Takashimaya

I’m so sorry that this store closed. I looked forward to going in there every time I visited NYC.
I often managed to find something to buy that was inexpensive but beautiful and unusual. They carried things that seemed made by artisans, some things fun, some subtly quiet.
The clothes were out of my price range but they were inspiring and timeless– made from beautiful fabrics. Just a pleasure to look at. You could wear one of those pieces at any age and for life.
Surely this store will be remembered and missed. It was one of kind. Makes other stores seem kind of crass.
Also, as one who doesn’t dress smartly like a NYer, I found I was genuinely welcomed and treated very nicely in the store. Not something I can say when I was at Saks.

i loved going here, and i can’t believe it’s gone. i would start on the top floor and work my way down. i loved the bags you got when you made a purchase and i was lucky enough to get a triangular shaped tote bag when they were closing.
when they were closing, i purchased a little gift for my mom that i have waited until now (christmas) to give to her! it’s so great to see the bag under the tree.
:(

— Sayonara, Takashimaya —
When news got out that Takashimaya was closing, those of us who have loved & supported the store over the years were beyond mournful.
We used to start at Level Seven and work our way down, getting a
different visual treat on each floor.
It was the home of the unusual, the beautiful, the exotic and the elegantly useful. Yes, it was very expensive.
But everything was presented so well. Gift wrapping was a type of art form at Takashimaya.
…Which I understood was a casualty partly of these rough economic
times. Another New York institution gone. At least you can still see it
in Tokyo.
The sale is still on but it’s been picked over and now it’s The Day of The Locust, I’m afraid.
Beautiful Takashimaya: copied slavishly by so many who failed to capture its uniqueness.

It sad that such a wonderful and interesting place is closing, and that in it’s closing — they’re not going out the way they deserve. The 40% off sale signs are around, and there is a bustle of lots of random people going in and out to see what it’s all about. Their shelves are half empty, and the merchandise left is. thrown about (in a sense).
=[

I always love going here to browse around especially the 6^th floor with the home garden sections. And then looking at the women’s clothing and then go to the tea box café downstairs. Where I am immediately spotted by the same people who have served me before and ask if im ordering the same thing again! (haha, that was cute though) Then when you leave you can buy gifts or a different teas and teapots.
Im going to miss Takashimaya. My japanese oasis.

Sale started today.
At 40% off, not too shabby for most items.
The $$$$$ stuff will probably just sit around for a little longer until they close.
I wish I was there for it.
Even just to ogle at the marked down goodies.
No doubt, the store isn’t a calm oasis during this sale frenzy.

Attention shoppers! Takashimaya New York is closing its doors in June 2010.
Six levels of over-​priced designer clothing, bedding, fragrances, comestics, accessories with the utmost attentive and courteous customer service in true Japanese fashion at this New York’s Takashimaya. I rate Takashimaya four stars as they are closing yet nothing is reduced, for a skirt is priced at a ridiculously $ 250.00. No thanks, I’ll stick to Body Central, Venus, Victoria Secret, and Ann Taylor.

Well, the Japanese turn of style can be displayed here — an overall elegant, unique place where gifts for others can be found — or for yourself, if so inclined. For six stories, you have a top-​level garden/​florist, bedroom section, women’s collection, home collection, jet set, and accessories/​fragrances sections on the respective floors, and they have all kinds of pricey gifts for those you love, or wish to love.
Not entirely easy on the wallet, but since I suspect everything other than the sales staff has been imported from abroad.

This is a great place to find a gift for someone. Especially mom.
They have very unique little things like candle holders, candles, chocolates, vases etc
Don’t come here looking for something specific and be open minded. They also have a splendid lingerie/​sleepwear section that has one of the most comfy shorts I have ever worn!

I bought an orchid here as a Christmas gift for my boyfriend’s mother. It was a huge hit, as she loves the store and the orchid was beautiful. The presentation was also really nice, I would recommend Takashimaya for a nice gift for someone important to you.
It was pretty pricey, however, and you can get an orchid that is just as beautiful at pretty much any nice florist.
I suggest going for the presentation or the flower.

This is one of the most beautiful stores ever. Everything is beautiful. Everything is displayed beautifully. It seemed that all the patrons were beautiful.
Nothing here I need nor can I afford.
Maybe some day.

Interesting to look at, but WAY out of my price range.
Stuff is quite expensive and only the NY elite must shop here.
When I was there only tourists seemed to look, floor to floor.
Since everything in here is so fragile I wouldnt dare to touch it ~!
It was a nice place though to get out of the rain and into a tranquil enviroment.

