【Tokyo】Four fashionable spots in Omotesando where you can casually drop by.

Omotesando is a town of fashionable cafes and high-brand stores. However, if you are visiting Omotesando on a date, you would like to enjoy not only shopping and dining, but also a special experience just for the two of you. In this issue, we will introduce four stylish and unique date spots that you can casually drop by. From museums and galleries to creative stores, they are all places where you can spend an exciting time that is different from the usual. All of these spots are easy to stop by, so they are perfect for a strolling date!

1.Spiral Garden

Spiral Garden is a gallery space located on the first floor of Spiral, a cultural complex in Aoyama, Tokyo. Designed by architect Fumihiko Maki, Spiral Garden has been hosting a variety of cultural activities since its opening in 1985 under the theme of “Fusion of Life and Art.

Spiral Garden is an open space facing Aoyama-dori Avenue, with a distinctive design featuring a spiral ramp. In the bright atmosphere filled with natural light, exhibitions and events of various genres such as art, design, and fashion are held regularly.

The space offers many opportunities to view the latest works and projects by local and international artists and designers free of charge. There is also an adjacent café where visitors can relax after enjoying the exhibitions.

In terms of access, the space is very conveniently located, just a 1-minute walk from Exit B1 of Tokyo Metro Omotesando Station. Opening hours are from 11:00 to 20:00, but may vary depending on the event or exhibition being held, so it is recommended to check the official website in advance.

Spiral Garden is a precious space where many people can experience art and design in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city. It is a must-visit place when you are in the Aoyama/Omotesando area.

Spiral Garden

住所	Spiral Building 1F, 5-6-23 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
電話番号	03-3498-1171
営業時間	11:00 - 19:00
営業日	whole day
定休日	no rest
公式サイト	https://www.spiral.co.jp/shoplist/spiral_garden

2.Japanese Garden at the Nezu Museum

The Japanese garden at the Nezu Museum is known as an “urban oasis” with a vast area of approximately 20,000 square meters in the center of Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo.

The garden dates back to 1906, when businessman Kaichiro Nezu I purchased the land and created a garden with the atmosphere of a deep mountain valley.

The garden was designed in a circuitous fashion, taking advantage of the natural undulations of the landscape, and is decorated with seasonal plants. The pond, waterfall, numerous stone lanterns, and stone Buddha statues provide visitors with a space of tranquility and healing.

Of particular note are the four tea houses scattered throughout the park, which are sometimes used for actual tea ceremonies. The steppingstones and nendan (stone-paved pathways) around the teahouses are tastefully designed and enhance the beauty of the garden.

The main pathways in the garden have been renovated from stepping stones to cobblestones for easy walking, so that everyone can enjoy a stroll. The panoramic view of the garden can also be viewed 360 degrees on the official website.

After viewing the museum, visitors can take a stroll through the lush garden and feel the changing of the four seasons, and have a moment to forget the hustle and bustle of the city. When visiting Minami-Aoyama, be sure to visit the Japanese garden at the Nezu Museum.

Japanese Garden at Nezu Museum

住所	6-5-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
電話番号	03-3400-2536
営業時間	10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
営業日	Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
定休日	Mondays, exhibition change periods, year-end and New Year holidays
公式サイト	https://www.nezu-muse.or.jp/

3.MoMA Design Store Omotesando

MoMA Design Store Omotesando is the official store of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and is located on the third floor of the GYRE Building in Omotesando, Tokyo. The store opened in 2007 as MoMA's first overseas expansion.

The store offers an assortment of well-designed products carefully selected by MoMA's curators. Specifically, the store features a diverse product lineup that includes interior goods, stationery, fashion accessories, kitchenware, as well as MoMA exclusive products and items related to the museum's collections.

MoMA Design Store Omotesando is a favorite place for art and design lovers to find inspiration. It is also a great place for gift-giving, offering a wide selection of original and sophisticated design items.

Conveniently accessible, the shop is about a 6-minute walk from the Omotesando exit of Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote Line, about a 4-minute walk from Exit 4 or 7 of Meijijingumae Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda and Fukutoshin Lines, and about a 6-minute walk from Exit A1 of Omotesando Station on the Chiyoda, Ginza and Hanzomon Lines.

Business hours are from 11:00 to 20:00, and the store is open all year round (in accordance with the business days of the GYRE building). However, since business conditions are subject to change, we recommend checking the official website or the store's Instagram for the latest information before visiting.

MoMA Design Store Omotesando also offers membership privileges to MoMA New York, where members receive discounts and benefits. An online store is also available, allowing customers to purchase items from the comfort of their own homes.

In this way, MoMA Design Store Omotesando has become a familiar spot for many people to experience the fascination of art and design. If you are in the Omotesando area, why not visit?

MoMA Design Store Omotesando

住所	3F GYRE, 5-10-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
電話番号	03-5468-5801
営業時間	11:00 to 20:00
営業日	whole day
定休日	no rest
公式サイト	https://www.momastore.jp/shop/pages/about_locations_jp.aspx

4.Taro Okamoto Memorial Hall

The Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum is located in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, and was once the studio and residence of the famous artist Taro Okamoto. Taro Okamoto lived here for 42 years from 1954 until his death in 1996, creating many of his works.

The building was designed by architect Junzo Sakakura and features a unique design with a convex lens-shaped roof over block walls. In this studio, Okamoto not only created paintings and sculptures, but also dictated manuscripts, interacted with people, and conceived of giant monuments and murals such as the “Tower of the Sun.

The museum exhibits tools that Taro Okamoto actually used and works in progress, allowing visitors to feel his creative process up close and personal. In addition, the exhibition room on the second floor regularly holds special exhibitions to introduce visitors to Okamoto's diverse works and materials.

In the garden, some of Taro Okamoto's most famous sculptures are arranged to create a powerful impact on visitors. These works symbolize his energetic creativity.

The museum is open from 10:00 to 18:00 (last admission at 17:30). Admission is 650 yen for adults and 300 yen for elementary school students. Access is conveniently located an 8-minute walk from Omotesando Station on the Tokyo Metro Line or a 2-minute walk from the Minami-Aoyama 6-chome stop on the Toei Bus.

Visitors are required to take off their shoes inside the museum, and the use of baby strollers and large luggage are restricted. Since there is no parking, public transportation is recommended.

The Taro Okamoto Memorial Museum of Art is a precious place where visitors can experience the source of his creativity. The museum is a rare place where visitors can experience the source of Okamoto's creativity, and will be inspired by his works and ideas.

Taro Okamoto Memorial Hall

住所	6-1-19 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
電話番号	03-3406-0801
営業時間	10:00 to 18:00
営業日	Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
定休日	Tuesdays (open if Tuesday is a national holiday), year-end and New Year holidays (December 28 - January 4), and maintenance inspection days
公式サイト	https://taro-okamoto.or.jp/

Summary

We have introduced some casual date spots in Omotesando that you can enjoy. All of them are places where you can enjoy conversation and make new discoveries. If you want to enjoy a date that is different from shopping and visiting cafes, please visit the spots introduced here. Why not spend a special time just for the two of you while feeling the sophisticated atmosphere of Omotesando?