Royal Charley: Rags and bags for Tokyo's skins and rudes

You thought you were really into reggae, but one peek in Royal Charley's -- Tokyo's reggae hipster hangout in Shimokitazawa, replete with a clothing shop, record store and boutique -- and you'll see what 'really into reggae' means. The shop's record racks are filled with vintage ska, rocksteady and early reggae, but the real gems are the old-school belt buckles, Jamaican-themed socks and 2Tone pins that line the adjacent shelves.

Still, however, the store's highlight are the cool-kid clothing picks, much of which is locally hand-crafted -- locally, as in from the work table behind the store's cash register. So if you're craving a little dose of high-end hip or of the global fashion subculture Japan has been renowned for, poke your head into Royal Charley's. We promise, you'll be cooler for it.