Tortoise General Store

They have all kinds of cozy stuff and I get zen feeling here too. Online shopping experience with them is great too but I'd always prefer to visit the store physically every few months to keep me updated. Keep in mind that they are closed on Mondays.

Minimalist Japanese design meets home goods and stationery. The products are simple but beautiful—ceramics, pens, and textiles. A bit pricey, but you’re paying for craftsmanship. The vibe is quiet and curated. Great spot if you appreciate thoughtful design

This store and gallery sparks joy! I want to buy everything, which is so hard for a minimalist like me. Oh, how I love visiting this store and buying a little something to add to my collection. Also, wonderful place to buy a gift...hint.

I am in love with your amazing lovely store! The vibe in here is great and all of the products are so high quality! Would shop here again in the future!

Scams , pan for 125 USD totally scammed get burned from the first use and refused to refund my money

My husband and I always wondered what "Tortoise General Store" was, so we felt the need to pop in over the weekend. What IS this place? A 7-Eleven type store, a liquor shop, a small grocery store? Never mind the kimono I was wearing, I had no idea how appropriate it would be.... Upon entering, a curation of Japanese goods welcomed us as we perused the shelves. Clothes, pottery, watches, shoes, lights, décor and more at this trendy yet cultured store. The lady behind the counter was friendly and said it'd be no problem to take some photos, wahoo! With LA's incredibly diverse population, it's normal to walk into a store and feel like you've been transported to that country. That's what happens in Tortoise, you're transported to Japan. The store feels like a museum as well, with pottery and items on display that are so pretty you don't know if you can buy them or not, (but guess what, you CAN)! If you dig culture, minimalist style, items for your home and love to shop locally then you must stop in Tortoise! Support Local Stores! IG: @WestsideKat

I have been decorating my bathroom in a very Japanese style and needed some things to bring it all together. Being in Las Vegas that was a challenge...so...I had a trip to LA and had to check this place out. And it is amazing! Such incredible quality products and the people are so helpful and fully understand Japanaes style and culture (as you would expect). A 5 star (plus) rating from me and I will be back on my next LA trip. お疲れ様

"When we visited one of the islands in Hawaii in 2007, we came across a “general store”. It was very local and community-based, which we rarely saw in Los Angeles." -Taku and Keiko Shinomoto – Tortoise General Store owners I was looking to buy my girlfriend a matcha set and stumbled across Tortoise General Store. I added all of my products to the cart and went to checkout, which seems to be administered through Shopify. Shipping came out to $18, which I'm pretty used to at this point coming from Hawaii. Two days later, I received a call from a California number. I didn't answer, because there are too many scammers these days. Within the hour, I received an email from TGS asking for an additional $8 to cover shipping. I was pretty irritated, because I had already paid for the entire, nearly $200, purchase and they were asking for more money. I returned the call from the California number and spoke to an employee. I told him I was pretty disappointed having to pay an additional $8 for Hawaii shipping. He gave me a deadpan apology, citing that their shipping calculator isn't always accurate for "international" shipping. Hawaii, the inspiration for TGS, is not international... Still giving 4 stars because the items came in very well packaged and as expected.

One of my favorite places in all of Los Angeles! Their inventory is so incredibly well curated, and there is clearly so much love and care that goes into this shop. My wife and I got our wedding rings here, a majority of our home decor and kitchenware, and even our dog (when they were having an adoption event)! Highly recommend supporting this local small business.

Beautiful items from Japan in abundance. They specialize in pottery and home items. Many options for unique gifts for the Japan lover in your life.

I used to visit here when they were in the main area of Abbot Kinney, but I'm glad they moved to the space because it's much bigger and it's easier to find parking. The space still has a variety of goods from different artists, both local and International. I came here looking for some new mugs or dishes since they have a great selection of pottery artists. I think they might've been sold out of a lot because there was quite a lot of shelf space so I ended up not walking away with any new ceramics but I did buy a watch and specialized clippers. You'll definitely find something you might need or discover an artisan instrument to add to your collection.

