A trip to Ikea used to be quite an expedition. First, you needed to enlist your friend with a car, then block out half a day for the trip to Tachikawa or Funabashi (whichever store was closest). Now that the all-encompassing furniture store has finally opened a city-centre outlet in Harajuku, flatpack furniture is more accessible to Tokyoites than ever before. However, Ikea’s plans for city expansion don’t stop there. The Swedish brand has just announced it will be opening its second city-centre store in Tokyo this winter.
This new Ikea will take over the prime Shibuya real estate vacated by Forever 21, occupying the first to seventh floors of the Takagi Building in Udagawacho. The total footage of the store will be roughly 4,800 square metres. President and CSO of Ikea Japan, Helen von Rice, said she was excited about the new opening because Shibuya is the hub of new development in Tokyo. She added that the Shibuya store will function as an extension of the Harajuku one, in that it will focus on urban living and provide for the unique needs of city folk. Like the Harajuku venue, Ikea Shibuya will also serve sustainable food in its cafe.
The exact opening date has yet to be announced, but the company anticipates that the new location, which is just a few minute's walk from the iconic Shibuya Scramble, will open by the end of 2020. In the meantime, Ikea Japan will begin accepting applications for 170 employees (full-time and part-time positions) for the new store from June 18.
Here's what you can expect from the café at Ikea Harajuku. And before you head out, be sure to check our guide to going out safely in Tokyo.
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