If you’ve been to Japan, you’ll know that Tokyu Hands carries almost every item you can think of. The mega one-stop shop has outlets around the country, including several in Tokyo, and offers a range of goods from souvenirs and stationery to cooking equipment, crafts and cosmetics.
Unfortunately, Tokyu Hands is now planning to shutter its Ikebukuro location on Sunday October 31. First opened in October 1984, the store is located near the massive Sunshine City shopping centre and comprises eight floors.
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It’s particularly well known for the Nekobukuro cat 'petting zoo' on the top floor. While technically not a café, since no food and drink were served, Nekobukuro opened in 2000 and was considered a forerunner of Tokyo’s cat café craze. The petting zoo had closed ahead of the store on Friday September 10.
Although the company was considering closing the store even before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, sales reportedly took a nosedive during last year’s state of emergency.
Currently, there’s no announcement on what the future holds for the storefront after October 2021. Luckily, you can still shop at Tokyu Hands locations in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ginza, Toyosu and more. For the full list of locations, visit the official website.
This article was originally published on March 23 and updated on September 8.
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