Hermes strengthens its presence in Japan with Azabudai Hills store

Luxury fashion house Hermes has boosted its presence in Tokyo with a new stand-alone store in Azabudai Hills.

The store is located in a two-story building surrounded by parklands, gardens, and city lodgings. The brand said the venue sparkles like a lantern at night, and its vibrant interiors can be seen from the park during the day.

The space has a semi-transparent glass front covered in exquisite washi paper, which artists hand-treated to produce a flowing look that transitions from opaque to translucent. The paper is backed with a layer of brilliant panelling inspired by haku, a traditional gold-leaf technique.

The first entrance leads to the men’s space with leather goods, jewellery and watches, and equestrian collections. The second area features women’s silk alongside perfume and jewellery.

The grand floor has two fitting rooms and a private salon. Another private area upstairs leads out onto a fragrant rooftop garden covered with trees, evoking the ancient rooftop garden on Paris’s Faubourg Saint-Honouré.

The store, designed by the Parisian architecture firm RDAI, combines nature with Japanese architectural traditions.