A stone’s throw from Akihabara’s electric streets and Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple, Kuramae is the epitome of the capital’s northern sphere: nostalgic, serene and often rusty. Here, the roads are wider and customers enjoy a deeper bond with shopkeepers who are happy to explain the origin of a particular coffee bean or stitching technique. The area’s rich craftsmanship culture has attracted a number of hip destinations, like San Francisco’s bean-to-bar chocolatier Dandelion Chocolate and custom stationery shop kakimori.
To honor and uplift Kuramae’s artisan roots, Yuka and Luis Mendo established Almost Perfect in 2018. Housed within a century-old rice shop, the renovated space features a gallery, workshop and living accommodations for artists in Almost Perfect’s residency program. The founders describe themselves as “local ambassadors” and have even created their own neighborhood map of spots to visit.