I give Tortoise some credit for being a gift shop that is still open. So hard to find these days. But staff isn't friendly. And the inexpensive stuff in the front is really nothing you want.... it's always just off somehow. And the more expensive items, some of which you do want, is really, really expensive. And there's nothing in the middle. They're not a lot of laughs here. The staff are pretty grim. And don't expect to find that last minute gift you need. I don't know why I keep checking it every Christmas, only to be disappointed.

Tortoise General Store is one of Los Angeles most interesting boutiques. One would be hard pressed to find a similar outfit anywhere in the United States. Great Japanese, housewares, gifts, clothing, art and other singularly handmade objects. A favorite.

Cool stuff. But don't expect the warm experience you'd get in an actual store in Japan. it's the exact opposite - which makes me wonder if any of the employees or management have ever had an authentic Japanese experience. Like others on here, we too are followed around like we walked in from the street. Would be cool if that came with actual warmness or help, but I'm confident after visit #3 - that it doesn't. Other than that, well-curated stuff but it makes me want to go back to actual Japan and maybe skip this for now.

I placed an order And it took so long and I still didn't get it after they said it was delivered and I never received it What do I have to do to get my items

One of my favorite shops in Los Angeles. If you love beautiful and often unique Japanese items for yourself, your home, or to give as gifts, then this is the place to go. The products are of excellent quality and while many are expensive it's because they are such good quality and many are handmade. I have always received great customer service when visiting the shop over the past two+ years. They've helped me find items I was looking for, find the perfect gift when I wasn't sure what to buy, and took out a variety of handmade matcha bowls from the back so I could find just the right ones. They don't pester you while browsing, but the moment you ask for help, you'll get it. Also, one of the only small boutique shops that you can ask to be notified online when a product is back in stock and regularly get those updates.

The store reminds me of Muji in Santa Monica but where everything is about 3x more expensive and, for me, about 3x less useful for my everyday life. The value of a store is completely relative to your wants as there are no themes. The products are described as artisan or authentic and include slippers, garbage can, single wine glass, and an eraser. The fact that a shop employee followed us around as if we were some homeless off the street added to my negative experience. If I want novelty without the cost then I'm off to Mitsuwa's bookstore or Muji.

perfect for anyone who adores high-end but understated items from Japan. everything from perfectly balanced tableware to hinoki room spray to Comme des Garcons perfume to 14k gold jewelry to metal garden shears that look like museum pieces. it's the perfect escape from the corporate american aesthetic. the staff are lovely and unhurried. take your time to browse and admire the many treasures.

My husband and I always wondered what "Tortoise General Store" was, so we felt the need to pop in over the weekend. What IS this place? A 7-Eleven type store, a liquor shop, a small grocery store?  Never mind the kimono I was wearing, I had no idea how appropriate it would be.... Upon entering, a curation of Japanese goods welcomed us as we perused the shelves. Clothes, pottery, watches, shoes, lights, décor and more at this trendy yet cultured store. The lady behind the counter was friendly and said it'd be no problem to take some photos, wahoo! With LA's incredibly diverse population, it's normal to walk into a store and feel like you've been transported to that country. That's what happens in Tortoise, you're transported to Japan. The store feels like a museum as well, with pottery and items on display that are so pretty you don't know if you can buy them or not, (but guess what, you CAN)!  If you dig culture, minimalist style, items for your home and love to shop locally then you must stop in Tortoise! Support Local Stores!  IG: @WestsideKat

