LOOKING GOOD
In store


Kaleidoscope Mukashikan
A magical world of light and color awaits shoppers at Kaleidoscope Mukashikan. The small specialist store seems to be permanently packed with potential customers "ooh"ing and "aah"ing over the plethora of kaleidoscopes on display. Large bulky tabletop scopes made of thick stained glass are around JY127,000, while their smaller hand-held cousins can be bought for JY39,700. Novelty scopes made from old Budweiser bottles (JY15,200) are sandwiched between the ornate handmade scopes with metal fretwork and multiple dials that dazzle the eye. At the cheaper end of the spectrum are the wooden scopes (from JY7000) filled with colored oils-like a ' flashback-and the dragonfly eyepieces (from JY2500) that produce multiple refractions of whatever you look at. The larger scopes make great objets d'art or accent pieces, while the smaller scopes or make-your-own kits (JY2000) are perfect for topping up someone's stocking come Christmas.

2-13-8 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tel: 03-3453-4415; Ikspiari 1-4 Maihama, Tel: 047-305-5802 www.brewster.co.jp 


Lilliput
Fans of Lilliputian literature should hot-foot it to this great little find in Jingumae. The appropriately small store is packed with diminutive tomes that range in size from the palm-sized down to the world's smallest book - a 1mm2 version of "Old King Cole". Many of the collectors' items on sale are 19th century curios, handmade originals or German imprints. A leather bound antique version of "The Arabian Nights" will set you back JY34,500, while a 13x9mm volume of "The Ten Commandments" costs JY12,500. Polyglots and polymaths will be pleased by the wide range of languages and subjects available in miniature form - for the amorous among them there is even the micro-book "I Love You" with the three words in many languages (JY12,500). At the lower end of the price range are a set of five elementary school texts at JY500 and some German cookery books at JY300 each. Perfect for bibliophiles bound by Tokyo's space restrictions.

1F Softown Aoyama, 3-1-24 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tel: 03-3470-2020.


SOHO'S ROOM
Part of the ongoing redevelopment of Ginza's Matsuya department store includes the opening of SOHO'S ROOM, a stylish boutique featuring the best of global design. Stating that their concept is to provide "freedom and individuality for modern adults," SOHO'S ROOM has collected a fine array of clothes and lifestyle items from designers and brands that include Allesandro Dell'acqua, Samsonite and Ludwig Reiter. Seiji Kuroki's fuchsia dress shirt (JY18,000) is teamed with his take on a classic tweed jacket (JY68,000), and Reiter completes the look with black sneakers trimmed with pink (JY19,800). Add a quirky twist to the old "come up for coffee" routine with Erik Jan Kwakkel's double cup (JY4900) or a brandy from the delightfully simple glasses by Ton Haas (JY1900).

5F Matsuya, 3-6-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tel: 03-3567-1211. www.j-plaza.or.jp/matsuya/