Terrace Suite at Tokyo’s Trunk(Hotel) Cat Street
Masahide Iida
You may have already heard of Tokyo’s cat cafés and waving cat temple, but what about Cat Street? Sadly (for cat lovers, at least), this narrow, approximately 0.7-mile laneway is less famous for its feline population and more so for its fashion stores and one of Tokyo’s hippest boutique hotels.
This Is Cat Street
Located on the cusp of two of Tokyo’s trendiest districts: Shibuya (famous for its much-Instagrammed street crossing) and youthful Harajuku, both of which are known for their fascinating blend of fashion, art and Japanese youth culture, Cat Street is a pedestrian-friendly alley that brims with designer boutiques, hip national and international brands, cool cafés, street art and fashionistas. As for the name, there are various theories as to why this particular stretch of road is known as Cat Street.
Cat Street is popular with shoppers and fashionistas.
Photo Paul Kristoff @thecitylane
While the street is officially named Kyushibuyagawa Yuhodo, most people know it affectionately as Cat Street. Even though you won’t stumble across many cats here these days, one theory is quite simply that there used to be a lot of stray cats in the neighborhood. Another is that the street is as narrow as a cat’s forehead, a Japanese expression (猫の額 or neko no hitai), that refers to something being extremely small or narrow. Another theory is that the local band Black Cats used to perform around here. While the true origin remains a mystery, the name has stuck.
So, if cats are not a thing in Cat Street, what can you expect to find?
Cat Street on a sunny day.
Photo Paul Kristoff @thecitylane
What To Do In Cat Street
Cat Street refers to both the main street and the myriad tiny alleys that lead off it, all which are filled with more fashion stores than you can shake a credit card at. Apart from Tokyo’s original Adidas flagship store, you will also find plenty of retail outlets by Japanese brands known for their youthful, edgy graphic tees and streetwear, including cult-status BeamsT, and upscale United Arrows & Sons.
Harajuku is also known for its vintage and secondhand shopping, and Cat Street has plenty of this on offer, including RAGTAG, a stylish secondhand store with outlets across Japan, and Pigsty, a used-clothing store specializing in vintage U.S. street and casual wear.
All that shopping will make you thirsty. Industrial chic Chop Coffee has its own in-house roastery and makes some of the best take-away espressos and lattes around, while The Matcha Tokyo serves all things matcha, from iced and hot drinks, to ice-creams, cookies and more.
Trunk(Hotel) Cat Street exterior.
Image courtesy Trunk(Hotel) Cat Street
Trunk(Hotel) Cat Street
As if the neighborhood wasn’t already hip enough, Cat Street has another claim to fame. It is also the home of one of Tokyo’s most stylish hotels-come-events and coworking spaces, Trunk(Hotel) Cat Street.
While the Japanese capital does not have a Soho House (yet), Trunk(Hotel) Cat Street, is the probably closest thing you will find to a social space that gathers the who’s who of the city’s creative scene. Walk in at any time of the day or night and you will find a blend of ultra-stylish young Japanese and international people sipping matcha lattes and tapping away on their MacBooks. And like Soho House, Trunk Hotel Cat Street is part social space, part hotel.
TRUNK(BAR) at Trunk(Hotel) Cat Street.
Image courtesy Trunk(Hotel) Cat Street
Set across two four-story buildings, Trunk(Hotel) is coolly contemporary, with its Japanese minimalist interiors that blend dark leather and wood furnishings with boldly colorful modern artworks. Local is king here, from the materials used to the artists exhibited and the products sold in the bar and restaurant.
The Japanese style sensibility continues into the guest rooms (11 rooms, four suites), where minimalism sets the tone through tasteful wood furnishings, sensuous mood lighting and splashes of greenery. But the real pièces de résistance are the capacious suites, where the vibe is more Japanese fashion mogul’s apartment than hotel room.
The downstairs living space of the Terrace Suite at Trunk(Hotel) Cat Street.
Image courtesy Trunk(Hotel) Cat Street
The crowning glory is the Terrace Suite, a 1,500 square-foot duplex with a separate kitchen, bedroom and massive living/dining space that includes a giant sofa, a 50-inch TV and a table that seats 16. But the best part is the plant-filled, 750 square-foot private terrace, equipped with a grill, additional seating for six people, and even a small plunge pool for those scorching summer days. It makes the perfect stay for a person or couple looking to spend a few nights or even a couple of weeks pretending like they live in Tokyo without the hassle of renting an apartment.
AloJapan.com