Tokyo Explorer

In more ways than one, Omotesando Hills represents the future of the main Omotesando drag.

After opening a couple of years ago, the six floors of one of the most up-market, if not largest shopping options in the city was inundated as thousands visited daily and lines formed outside the main entrance.

Today, just around the corner from that much publicized opening, ‘Hills’ has reached the point it was perhaps aiming for in the first place; the mad rush of shoppers and sightseers long past, serious shoppers who know what they like, and have the money to spend forming the backbone of the custom now.

Construction wise, Hills is a phenomena, what with its angled, continuous floor running around the inside perimeter of a large hollow area. Not because if its size or even space for that matter – but for its ambience – an oft-ignored commodity in Japanese department stores.

A total of 77 shops line the walls of the walk-around slopes, interspersed with five galleries and at least two multi-purpose communal spaces.

None of these facilities ever appears as ‘in-yer-face’ as similar outlets seen in department stores elsewhere around the city. Instead, as with everything else in Hills, the shops here are a part of the larger experience, and it is always the experience that comes first.

For the peckish, around fifteen classy cafes and finger lickin’ restaurants, covering a range of tastes exist to cater to your every culinary need, and as with all up-market locales, the game here is as much about being seen as it is about eating in said restaurants positioned twixt the niche type stores lining the upper slopes.

Sadly, as simple yet modern as Hills is, it lacks in the opportunity to have its existence promoted by those visiting and taking photos inside, for at each turning point of the ascending and descending slopes, signs ask that photos not be taken from what is, without doubt, the ideal ‘capture all in a single shot’ vantage point.

It is only when the realization sinks in that the architects and / or designers have themselves foreseen the possibility of cameras tumbling several tens of metres to the basement below (open plan remember) and likely causing bodily injury, that extremely strong lights targeting each and every ‘between floors’ turning point are noticed.

At first cursed, these lights later appear to be a darned good idea – for it is a long way down, and a bunch of tourists snapping away, fingers raised in a peace sign really would remove from the ‘experience’.

The large central stairwell that creates the centerpiece of the whole structure, dim lighting and non-intrusive music add to the complete shopping trip for those with a few yen to spend and seeking to shop in serenity – no bright lights, shrieking teenage sales clerks and/or fluorescent “SALE – EVERYTHING MUST GO” signs here.

Head to Harajuku’s Takeshita Street for the kiddy area.

Omotesando Hills is about class, delivers class, and, you get the feeling, expects visitors to be just that little more ‘up-market’ than the youngsters down the road in Harajuku or Shibuya.

Be chic, be discreet – visit Hills.

Open seven days a week – 11:00 – 22:00.