If you are in Tokyo and want to do some home decor and tableware shopping, visit free design (フリーデザイン) in Kichijōji. It is a shop for Scandinavian-style home decor and accessories. The shop gathers products from typical Scandinavian home accessory companies, such as Arabia Finland and marimekko, and also teams up with famous artists to launch limited edition products!
Visiting free design
The shop is located on the second floor. A small sign is placed in front of the staircase leading to it, but even so, it can be easily missed, so rely on Google Maps!
The natural lighting from the floor-to-ceiling window makes the shop brighter on a sunny day. Besides the designer goods, there might also be a couple of unique items on the shelf. Compared to similar shops in Kichijōji, free design’s products tend to be more stylish.
It is worthwhile to mention that free design is marimekko’s official dealer in Japan. Thus, you will find a variety of Japan-limited marimekko’s products. Other brands’ limited edition products can also be found there!
In addition, fairs are held irregularly at free design. As not all products sold at the events are returned to the manufacturers, some rare items might still be there during your visit!
While the shop has a Northern European theme, the products are sourced from various countries and over 80 brands. So, even if you are from a Western country, visiting free design is still worth it. You will find items that are unique to Japan!
As most items are tableware, the shop is great for tourists who want to improve their quality of life by using high-quality, elegant utensils.
Tip: If the Kamenoko sponge (亀の子スポンジ) is on the shelf, grab one! It can remove stains with less effort than a regular sponge.
Purchasing from free design
There is no need to worry about the ceramic pieces being too fragile to bring home. The staff will carefully wrap it for you with bubble wrap (refer to the 2nd photo in the IG post). You just need to ensure the ceramic is placed between your clothes and not against one side of the suitcase.
We purchased the bowl and the large mug in the photo. They are a part of Arabia Finland’s 150-anniversary celebration collection. They are lightweight and stylish, and we plan to bring them with us whenever we visit Japan to facilitate our simple vegetarian cooking when using the hotel’s microwave!
Obviously, lugging your shopping bags while exploring Kichijōji isn’t ideal. So let the staff know you want to pick up your purchase later. We picked up our ceramics the day after.
If you have purchased too much, they can also help organize shipping your purchased goods to your hotel.
free design’s Business Hours and Access Information
- free design is open from 11 am to 7 pm daily except from the end of December to the beginning of January.
- The shop is around a 7-minute walk from Kichijoji Station.
Discover the Attractions in Kichijōji
