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| Crayon House: Omotesando | |||
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Children's books. Clever toys. Organic goodies. Not exactly what you'd expect to find tucked into a posh little corner of Omotesando, but Crayon House delivers on all three counts. Despite residing a stone's throw from Armani and Luis Vuitton, Crayon House is a very down-to-earth family center, and bound to have something to interest both you and your children.
The top floor (3F) focuses on mothers, its shelves filled with books and magazines related to healthy eating, parenting techniques, fitness and mental wellness (Japanese language only). Environment-friendly health, beauty and cleaning products are located here, as well. Down one flight of stairs you'll find sturdy, solid-wood toys imported from Europe and Scandinavia. Stuffed animals and puppets take up another portion of the room, with arts and crafts materials, musical instruments and other fun stuff lining the remaining shelves. If you want cheap plastic crap, check your local hundred-yen shop. The toy selection at Crayon House is comprised mostly of high-quality, top-end toys (with prices to match). I particularly liked the toys that innovated classic items, like the model airplane that blows bubbles as it flies, and the building blocks with extra grooves for easier stacking. The kids' bookstore on the ground floor has English-language books on one wall near the back of the room. It's well stocked and you should have no trouble finding something your kids will enjoy. A large table and counter space near the window provide a place to sit and peruse titles you are considering buying, and there always seems to be people reading to their children there. Take the elevator to B1 and you'll find a colorful sunken courtyard filled with organic vegetables, sauces and baked goods (also accessible from the street). Prices are what you'd expect for Omotesando, but the quality is excellent. If the sight of all that food makes you hungry, the daily buffet just inside comes highly recommended. And at just 1,260 yen for all you can eat (toddlers eat free), it simply cannot be beat. The menu varies, but usually includes a fresh green salad, several vegetable dishes, one or two meat or fish entrees, two kinds of rice and miso soup. Everything is seasoned lightly to bring out the true flavor, and you know it's freshly prepared because the open kitchen is right there. Check out the ladies making cakes to make your stomach growl louder. The buffet is so good in fact I've never made it to the other, French-style restaurant next door. If you go to either, however, I recommend arriving near opening time - a line grows steadily after noon. With Yoyogi Park just a ten-minute walk away, I recommend making Crayon House part of an afternoon out. That gives you the perfect place to burn off some of that lunch - or try out that model airplane you just bought. by Jason Jenkins |
Crayon House
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