TL:DR - A well curated general store of Japanese goods and art. They have a beautiful selection of home goods that can't be found anywhere else in LA. ------------------ After WW2, Japan was an impoverished country devastated by war. To pull it's country out of ruin and to actually begin to rebuild their nation, they began to manufacture goods for overseas companies. At first Japan was terrible at making quality products, and they were considered cheap (similar to "made in china" goods today) but over time they improved upon their manufacturing and slowly flipped their reputation a complete 180. Around this same time, the Japanese government began funding various art and design programs as a way to create products that weren't reliant upon overseas companies, and would also help create a modern national identity. This would be the beginnings of the modern Japanese aesthetic that we understand today. It's a combination of a lot of different sources, primarily that of the traditional Japanese culture and ideals, but also of Nordic, German, and American design sensibilities. Personally if I had to describe the Japanese aesthetic it would be "subtle-purposeful-beauty." I know that sounds very amorphous, so if you want to see what I mean in action, then I would suggest going to Tortoise General Store. They have recently moved from their Abbot Kinney location to their new Mar Vista location and it is a nice step up. The store is now waaaaay more spacious allowing for customers to easily peruse and muse over the many home goods that they carry. From mugs, to plates, to stationary, to even the knives, the feeling I get from looking at them all is warmth. There is something so familiar and yet so new about each item. Like a beautiful pair of leather shoes, that have been aged from wear, but imagine it coming out of the box like that. Every time I pick up an item I feel like there is a lifelong story to accompany it, and it is one of heartbreak, hope, and ongoing amusement. I feel like I have begun to wax words and that this is making the review sound very pretentious; the store is not that, I'm just having a hard time explaining why this store is so captivating. I'll stop now, and you should stop by. Just go!

If you love precious Japanese shit as much as everyone else does, Tortoise General Store is a must-stop shop when on Abbot Kinney. I first walked in when a hip friend was visiting LA from New York, and I quickly realized it was the same place my other hip friend had told me to check out if I was ever in the market for hard-to-find Japanese housewares. I've been in a few times now, though I have yet to buy anything. I can't walk past it without poking my head in. The place is absolutely lovely, a small shop divided into careful little sections, with a gallery space in back, with a lot of art for sale. The wares tend to be small, beautiful, and expensive, tiny jars and figurines and kitchen implements and the like, all high quality things you'd have to warn children not to touch. (Adults may handle with care and light trepidation.) The gallery space is beautiful, full of interesting sculptures and ceramics and wall art that would look good in any home. Tortoise isn't the most practical store on the block, but it has plenty to offer if you're looking for charming Japanese home decor, or a gift for a discerning friend. I'm sure one of these days I'll come in to window shop and decide that some ridiculous ornament must be mine.

Tortoise General Store was always a must-stop for me when I lived down the street from Abbot Kinney. They've since moved to Mar Vista and now have about three times the square footage, which they've made very efficient use of. I stopped in yesterday when I was in the area for work, and the (even bigger) curation of Japanese goods was still as lovely as I remember it being in their tiny Abbot Kinney boutique. I was planning purely to window-shop, but I couldn't resist getting a blue Hasami mug and an adorable handmade pheasant figurine, made by local women in Japan (the perfect addition to my kitchen windowsill). Everyone working was so helpful and friendly as well. The woman who rang me up even unboxed the mug I would be actually getting (the one I brought to the counter was a display mug) to make sure the slight glaze variation was okay. I'm a ceramist myself and actively search for the natural variations in clay products to pick out my perfect piece. Many other boutiques have acted borderline irritated or confused when I compare handmade/clay products side by side or ask if there are more pieces in back-stock I can compare them to. Although in this case the glaze was more of a consistent texture and I didn't mind slight color variations, I thought it was such a great gesture and I appreciated it SO much. If you're looking for a beautiful, minimalist selection of Japanese home goods that supports local artists, Tortoise delivers beautifully. I'll definitely be back soon!

