Timbuk2 Opens First Japan Store

Timbuk2 announced the opening of its first official brick-and-mortar store in Japan. Nestled within The Lodge, a premier multi-brand store in Kyoto City, represents the first time Timbuk2’s Custom Bag Builder for made-in-San Francisco bags will be available in a language other than English.

The 190 sq. ft. shop-in-shop is located at 220, Takamiya-cho, Takakuranishi-Iru, Oikedori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto, Japan, a space known for hosting contemporary, high-end fashion shops alongside stores with centuries of history selling traditional Kyoto crafts and specialty foods. Among various notable design features, the real show stopper is the in-store customizer, featuring over 60 stylish fabrics, which will evolve with each season. As the second of only two outside North America, this customizer is the first-ever Timbuk2 in-store customizer to offer all text, instructions and currency in the local language. All custom bags are handmade in Timbuk2’s San Francisco factory and shipped out within a week of order.

“We chose Kyoto because of its beauty, sensibility, ambiance and shared vision with us. Timbuk2 strives to make its customers’ lives more seamless, be it through travel, commute or bike:  it’s in our DNA,” said Timbuk2 CEO Patti Cazzato. “This is why it was key the customizer in our Kyoto store be offered entirely in the local language and currency. Nothing is more important to us than having our customers drop in and design a custom bag in a fun and straightforward fashion.”

Timbuk2 plans to open additional physical locaitons in Japan.