Naka-Meguro

On Wednesday Seigi gave me an introduction as to how easy it is to get lost on the Tokyo transport system. The rest of the day was a jet-lagged blur. 

Back in action on Thursday and with my new found knowledge, I visited The Ginza Graphic Gallery to see this year's Tokyo Type Directors Club Exhibiton, took a leisurely walk through the Imperial Gardens and got back on the Metro, heading for Kiba to see the Ryoji Ikeda exhibition at The Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo. 

In the evening I met up with Seigi and his girlfriend for dinner plus ping pong in Naka-Meguro. Naka-Meguro is the coolest area of Tokyo right now - cheap rent has attracted a design-concious crowd who live and work in the area. Seigi works for graphic design agency Rich Black and lives two stops away on the Tokyu Toyoko line. The area has a european feel to it, the main focus being the Meguro river which is lined with with cafes, boutiques and book shops. Most of the stores are independent (a rarity for Tokyo) highlights being Cow Books, which sells out of print books and vintage magazines (I picked up an 80's edition of IDEA magazine) and Higashiya (owned and designed by interior designer Shinichi Ogata) a stunning store selling traditional Japanese bean sweets. The packaging and interior are amazing. The sweets an aquired taste.