I live a few blocks​ over from their Venice Blvd. and Wade location and Tortoise​ General Store is within walking distance. ​I love it!!! I knew about Tortoise from their Abbot Kinney location, when I lived​ down the​ street. I am so happy they are now nearby​ in my new location. Today, I bought a gift for my daughter and I love looking around the ​store to see what new items they have. It is my new go-to​ for gifts - welcome to the neighborhood. どうもありがとう Dōmo arigatō

If you're going to visit just one shop in abbott kinney, or all of venice, this is the one. In the front is a store and in the back (across a backyard) is an art gallery, all exemplifying the pinnacle of japanese minimalist craftsmanship: the level of skill looks like it takes forever to acquire and the items forevermore to make, and yet look so simple in design and purpose. At the risk of sounding cliche, it is all so zen inducing... I feel like i'd be in a more peaceful state of mind if i were surrounded by such things... momentarily, then i'd be perpetually worried about breaking something: many items seem so delicate though it was explained to me they are not as delicate as they appear and are actually intended for everyday use; however for everyday items, they are quite expensive. They carry mostly tableware but also stationary, clothes, personal care products, home decoration and trinkets all in that small space. The art gallery in the back is well worth a visit though some of the art is, well, tableware as well. They also have workshops related to some of their wares, tea ceremony workshops, hand drip coffee workshops, etc. As well, they sometimes have ice cream on weekends in the backyard btw the shop and the gallery. Pricy as it is, there is something for every price range and if you look around, you can walk away with something just for you. If you're looking for a wedding gift you can actually get something that is quite nifty for a reasonable price, and I was told they do wedding registries (so you can fake a wedding to make people buy you $hit or should i say, $$$hit). I worry they will tire of my endless window licking and ask me to stop touching everything. And leave...

Pre-covid, everything was clean and organized. Now during the pandemic, they are still orderly, clean and helpful. You need to book an appointment online (they have strict limitations on the number of people, currently it's 2 people per hour booking) to look into the store, which I'd recommend because there are certain items (sometimes limited) scattered around that aren't available to view/purchase in their online store.

What a cute store! This is the sister store to the Tortoise down the road which I enjoyed browsing in immensely. There are a lot of Japanese items in here, little knick knacky things to choose from.... not cheap but definitely unique. There were a lot of things you could probably find at those dollar Japanese stores but here the price is jacked up about 300-400%, still I guess if you're in Venice, you can do that.

Incredible selection of beautiful useful well made household goods selected and/or crafted to suit the owners aesthetic---subtle but sensual. ¡Support entrepeneurship and individual vision by taking a few minutes to immerse yourself in the variety of "neutral" colors" and unexpected textures! Nothing here is "fast fashion" or kitsch--why do previous posters compare it to stores on Sawtelle that sell mass-produced disposables with brand characters and logos? Yes I love my paper lantern nightlight and the world needs Happy Cat (and some people need Hello Kitty),but ...the intention and quality here is more like visiting the artists studio or home. Even the wooden display furniture is one of a kind wonderful.

As Japanese as it gets. Authentically Japanese. Whether you plan on actually buying stuff or not, it's still a nice store to visit. They have a good variety of Japanese-inspired books, arts and crafts, trinkets, kitchenware, and a variety of other things to check out as you stroll down Abbot Kinney.

Meticulously curated store. can I just live here ? Super cute accessories: casio watches, eyewear, Comme Des Garcons wallets, housewares, etc. Looking for a cute gift for someone special? You can probably find it here. Tiny store, I felt like I was in Japan(and also that I might be clumsy and break something in there haha). Probably the best store on Abbot Kinney. please correct me if I'm wrong! Non-pretentious customer service at checkout, I can't wait to check this store out again next time I'm in Venice.

Such a cool store! So many Japanese thingamabobs to look at. Definitely coming back here for gifts for friends and family.

Great place for gifts and minimalist item lovers and everything Japanese I wish I lived closer to go for very holiday birthday etc

This is a great little shop that is filled with beautiful little designs from a wide assortment of every day-type items - flatware, plates, table settings, Japanese stationery, calendars, etc. - to Japanese art, art books, vases, ceramics, porcelain, jewelry and more. Everything has that Japanese minimalist, yet modern feel, with lots of wood, iron, glass, copper, and other classic materials. The folks manning the counter are always friendly and cheerful - just like the beautiful items they stock. I asked them why they call this shop is called TORTOISE, and the shopkeeper said in a lovely Japanese accent: "Live SLOW." In LA? Good advice.

