Shibuya somehow feels even busier now than it did years ago. Around the famous crossing, new towers, rooftops, shopping complexes, and youth-focused spaces continue to appear – from Miyashita Park to the renewed PARCO and the newer developments surrounding the station. The energy is exciting, but after some time moving through the crowds, noise, and constant motion, I always begin looking for quieter corners hidden somewhere between the larger streets.
One of those places for me became the newly opened Margaret Howell Shop & Café. Although the brand itself is British, its thoughtful simplicity, natural materials, and understated approach to clothing and daily objects have always felt deeply at home in Japan. Inside, the atmosphere shifts completely from the pace outside. The café area is small and modest, with only a few tables, but that makes the pause feel even more intentional. Tea, simple European desserts, soft light, and a small stand with carefully selected magazines invite you to slow down for a while. During my last visit, I noticed The Happy Reader there – the kind of publication that naturally makes you want to stay longer, order another tea, and open your notebook.
It felt like the perfect place to take out my Midori journal, a long-time favorite for its quiet design and beautiful paper, together with one of my favorite Pilot erasable pens in a soft taupe color that somehow matched the atmosphere perfectly. Small moments like this are what I continue to love most about Tokyo – finding spaces that allow you to briefly step away from the intensity of the city and return to your own thoughts for a while.
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