Nippori Fabric Town (Tomato)

Nippori Fabric Town is a street full of fabric stores.
http://www.netlaputa.ne.jp/~nippori/index.html
http://nippori-map.com/

Shops to Visit:
TOMATO
Tomato (Wholesale Textile Store)
5-24-8 Higashi Nippori,
Arakawa-ku.
Tel: 03-3805-5020.

Tomato is just one of a string of Yanesen fabric stores that make up what is known as Nippori Textile Town. the cash issue, it might be important to note that as the area was originally a wholesale area, some stores have signs (in Japanese) saying that they don’t answer questions, so don’t expect to have a discussion with the staff about what fabric you should choose. You’re on your own. You have to pay for your purchases on each floor separately. You will probably want “kore o kudesai” (koh-ray oh koo-deh-sah-ee) which means “this please”, as you hand something to a clerk for purchase, or point at something you want.

Open Mon-Sat 10am-6pm, closed Sun.
Nearest station: Nippori / Nishi-Nippori (Keihin-Tohoku line)
http://www.nippori-tomato.com/tomato/

Main Tomato
– Fabric
Open 10am – 6pm
5-storeys and has a fantastic range of fabrics at amazing prices
http://www.nippori-tomato.com/tomato/2hon.html
NOSHON Hall
– handicraft goods knick-knacks and accessories such as decorative ribbons.
Open 10am – 6pm
Arch Hall
– Showroom and samples
Open 10am – 6pm
Interior Museum
– Curtains fabric and accesories
Open 10am – 6pm
– 2-storeys

CASH ONLY – no credit cards

Maps/Directions:

Located at Nippori, which is in northern Tokyo up near Ueno.
Catch the JR Yamanote line to Nippori Station and followed the signs to the North exit and then the East exit. If you turn right out of the station and work your way diagonally towards the left then follow the signs to “Nippori Textile Town” you will hit Fabric Street. The street has big blue pennants hanging from the buildings.

This is a typical sign at a JR Yamanote line station. The designated color of this line is apple green:

http://www.bento.com/subtop5.html

http://www.nippori-tomato.com/tomato/2kaisya_chizu.html
http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readstorereview.pl?readreview=1&ID=1304
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-photo/new_discoveries/japan_2006/1185416760/dsc01052.jpg/tpod.html