Poppy Lissiman Shares Her Stylish Guide To Tokyo
Postcards from Poppy
Fremantle native Poppy Lissiman is no stranger to change. Since founding her eponymous label back in 2008 and catapulting her brand into cult status, with celebs like Bella Hadid and Margot Robbie spotted sporting her creations, the sunglasses and accessories designer has called many places home. Most recently, Lissiman has just returned from a two-year stint in Tokyo.
Undoubtedly one of the biggest fashion capitals of the world, we caught up with Poppy to see Tokyo through the eclectic, Poppy Lissiman-branded lenses of the woman herself and get all her insider tips on the city.
What do you love most about Tokyo?
Experiencing an entirely new culture. Japan is truly so different to anywhere else I have travelled or lived. I love how safe it is. For such a massive super city it’s incredibly serene and calm. People are very respectful of others’ personal space. And finally, their toilets. I’m really going to miss those.
Three must-visit neighbourhoods in Tokyo and why?
Jimbocho: has the best vintage book shopping.
Taito City / Kappabashi: I love going to Kappabashi to buy unique kitchen crockery. It’s where all the restaurants source their ceramics and Japanese knives. I also recommend dropping into Sensoji Temple and the Tokyo National Museum, which are also in Taito City.
Yoyogi-Koen: on the edge of Shibuya, Yoyogi Park is one of my favourite nature fixes in Tokyo. Plus, the outskirts of the park feature so many gorgeous cafes and wine bars.
What are some of your favourite restaurants and cafes in Tokyo?
Yasubei of Ebisu: for life-changing fried gyoza. Make sure you also order the potato salad.
Narukiyo Izakaya: for a super cool izakaya and maybe to spot the odd celebrity.
Fuglen Tokyo: for coffee or a cocktail.
Where do you like to go for a night out in Tokyo? Any favourite bars, clubs, or entertainment spots?
Studio Mule and No.501: my favourite bars for natural wine.
Aoyama Tunnel (also known as Red Bar): for dancing. Great any night of the week. In my opinion, they play the best music in Tokyo – my friend Sante throws a party there on the third Saturday of every month with the best DJs.
Suigian: for a truly Japanese entertainment experience. It’s a restaurant/bar where every hour, you’re treated to a Japanese theatre show. I went the other night for my birthday and we watched the most beautiful dance by a geisha. I highly suggest booking a table here.
Where do you find fashion inspiration in Tokyo?
Tsutaya’s Daikanyama T-Site: Tsutaya is a bookstore chain in Japan – they’re everywhere but Daikanyama T-Site is their most premier outpost. The lower levels are a trove of incredible magazines and books covering all subjects and genres. The upper levels have archives upon archives of magazines going back decades for publications such as Vogue, Architectural Digest, Domus, Elle, National Geographic, Playboy… you name it, they have it. I often park up here for hours pouring over their magazines and never leave empty-handed with a new magazine or book from downstairs.
Harajuku, Omotesando, and Jingumae: I love vintage clothing and accessories shopping in the backstreets of these areas. My favourite stores are Amore Tokyo, Vintage QOO, Casanova Vintage, and Solzake for vintage eyewear.
Describe a typical weekend for you in Tokyo.
Not too much is open before 11am in Tokyo so I usually walk to the gym and then make breakfast at home. Then, my husband Harro and I will usually choose a gallery or museum to go to and choose a spot to eat for lunch nearby. If it’s a nice day, we sometimes take our lunch to a park with a cheeky bottle of wine. We love doing picnics in Yoyogi Park in Shibuya (great for dog-spotting) or Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. Lately we have been using Luup a lot (hire bikes or scooters, kind of like CityBike or Lime).
In the afternoons, I like to go vintage book hunting in Jimbocho or Aoyama Book Center which is near my house. In the evenings, we will typically have dinner booked somewhere, but if we’re unorganised and haven’t booked anything, we will go to a Yokocho (which means an alleyway of little stalls/restaurants/bars). Our favourite is Ebisu Yokocho, which is a hotspot for young people to go on dates or hook up, so the energy is pumping and everyone is super friendly.
Most weekends we will head to our favourite bar in Tokyo – Aoyama Tunnel (sometimes known as Red Bar) which is located under a highway underpass in Shibuya. On Sundays, if we’re not too dusty, we might do a day trip out of Tokyo. I love Yokohama for its incredible Chinatown food markets or Mount Takao for a great hike only 45 minutes from the city.
What are some lesser-known attractions or experiences in Tokyo that you think are worth exploring?
Muscle Girls Bar: for a truly unique experience; it’s a bar run by female bodybuilders in Ikebukuro. For a small fee, you can pay them to slap you in the face or bench press your bodyweight. You can buy them a drink but it’s a shot of protein shake as they’re elite athletes and don’t drink alcohol. You must book ahead.
What are your top tips for someone visiting Japan?
1. Day trips are great. I’d stay longer in Tokyo and do some day trips to some of the lesser-known villages, which are in more need of tourism than Kyoto or Osaka. I’d recommend just about anywhere on the Izu Peninsular (about three hours south of Tokyo) for beaches, kooky 80s hotels, hiking, camping, surfing, onsens, and weird museums.
2. In winter, Nozawa Onsen is a million times better than Niseko, which is basically a mini Australia. Nozawa is only 1.5 hours from Tokyo and it’s a very traditional village built on natural hot springs, which are free to use. You don’t need a car to get around and everything is within walking distance.
3. If you’re shopping, bring your passport with you for tax back on your purchases. Tokyo is a great place to pick up genuine designer pieces. Japanese fashion brands such as Comme Des Garcons and Issey Miyake are almost half the price of what they are outside of Japan.
4. Get a Suica card for getting around. You can load it onto your phone’s wallet. It’s basically like a GoCard, which you can use on the train, bus, and most taxis.
5. Convenience stores are life. There are three main chains: FamilyMart (or Famima), 7-Eleven, and Lawson. All locals have a favourite – I’m a Famima girl. Cheap and healthy meals are available at all the convenience stores. They also all have ATMs, seating areas, and rubbish bins, which is very handy since there are very few bins on the streets. Plus, eating on the street is frowned upon, so convenience stores are a great place for a cheap bite on the go.
How has living in Japan influenced your fashion brand and your design work?
Prior to moving to Japan, I’ve always been influenced and inspired by it. Without intending to do so, I think I’ve noticed my designs in the last few years have definitely had a bit more of a Japanese spin on them. I’ve really enjoyed being exposed to a style of fashion that is so different from back in Australia.
What was the inspiration behind your recent collaboration with CASETiFY?
The inspiration for the prints I made for the CASETiFY collection comes from all over the place, from Amish quilts to the artist John Divola. The lilies prints started off as a commission for a hotel in Hong Kong and I was feeling inspired by a recent watch of the film In The Mood For Love – I was particularly drawn to the printed floral cheongsams worn by Maggie Cheung. The hotel went with a completely different aesthetic but I was so obsessed with the lilies I simply couldn’t not use them. We reworked the background to something a bit more psychedelic and I still like to think of them as my homage to that film.
Do you have a favourite piece from the collab?
I’ve been lucky enough to use all the pieces from the collection but the piece which has been getting the most airtime for me is the Yellow Lilies iPhone case.