If every single birthday, housewarming, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, anniversary, Hanukkah, congratulatory or just because gift anyone was ever kind enough to buy me came from Takashimaya, I wouldn’t mind at all.
Particularly if that generous gift-​giver plucked my pressie from the second floor — aptly named «Jet Set» for its seductive selection of travel accessories (hello, handbags ARE travel accessories!)
Takashimaya is so absolutely me — I feel as though their buyer took up residence inside my head and cataloged every beautiful thing that ever made my heart race or my soul covet and gathered it all in one spot on Fifth Avenue.

There are 6 floors including the café in the basement and each floor is pretty small, but it’s fancy nice. I can’t afford anything in the store though; it’s ridiculously expensive.
I was hoping more of the products would be Japanese but I noticed a lot of the beauty products and brands could be found at other stores in the city. If there had been more inventory that was unique to Takashimaya I would like the store more. Good for a walk through at least once.

Fabulous floors of Japanese tea, home decorations and linen, flowers, jewelry, fragrance and cosmetics, and fashion, Takashimaya is very different from the string of department stores with the same namesake in Japan. The only branch in the States, this elegantly spare shopping center is a fantastic homage to Japanese craftsmanship. The little details – the triangular shopping bags, the simple yet refined arrangements, the exquisite packaging – are typical of Japanese aesthetics.
I never leave without my Japanese tea and cookies, as well as a thorough walk-​through of the fragrance section, which essentially takes up a floor. I am a well-​known kook when it comes to perfume, and Takashimaya displays them beautifully. In addition, they have the private label, Takashimaya, exclusively created for and carried by the store. It is not bad, but nothing I need to have. It is redolent of black currant, plum, and jasmine tea lying on a bed of sandalwood and musk tied by a thread of vanilla.
Then there is the Tea Box Café which serves lunch and afternoon tea. It is a nice place for a time-​out, aromatically supplied by one of at least 35 international teas and tea-​flavored ice creams.

I love!!! Takashimaya especially the floral department (silks that look so real and real that ARE). I am really close to giving it 5 stars.
And If nothing else I adore the 5^th Floor beauty boutique with it’s extra-​high end (and high priced) rare and hard to find skin care and fragrance items.
LOVE to have lunch here too. A nice bento is a blissful break.

BEAUTIFUL STORE! This is one of the nicest department stores I have ever been in. The building is gorgeous, the products are unique and special, and the triangle gift boxes with metallic tissue paper (that is meticulously folded and pleated to fit inside the odd-​shaped boxes) are a step above any other high end department store I have shopped in. This is the perfect place to buy a unique gift for someone special (or a nice treat for yourself) that you don’t have to worry about everyone else in the world having as well. Definately on the pricey side but then again so are Neiman’s and Saks, and Takashimaya is more interesting and offers a much more serene shopping experience. A+++
**Takashimaya = perfection in Japanese (figuratively at least)

Good Lord, could someone please tell my boss to increase my salary so that I can afford to shop here more often? Takashimaya is a department store but with an Eastern (and in particular Japanese) sensibility.
Everything from their home accessories collections to their men’s and women’s fashions have a modern and clean aesthetic to them. Stunning yet refined displays and gorgeous packaging make this a serious shopper’s cloud nine.
If you’re a Bergdorf or Barneys shopper, you owe it to your sense of style to add this emporium of luxe simplicity to your shopping route! If anything, browsing through Takashimaya is a welcome break from the frenzied pace of 5^th Avenue.

I’m a tea snob… I brew different types of Chinese tea leaves several times a day. So today’s tea tasting with Mr. Chongbin Zheng (President of Red & Green Co.) was an event which I full-​heartedly enjoyed.
Furthermore, this Takashimaya is the only place I know that has «Forbidden» by Michael Marcus. It’s an exquisite mixture of white flowers… my new must-​have fragrance.
Other than that… while I encourage everyone to visit this building at least once (it’s so worth the trip), I’m not exactly a fan of this Takashimaya. I don’t like walking out of a department store empty-handed…and it happens too often here.
For future events:

I have been waiting months to get to Takashimaya (we never end up having enough time!), and finally made a visit this weekend!
I have no idea how to describe this store. Truly beautiful and artistic fashion, bedding, accessories, homewares and apothecary. We went to each floor, enjoying sumptuous fabrics, beautiful presentations, tasteful vignettes and the smell of fresh flowers. My favorites were the home/​bedding floors — gorgeous linens that made me dream of my future home. Makes Frette look mediocre (jk ;)). The bottom floor of cosmetics was also fabulous. I especially loved the products from Santa Maria Novella, my personal favorite line. The garden floor is filled with absolutely exquisite arrangements of fresh flowers… I am still on a high today from the fragrant smells. This is the perfect place to find truly unique items and special gifts.
Walking in, you are immediately soothed in the zen like environment. Sales staff are very pleasant and not pretentious at all (and I LOVE that). We did not have a chance to visit the lower level/​traditional tea. But I am looking forward to it.