Wythe Guide: Little Tokyo
A few blocks north of Wythe Hotel sits the heart of Brooklyn’s Little Tokyo, an enclave of Japanese businesses that has emerged over the last decade and continues to grow. While several Japanese-owned businesses in the area predate its opening, the anchor of the community is 50 Norman, a collective of Japanese brands that came together when chef Yuji Tani invited fellow craftspeople and business owners to share the lease of a former car repair shop.
The result is a space that feels less like another iteration of the marketplaces that seemed to take over NYC in the late 2010s and more like a cultural compound—one that has helped foster the growth of Japanese-owned businesses throughout the surrounding neighborhood.
Read on for our guide to North Brooklyn's Little Tokyo.
Cibone O'te
50 Norman Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
One of the original businesses in the 50 Norman complex, Cibone O'te captures mottainai, the Japanese spirit of thoughtful use and an aversion to waste, through its carefully sourced collection of housewares, from antique and contemporary ceramics to kitchen appliances and stationery.
The open concept store makes for an excellent place to browse, admire, and on a good day, to purchase.
"Greenpoint has a unique charm in that, rather than being a commercial district dominated by large capital and major corporations... There are also many people in the neighborhood who are highly attuned to craftsmanship, food, art, and architecture, creating a community that appreciates Japanese attentiveness, subtlety, and aesthetic sensibilities. From the perspective of Japanese brands, it often feels less like 'expanding overseas' and more like becoming part of a community, which is why many are drawn to this neighborhood."
- Yuriko Kawazu, Cibone O'te's Store Manager.
Akari (149 Franklin St)
A spa inspired by the cherished onsen and sentō traditions of the owners’ upbringing in Japan. Their Greenpoint location offers hot saunas, cold baths, and a relaxing lounge for guests. Currently, the spa is available by membership only.
Loaf on Paper (64 Grand St)
The sister shop of niconeco zakkaya in the East Village, this cozy stationery and café space offers a thoughtfully curated collection of Japanese paper goods, craft supplies, and unique lifestyle items, alongside specialty coffee and seasonal baked treats.
Topdrawer (100 N 3rd St)
A stationary store known for its extensive selection of pens, notebooks, and leather goods. Topdrawer is a collaboration between Peter Dunn and Akira Ito, who is a fourth-generation owner of Itoya, Japan's most revered stationary and design store.
Acre
64 Meserole Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
ACRE is a breezy, meticulously tended cafe and shop that is a must-visit destination in Brooklyn. Nami Torimaru and Ayaka Suzuki's kindness and commitment to their store is apparent from the moment you walk in.
Their dishes all feature inherent components of the everyday Japanese diet; the menu is designed to be approachable for everyone. But what becomes immediately clear from tasting the food and drinks at ACRE is that these representations of the everyday are anything but ordinary.
Nami says, "Behind our dedication to making everything by hand is the desire to serve delicious food. It’s a kind of love, I suppose. We all work together every day to create that. Our concept is to deliver food that’s entirely handmade and filled with care."
Everything they serve is made in-house, including the kōji they use, which reflects what Nami and Ayaka most want their customers to taste: the feeling, consideration, and love that goes into all of their menu items.
Bin Bin Sake (29 Norman Ave)
A sake and wine store from George Padilla of Rule of Thirds and Sunday in Brooklyn acclaim. It’s definitely worth popping in to learn more about sake, or to look at all of the beautiful bottles that they stock. Bin Bin holds ticketed tastings the first Thursday of every month for those who are curious.
Dashi Okume (50 Norman Ave)
Dashi Okume is the Brooklyn based counterpart to Okume Shōten, a Dashi retailer in Tokyo since 1871. Guests can enjoy a fish teishoku, a Japanese set meal, and customize their own dashi to take home by combining different types of dried fish, seaweed, mushrooms, and vegetables.
Takusando (29 Greenpoint Ave)
A shop dedicated to Japan’s unique sandwiches, or “sando,” with a modern twist. Egg-salad, Japanese potato croquettes, pork, chicken, or fish katsu are all available on their shoku-pan made daily in-house. And a natural wine and sake selection are available by the glass or bottle.
Tonchin Brooklyn (109 N 3rd St)
A modern Japanese restaurant from Tokyo specializing in house-made tonkotsu ramen alongside small plates, towering shaved ice desserts, and an extensive natural wine list. The team takes pride in blending Tokyo tradition with Brooklyn sensibilities.
"We often say we like to gesture at tea ceremony."
Kettl Tea
38 NORMAN Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
At Kettl, a similar intentionality as ACRE and Cibone O'te drives the business. Owners Zach and Minami Mangan built relationships with Japan’s top tea producers, and began importing and selling the loose tea to wholesale buyers.
Kettl's Director of Retail, Jacob Morgan tells us, "We hope to change the perception of Matcha from a commodity product to something with more depth and culture, not just centered on the Matcha Latte that most people in New York might be familiar with—although our front counter offers that too."
At their 38 Norman location, visitors can enjoy a flight of teas, including their house-milled matcha paired with seasonal wagashi (Japanese sweet confections), made by Phoebe Ogawa in Long Island City, as a nod to traditional tea ceremonies.
