HAY and Cibone:
Tokyo’s Hidden Gem for Design Lovers
April 14, 2025
Tucked away on the basement floor of the stylish GYRE building in Omotesando, these stores are definitely easy to miss if you're focused on the ground-floor queues for Chanel or Maison Margiela. But for us, the real gem is this downstairs design haven featuring HAY and Cibone. First, you encounter HAY, the renowned Danish design store, filled with its signature colorful and contemporary home goods. Flowing seamlessly from HAY is Cibone, a Japanese-based lifestyle and design store celebrated for its curated blend of Japanese and international aesthetics.
Stylish Home Goods and Souvenirs You Can Actually Take Home
While purchasing larger furniture pieces at HAY might be tricky if you're just visiting Tokyo, it's still absolutely worth exploring for its fantastic selection of smaller home goods. Think foldable storage containers, candles, stylish kitchenware, towels, unique lighting, and their instantly recognizable tote bags (loved for their simple design and great colors!). One of their most popular items, though, has to be the beautiful paper lanterns. As shown in the picture above, they offer various shapes and sizes and cleverly fold down nearly flat – though still wide, they might just fit into your suitcase! We have one hanging in our home; although quite large for a typical Japanese apartment, it adds a lovely Japanese/Scandinavian ambiance that gives our rather plain room so much character.
Cibone Tokyo: High-End Home Goods, Fashion, and More
Through the connecting space, Cibone opens up like a lifestyle concept store with many mini corners. You'll find everything from high-end ceramics and kitchenware to apothecary items, a small rack of select vintage clothing, and even premium appliances like designer toasters. While I rarely buy anything, I always enjoy browsing. We especially love the clothing selection displayed in a circular enclosure, often featuring collections from brands like Auralee, Lemaire, and others.
Local Tip: If you happen to be visiting in spring (especially around March/April), keep an eye out for shin-seikatsu (new life) sales. April marks the start of the school year and working life for new employees, so home goods stores often have promotions. It's worth checking stores like HAY, but also larger chains like Nitori or IKEA if you're near them during this period!
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