FAVORITE LITTLE SPOT IN VENICE. I'll be honest, anywhere there is fluent Japanese spoken, I will likely rate 5 stars. This little store + gallery is one of those places I can't help but visit every weekend. I love testing the pens, looking through the notebooks and furoshiki cloth, admiring the products. The gallery in the back is incredible too. Beautiful pots, plates, cups.

Cute little "boutique" shop with all kinds of fun Japanese accessories! It's always a delight to see what stuff they have. But find them a bit overpriced especially if you are a constant shopper of the Japanese franchise stores, Marukai.

I love this store's collections. The designs of these Japanese products are simple, practical yet unique, and with a good twist of tradition and contemporary. Housewares from kitchen kettle to stationaries, paper clips. Things that are made with natural materials, ceramics, wood, cotton, iron, bamboos, glasses.... I'm enjoying the mugs I bought there.

I'm not sure how to write this review without gushing. Every product in this gallery-store is immaculately crafted, aesthetically pleasing, and appealingly/practically minimalist in form. You can find most things you need here- stationery, notebooks, pens, cloth, pottery, camping gear, housewares, cookware, tea accessories, jewelry, clothing, scents, soaps, etc. The prices seem fair for the quality of workmanship- these are goods that will last you a decent portion of a lifetime. And apparently, TGS accepts wedding registries. Y.E.S.

Attended Mr. Yamanaka's Coffee Workshop yesterday. He owns a coffee shop in Japan and came US to have this workshop at Tortoise. Great experience to learn how to make hand drip coffee. Purchased a special kettle for hand drip. Cost around $70. No regret. Must have item for hand drip coffee. Mr. Yamanaka was very calm gentleman and told us a lot about coffee such as how to choose bean. I hope he will come back to do another one of those. I will be attending again for sure.

Go to place for kitchen/house warming gifts--also has Gallery space with local and internationalJapanese pottery, textiles, jewelry. Love the leather travel journals and pen/stationery. Warm helpful staff. Originally on Abbot Kinney in Venice. Check it out!

Immensely clean-lined, modern Japanese furniture and interior flair. I'm a big sucker for a lot of the things in here, which generally err on the side of wooden or stone. It's a great way to soften an interior by bringing in some natural textures, and Japan has the market cornered on bringing a feeling of zen to any space. So make sure to pay tortoise a visit and catch your breath! My bathroom is entirely decorated with things picked up from here, or its sister location just up the street -- hinoki cedar bath accessories are a must if you're a bathing aficionado like me, the wood is naturally antibacterial and lets off a very pleasant scent when wet.

A ridiculously awesome "gift-shop" that will make you feel you just warped to Daikanyama, which is one of the trendiest parts of Tokyo. They've got little Japanese hand-made gadgets (wood, stone, etc) that I can't resist buying. Pricey, but definitely worth the price. If you are ever looking for the perfect gift for someone who is interested in traditional Japanese culture or architecture, this is the perfect place for you. On the other had, if you think Japanese culture is all about Anime, this is NOT the place for you! Currently, I have my eye on the Kamado-san clay pot rice cookers that they have on display. Very steep in price, but I've heard that once you start cooking rice with one of these, you can't go back to electric... This is just an example of the type of awesome stuff they have at Tortoise.

What a great place - like being beamed over, Star-Trek style, to a cool Naka-Meguro shop in Tokyo without the molecular hassle. I found Tortoise General Store on the 'net first. Then visited the shop in person. They carry interesting stuff from Japan - everything from high(er) quality plastic wrap to candles to hand-dyed indigo and other crafted objets d'art. I walked out with an mold to make a huge single ice cube (more like an orb!) for my freezer. Will be perfect to cool offer - but not dilute - my scotch. Hope to be back to Tortoise soon....

