What I Most Love About Famima Park Azabudai

You'd think it was the creative direction of Nigo. Yes, but that's not my favourite. You could suggest it's the retail fit-out by the wondrous Masamichi Katayama. Not the main thing I'm loving. Could it be the selection of Convenience Wear gear (I'm a fan of the socks!)? That's not it. Maybe some of the other collectibles exclusive to the store? Close...I'm pretty desperate for any of the merch: tees, keychains, that cute Famima soft toy. Gosh, I need one of those. But that's also not it.

It's the fact that this flagship store was specifically designed, as a conscious choice, to be a single-story, standalone building, in the city of multi-level everything. Tokyo has a 12-storey Uniqlo for crying out loud. Next to a 7-storey Dover Street Market. The Famima flagship could have been part of a massive development - it is right next door to the sky-high Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower complex. But it was chosen to sit outside of the main complex; to be a standalone, human-sized building. It gives a sense of the small-scale, from one of Japan's largest businesses. It says, "local convenience store", when it actually means, "this is big news". And what a stroke of brilliance to put a lush garden on the roof instead of huge vertical signage or billboards. And then the cherry on top, a public seating area within the roof garden, covered with a structure in the shape and design of the new Famima brand mascot - an F with a face - which can only be seen from above from those in towers surrounding the structure. Like, come on! Brilliance. All credit to Mr Katayama for that one, a true legend.

This is ultimately one of the most eye-opening and enjoyable things about Tokyo for a visitor - the fact that as large as the city is, made up of essentially a bunch of cities stuck together, it is so easy to quickly find yourself out of the hubbub of city life - high-rises, noise, masses of people - and in a low-level and relaxed community of people going about their lives, calmly and with space. You find yourself transition from the neon-future cityscape to gentle small-town quiet streets within a few steps. City planning perfection. A shining example for others to follow.

Famima Park Azabudai - clever on so many levels.