New York Japanese Resources

[AnaIkimaru]

This is by no means a full and complete list. These are places I visited, or attempted to visit during my stay in Manhattan. They are also in no order of preference.


Kimono House
182 Spring Street (on the corner of Thompson Street)
New York, NY 10012
Soho District
[url=kimonohouse.blogspot.com]kimonohouse.blogspot.com[/url]

Excellent shop. Enjoyed meeting Yumiko-chan. My biggest peice of advice is don't be put off by the size of the shop. Say what colors, formality, and price rangee you're looking for. She's got a LOT of stuff that is not put out on the floor. Her kanzashi were beautiful. In fact, I am wearing two of them on my wedding day. Yumiko-chan Arigato Gozaimasu!


Kimono Hiro
475 Main Street,
New York (Roosevelt Island),
NY 10044
http://www.kimonohiro.com/index_eng.html

Really had fun at my kitsuke lessons. I learned so much. I felt bad my companion couldn't seem to get her act together in time to join us (for either lesson), but it was still very fun. I've been trying to practice what I've learned. Worth every penny. I felt bad also that I was so flustered during my second lesson- I literally raced from the train back from Boston straight to the lesson because of delays during the ride. She was very accommodating and I must thank her and her friend (who was translating for that, as well as her patience due to my hearing impairment!



Urasenke International Chapter of NY
153 East 69th Street
New York, NY 10021-5108
(212) 988-6161
http://www.urasenkeny.org/

There is no better description I can say than AMAZING. The rooms were absolutely beautiful. Everyone was wearing iromuji solid color kimono in the appropriate colors for the month! It was mostly Japanese people there. The director was so very kind to allow me to have a tour of the facility. Bring. Your. Camera. The entire tea facilities was built in Kyoto, then brought over to NYC to be reassembled by carpenters which were flown in from Japan. There is a garden in the middle of the building, and a skylight. One could only wonder how delicately and perfectly the room changes as the sun moves through the sky and alters the lighting of the room.

Bring your tabi if you have them, or at LEAST wear socks. I thought I had brought my pair with me and was personally mortified to find that I hadn't! I apologized profusely (it also felt REALLY strange to walk on tatami mats with no socks or tabi).

Afterwards, the director herself learned of my purpose in New York, and helped point me in the right direction of places to go. It was here where I learned of all the resources listed below. Thank you very, VERY much!

[AnaIkimaru]

Other places one should visit: Little Tokyo! My favorite places in Little Tokyo include:

http://tinyurl.com/Sunrise-Mart
Great market to check out! Check for their peanut butter mochi, too, it's awesome!


http://www.saranyc.com/
Great works of pottery. We carry some of their artisan hashi rests in our booth. They also have masterworks by National Living Treasures within their shop!

[esther]

I wish I had gone with you. T_T Looks like you had a great time!! ^_^

But...wanna go to the Tea Summit at UWF this autumn? I don't see it out there on their website yet.

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