Modernist, slightly pretentious prices, but gorgeous handmade gifts. I saw Alison Lohman from Matchstick Men here. We were trying on traditional Japanese bamboo slippers. They were cute. She asked me if they were comfortable, and they weren't. And i'm sure their $20 price tag was once $2 with the exchange rate on the street. But nonetheless. I spotted a celeb here. Who talked to me. And left drooling over ceramic coffee mugs. I walked out and fell a little more in love with Venice.

I love this shop. It makes me so happy inside seeing little hand crafted objects that are so well made and thoughtfully done. They've got a neat assortment of home goods, stationary supplies, and even jewelry and accessories. I bought myself a Casio watch because it was the perfect size and style for only $18! Unfortunately, most things in here are much more expensive than that, but I really think that you get what you pay for. Things here are very high quality and if I had a bit more cash to spend, I'd come back here to buy my linen napkins and plate sets. They always seem to have new things imported from Japan and whenever I'm on Abbot Kinney I'm sure to stop in and see what's new.

Unlike any shop I know. A place of beauty and wonder amidst the madness of Venice.

This is just a fabulous little shop with a wonderful array of fascinating products from Japan . . . from kitchenware to clothing to pens to stationary to unique craft and artwork. They carry amazing canisters (Kaikado) that are great for storing coffee, rice, tea, etc. They carry very tough, cool, great looking canvas bags (Ichizawa) that are durable, fashionable and practical. Both companies - Kaikado and Ichizawa - are renowned in Japan for the quality of their work and their long history of Japanese craftsmanship. The shop is also great because they do various events and workshops that let you connect Japan, Japanese culture, and various artisans and craftspeople from Japan. Really can't say enough good things. We love to pop in pretty much any time we're on Abbot Kinney. The shop is our go-to location for great gifts - unique things that people inevitably tell us they love. There is a great exhibit going on this weekend for Kaikado as well as two other artists. Highly recommend a visit!

modern japanese designed objects if you can't afford to take a trip to tokyo and spend 1 week looking for cute boutiques in the aoyama and nakameguro neighborhoods, then come here! i stumbled into this store and found everything that I wanted to bring back from my last trip to tokyo- * beautiful affordable hakusan pottery for everyday eating & tea/coffee * elegant modern sugahara glass ware * awesome abitax "outdoor" accessories (outdoor ashtray, coin pouch, felt mobile phone holder) * cool incense holders crafted from bamboo, steel, or ceramic * authentic japanese hankies and cloth * interesting japanese design books you can come here and find a lovely gift for someone's home.

Oh, the magic of beautiful merchandising! An unhemmed dish towel displayed in just the right way just might make me fork over $30 for it. It's a great go-to spot to buy that understated yet sophisticated housewarming gift for your friend that appreciates Japanese minimalism. It's also great for the anti-Pier-One/ Ikea crowd. If home goods usually bore you or make you want to gag, you'll probably like the slick yet earthy vibe of the gorgeous handcrafted objects d'arte here. I'm knocking off a star just because some of these items are just gloriously overpriced. However, a store like this exists to pick through the mess that's out there and curate your experience, which they do well-- and have to charge a bit for. Too bad the handblown glass cup just doesn't look quite as good in my cupboard as it did in the store.

Sadly, this is the first bad review I have ever written. I purchased 2 small wooden cups for $30, not an expensive purchase. I put water in them and the water turned a dark brown murky color. Not a good sign. I brought them back to the store and asked to exchange them for something else, which was denied since the cups had a ring where the water had been and used items can't be returned or exchanged. Their return/exchange policy is not posted and they only verbally expressed it after they ran the credit card. However, there would have been no way to know about the possibly toxic and definitely disagreeable residue in the cups without trying them. The cups are designed for sake which would create even more residue than water. They offered to wrap then as a present, so that I could give them as a gift to someone else, a response that I found to be very odd. Rather than creating an issue at the store with other customers present, I emailed the manager. Her response was to give me a lengthy story about the history and quality of the cups and still would not allow me to return or exchange them. Overall, I found the customer service to be horrible and the product quality very debatable. I highly recommend being very cautious about any purchases that you make, because there is no rectification or negotiation once a purchase is made.

