If stickers, stationary and suitcases are more your thing, you need to stop by Tokyu Hands, which stocks everything from bicycles to homeware and everything in-between.

         The main street in Aoyama accommodates a variety of recognizable names for faithful fashionistas: Comme des Garcon’s flagship store (which houses the largest selection I have ever seen!), Prada (which boasts some awesome architecture), the main Tsumori Chisato store, Loveless (a must-see for the Paris Hiltons of Japan) and L’Eclaireur.

         Around the corner you can find Undercover and 10 Corso Como; everything in this shop is to die for and they have a beautiful photo gallery in the basement. Zucca's flagship store is also nearby, with a café and bookstore at the top of the building. It features fabulous food and vintage Japanese comics for those with retro tastes.

         Another amazing shopping region can be found in the adjacent districts of Daikanyama and Ebisu. One of my favorite stores in this area is Number (9). Number (9) is mostly for men, but the small selection of women's fashions in stock are well worth the search. Only the most determined shoppers will be able to locate this treasure trove since it has no signage; to gain entrance to the store you have to knock on a 300   year-old wooden door.

         And if you’re determined to hit all the fashion hotspots in Japan, make sure you visit Harajuku, Shinjuku and Roppongi Hills; each has a distinctive fashion flavor and is sure to reveal some hidden gems.

Much love,

- Marissa