KOBO

one of my favorite shops in seattle. lots of great unique finds.

Admist all the latest bars and coffee shops covering Capitol Hill its really a shame not to find more small shops for picking up random nick-​knacks etc. Kobo has been standing for quite some time and full of Asian theme’d oddities, jewelry, handmade glass ware that all make for fancy cool gifting. Miniature glasswares were my favorite and well curiated in the mix.
Its a teeny little spot but you’ll likely to come away with a card, trinket or two!

This is my go to place for unique gifts from the baby bibs to art for birthdays, weddings, etc. and most of my earrings come from here. Many new things to choose from…

One of the coolest little shops in the city of Seattle. You really gotta check out this place if your a fan of pop art or Asia. Fantastic works from both Japan and local artisans. Unique gifts, art, clothing, paintings, jewelry, cards, etc, etc! Every time I visit Seattle I go to check out what new items they have. A must for anyone browsing for things for themselves to a gift for a person who has everything.

I can’t believe I haven’t written a review for Kobo yet. This is my to-​go place when I need a gift, especially when I’m not sure what to buy. It’s also a fun place to go when I have some money burning a hole in my pocket. If you love art, jewelry, animals, scarves, and Japanese décor, or you’re buying for someone who does, check it out. They seem to get new stuff in fairly frequently, and the store has lots of packed little nooks and crannies, so I tend to spend a lot of time there.
They offer free gift wrapping, and they do a really awesome job. It takes a while, but it’s definitely worth it.
Oh, and one of the workers isn’t super outgoing, but whatever. You’ll be okay.

Kobo is so cool! There are gifts and «artifacts» that you won’t find in your average gift shop in Seattle, or anywhere but perhaps in Japan. They have curated a wide selection of jewelry, clothes, home goods. The vibe of the store screams authentic. The «Loveless BUilding» where it is located is cool as well tucked away right at Harvard and Roy, a great walking location. The day I was there they had a gorgeous model doing a photo shoot, very distracting. They say that the endorphines released during shopping are similar to those during sex and it confuses people to shop more. I was very confused that day. Maybe out of some sort of guilt, I bought alot of gifts for GF. Anyway, if you have a birthday, hostess gift or Xmas– this is a cool place to buy a unique gift.

These guys have lovely things. They are rather chichi for my budget, but when I want to splurge on adorable gifts (lovely cards, children’s books, jewelry, cutesie cooking stuff), this is my go-​to. A perfect place to buy presents for your yuppie BFFs.

Found this store during a short visit to Seattle — loved it! Kobo offers a well-​curated stock of antiques, textiles, books and gifts related to Japan. It is located across from the equally amazing Harvard Exit cinema. I ended up buying a book and an interesting antique sake bottle. When I returned to Austin, I signed up for Kobo’s email list. In one of the emails, I saw that they were selling the unique Karhu calendars from Japan — I emailed them, was able to order one by phone which they sent to me *fast.* Great customer service. Hope to return soon.

A tiny «gallery» of mediocre quality «Japanese» goods, way over priced, in a very nice building and in a well put together space. The thing that makes these run-​of-​the-​mill knock-​off like pieces look good is in the space, combos and lighting. To someone who can see what they’re selling is a feeling, the prices look ridiculous. Why spend good monies on whimsy trendy goods, just because the shop is small and in a nice building?
But what’s (who’s) insulting is the owner. Literally. Aloof, unhelpful, short, and rude. I came in, thinking they were purveyors of fine Japanese goods who could help me find something– a kind of myth in this city, I’m finding– and they’re just an importer of mass produced cheap stuff like the rest of ‘em, except she is stuck up about it.

This is a gem, the lady is so nice and they have so many interesting pieces here. If only every store was as unique.

Kobo is awesome. It offers a unique take on the melding of Asian and American cultures. Here you will find stylish, unique works of art, knick-​knacks and various other things that often serve the dual purposes of being functional as well as providing eye candy.
The store is tucked away on the edge of the neighborhood, which makes it easy to pass up; however, this is not totally a bad thing since it keeps the relatively small space from becoming overcrowded from the hustle and bustle of the main Broadway strip. This helps make the ambiance of the store relaxing and inviting for those looking to browse.
My wife and I stumbled in here a few months ago and were taken with the clean, modern and imaginative styles of the pieces sold at Kobo. The woman working there was friendly and non-​invasive while still being helpful and friendly when we needed her. We fell in love with a few posters and just recently returned to buy one of them. Having been back a second time, the store and employee were both consistent in being inviting and helpful. Kobo is a store and art gallery, so prices range drastically depending on what you are looking for. Thankfully, there are plenty of choices for those not looking to spend an arm and a leg. They even offer a nice little sections for kids, including books, clothing and toys.
I am impressed at how many neat little things there are to discover in Kobo’s tiny interior. Definitely make a trip here if you haven’t yet.

I frequent the I.D. (Higo) location of Kobo, and I ventured to this store last weekend in search of a birthday gift for my boss. This little store was adorable and well curated, but it just felt very cold. I was very disappointed that the woman behind the counter failed to acknowledge me (she was reading a book and didn’t look up, even with many customers in the store). She was very unapproachable and it soured me on even asking to look at an expensive antique statue that I was keen on buying. I won’t be back anytime soon.

I don’t love to shop. Members of my family (hi Mom) will tell you that I am notoriously difficult to convince to go shopping, don’t seem to understand the meaning of the word «browse», and begin to yawn (or, on my worse days, sulk) after about 5 minutes. But Kobo might make a shopper out of me.
So many interesting and/​or adorable items. Including some bizarre ones, like the pair of oil & vinegar bottles shaped like very long dachshunds, where you pour out of the tails. And some «huh, I wouldn’t think that would work but it does» ones, like the little cards with rows of vegetables on them.
They also had organic cotton T-​shirts with subdued nature-​inspired designs on them. And koi with unhappy looking little boys riding on them. And a wide variety of bird-​related items, including both tiny bird-​themed calendars and life sized crow sculptures. All very interesting. All very… browse-​worthy. And the saleswoman was sweet and patient and made me feel comfortable being there, not pressured to either buy something or leave.
If it was all like this, I could learn to love shopping.

Very rich in Japanese culture, meaning, if you look in the side of the store, there is a little story about how the family survived the relocation camp ordeal. Saved objects, photo of the jewish guy that saved their possessions and returned them when they got out. Very touching as the same thing happened to my parents.
Cool hip art by up and coming artists with a japanese theme. Imported clothes and things from Japan. And right next to MoMo, which is another cute store.

Full disclosure — I live upstairs from the owners of Kobo and they are so incredibly nice that I am, understandably, biased.
That said, Kobo is a gem. Housed in a charming stone building with sweet window nooks and slanted eves, Kobo is where I go whenever I need a gift. I’ve purchased whimsical felt hats, modern Japanese prints, delicate tea cups, and fragrant soaps. This location has less art than the location in the International District, which suits this Cap Hill spot well. Funky or classy, cheap or expensive, you can find unique gifts for anyone on your holiday list.

Kobo is a beautiful shop full of pretty little things. They have incense, tea accessories, ornaments, Japanese scarves, pottery, toys (including adorable cats sewn from recycled cashmere sweaters), etc. It’s an eclectic collection with something for everyone.

I walked in here on a whim, and I fell in love. They have a lot of great Japanese items for the home or for a friend. They had some original tshirts that were really neat for $ 20.00, and some lovely art pieces. The prices were not that bad for most items. Check it out!