Nippori Textile Town

In short

Nippori Textile Town is a fabric district centering on Nippori Chuo-dori Street from JR Nippori Station, where fabric and textile shops line both sides for about 1 kilometer. It began in the early Taisho era when dealers of secondhand textiles and fabric scraps relocated from the Asakusa area. Today, designers, artists, and students visit in search of materials, and it also attracts many visitors from overseas.

• ​Fabric and Accessories Shops​​: Shops handle all kinds of fabric and textile goods, from traditional Japanese and Western clothing fabrics to fashion accessories and sewing notions.
• ​Ura-Nippori and Oku-Nippori​​: Shops can also be found in back alleys off the main street, on the second floors of buildings, and beyond Otakebashi-dori Street.
• ​Furatto Nippori​​: A facility located around the middle of the street where maps and brochures of the textile town are available.

History and Highlights

​Nippori Textile Town​ is a fabric district stretching for about 1 kilometer on both sides of Nippori Chuo-dori Street (a bus route), starting from the East Exit of JR Nippori Station. It offers everything related to fabrics and textiles, including materials for Japanese dress, Western dress, men's and women's clothing, children's clothing, textile products, and fashion sundries and accessories. Approximately 80 shops (about 60 companies) are members of the district association.

Its origins date back to the early Taisho era. Dealers in secondhand textiles and fabric scraps who had operated in Asakusa moved as a group to the Nippori and Mikawashima area, which was still relatively quiet at the time. After experiencing land readjustment following the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 (Taisho 12) and the Great Nippori Fire of 1938 (Showa 13), about 20 businesses began retail storefront sales around Dai-san Nippori Elementary School. These merchants purchased fabric remnants, scraps, and second-grade goods from scrap wholesalers in Kanda and Asakusa to sell.

During World War II, business was suspended until the end of the war due to the controlled wartime economy. As soon as the war ended and controls on fabric remnants were lifted, merchants resumed business in Nippori, establishing the foundation of what it is today. In 1969 (Showa 44), two organizations merged to form the Tokyo Nippori Textile Wholesalers Cooperative. From the Taisho era to around the end of the Showa era, it was a wholesale district serving regional professionals, but with changing times, the number of retail stores increased. In recent years, many visitors have come from abroad.

Points for Viewing and Experiencing

• ​A Street Lined with Specialty Shops​​: On Nippori Chuo-dori Street, specialty stores focusing on textile materials—such as leather, trimmings, buttons, patterns, sewing, and accessories—continue to increase. Designers, apparel manufacturers, artists, and students visit in search of materials.
• ​Ura-Nippori and Oku-Nippori​​: In addition to the main street, shops with distinct selections are found in "Ura-Nippori" (in the back alleys and on the second floors of buildings) and "Oku-Nippori" (beyond Otakebashi-dori Street).
• ​Affordable Prices​​: The prices are so reasonable that the term "Nipokaji" (Nippori casual fashion) was coined, drawing a diverse crowd ranging from students and other young people to older generations.

Tips for Exploring

It is a 3-minute walk from the South Ticket Gate of JR Nippori Station. Upon exiting the South Ticket Gate, signs and street markings lead toward the textile district, where a monument and flags for "Nippori Textile Town" come into view. Around the middle of the street stands "Furatto Nippori," which includes a tourist information center and a rest area, where maps and brochures of the textile town can be obtained. Operating hours and regular holidays vary by shop. A design contest is held at Furatto Nippori every autumn. Yuyake Dandan is also within walking distance, located approximately 770 meters to the west.