1208 Abbot Kinney. Japanese style. Do you adore Japanese style? Go no further. This store is as neat and organized as the Japanese are known to be. Every item has a folded card label so you are not confused, sometimes an explanation, and you really want to buy everything for everyone for Christmas because it is so unique, sometimes practical, if not charming. For example, little hand towels with fish or dog prints, a tea set, sake cups, fine pens, a shovel and spade, fine copper containers to hold loose tea and keep it uncannily fresh (no pun intended)...really, an adorable store. Emily Rose Reeder

ohhhhh abbot kinney abbot kinney. $245 distressed grey jeans abbot kinney abbot kinney. intelligentsiexpensivecoffee abbot kinney abbot kinney. oh. oh, tortoise. nice. monocle x comme des garcons scent one: hinoki. sniffffffffff. mmmmmmmmmm. thanks.

Lovely little shop. Lovely people who run it. Two separate buildings with a patio in the middle. In the back building there are photos of some of the victims of the Tsunami from earlier this year with powerful messages. Quite moving. They take cash donations to be sent to family members in Japan.

well curated store filled with mostly home goods from japan. you are bound to find many things you want to take home or give as gifts but alas, it is not cheap; quality isn't skimped here. it's quite satisfying just to peruse anyhow. everything is neutral colored and all in good, minimal taste. the little store was packed when i went, both with items and people. there's a small hall that opens to the back and then another large space that displayed artists' vessels for the home. it was similar to a gallery. i will definitely come back here to browse what's new and feast my eyes upon the tasteful, museum like curation. many of my personal favorite "tastemakers" recommend this store as well.

Meh! Over-rated and under delivered. I grew up in the wonderful Japanese stores on sawtelle. The stores offered a mix of items for sale but never made me feel like I was visiting a museum. This place is uncomfortable, unfriendly and the staff follows you around. They present their items as if they are museum pieces and one of a kind. Really? A note pad, a drinking glass, a wooden bird. Pleeease! I will take Japan town any day, not this over-rated place.

The employees are very nice and helpful,and the store offers such a variety of unique beautiful handmade (and otherwise) objects. I was there just this past weekend and discovered that two artists from Japan were there demonstrating and teaching a class on how they make their products (Kaikado tea canisters and wire-form baskets)! This was really a special experience.

I really want to like this store, because I like the way the things they sell look. But today I saw them make a man pay for an entire set of ceramics, because the lid slide off of one of the pieces and broke as he picked it up. I will not go in here again. It was just before the holidays, they were selling things like crazy with a line of people waiting to pay, and he looked like he didn't have much money, but was very polite and apologetic anyways. It was in poor taste. It turned me off. Pretty things, ugly feelings.

I walked through Tortoise General Store the other day. Cool items, but very overpriced. Stocked entirely with Japanese housewares and gifts, the store has a nice selection of merchandise. As I strolled around though, I couldn't help realizing that I could get the same items in Little Tokyo or Mitsuwa Marketplace for a fraction of the cost.

Even the name of the place is super cute. Modern to classic Japanese tableware. The furniture is interesting. I love the books and the pens. Oh yes.. Japanese writing tools are the best! There is a little back store if you go up the stairs, through the kids' section, into the patio and through the dark doors. There you will find a tranquil tea area complete with tea samples and tastings. I loved how polite the people were - they offered us to try some of the tea they had on and explained what kinds of tea there were. Part of the proceeds went to Japan and their disaster relief fund. I am all for that.