Such an adorable treasure trove right next to Crossroads! The store is filled with everything from Sanrio stationery, blind boxes, and plushies to Japanese kitchenware and home decor. The far right of the store also features a tea wall offering a large variety of tea, including matcha tins and many specialty blends. Shiga's Imports is a wonderful place to browse, whether you're looking for something specific or a thoughtful gift. read more

Love this store! Lots of cute Asian products! Upon entering they have really cute Asian and foodie themed cards, I got one for my mom. They have a decent size selection of tea that you can purchase by the bag and prices are fairly reasonable. I fell in love with their pen section! Omg the pens were so cute and they were doing a buy 4 get 1 free deal. The pens were about $3 each. They also had lots of plushies, stickers, keychains, and a lot of other nice things! read more

Cute spot for all kinds of Japanese items. Lots of Sanrio in the back. Their gatcha set up is really cute too. They have expanded their section of teas and you can get a sample too. I like coming here for their dishwares and if I'm looking for a nice gift. read more

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I bought a phone stander and it broke within like three days and it was real cute but it freaking broke like there's no way I can be delicate first of all and it was like 20 bucks for that phone stand. There's no fucking way. read more

It's mostly a kitchen vent-hood distributor- but the tchotchkes are what I wanted. I should have picked up a dragon plushie!! The owner/manager? was very very nice. I was looking for Asian dishes and decorations. They have a great selection of paper lanterns & altar items, too!! read more

Cute little shop with a nice variety of things. Ceramics, tea, stationery, & gifts. Fun to look around.

The service is fine not great not bad. If you like Sanrio this is def the place for you! The selection goes from plushies to tea and even some really cool Fune China! It's not very expensive but it's not that cheap either. read more

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OPEN AGAIN Shiga's has reopened, so can honor gift certificates they sold prior to covid. That is all I asked. Their staff is better than usual. Give them a try when you are looking for home decor or gifts. read more

I first walked into Shiga's in 1977. And even though I now live in New York, I go back every time I'm in Seattle because the store remains a truly magical place. In my home I still have beautiful bowls and plates that I bought at Shiga's, and I continue to use them on occasions when I want to share a touch of East Asia with my friends. I still even have some bushes and a stone for grinding ink that I bought there fifty years ago. Here's to another fifty years, at least. read more

I don't always shop at Shiga's Imports, but when I do, I leave with at least 5 different types of loose leaf teas half an hour later. This place is knick-knack central. There's so much to look at, you could easily kill an hour here if you so wish. I'm partial to their vast loose-leaf tea offerings, especially the $1 1oz. samplers. The caramel green tea is my favorite by far, but I will always leave with at least 5 other samplers. But there's plenty more besides tea. They have a ton of crafty-looking dinnerware (perfect for gifts), stereotypically Asian/Hello Kitty-inspired school supplies, mini zen gardens, furniture... the list goes on! read more

This is a really fascinating store with a lot of great Japanese gifts and products. I came here with a list of things in mind to get and I got all of them and more! I did a brief search online to see which stores sold sushi-making sets and this was one of them. I totally forgot that this store was on the Ave from my college years because I never really shopped at it. I'm so glad I did today though because I ended up buying $60 worth of stuff... useful stuff too! I bought 5 pairs of fancy Japanese chopsticks for less than $5, all my chopsticks kept breaking in half in the dishwasher because they kept falling through the gaps... :( Anyway, I'm so happy with that little purchase. I also walked away with a musubi maker (it was $7.50) a little pricey but I know I'll definitely be using it lots and lots. I have to admit that a lot of the nicer stuff is a bit expensive but they seem high-quality and the variety of items at the store is great! It's really fun to walk through and they have a great heater that warms up a section of the store. It's definitely a plus when you're shopping comfortably. And like other reviewers wrote, there is a pretty decently sized Hello Kitty section. If i liked Hello Kitty, I'd love this, but since I pretty much detest her for basically blocking out Pochacco's spotlight... I didn't care too much for it but I'm sure HK fanatics would LOVE this area. The only downside that I can think of besides that it's kind of pricey is that the shop closes at 6... making it a bit difficult to shop after work on the weekdays but I suppose there's all day on Saturdays! read more

My fav store close to UW to get some Japanese artifacts and a ton of tea. They have over 100 kinds of tea imported from Japan, China, India etc. They sell small bags of tea for cheap for you can really try a variety of different kinds. They also carry porcelain utensils, kimonos, chopsticks, candles etc. The prices are very fair. Sometimes they can be a big higher than amazon so you need to know what to buy here. read more

On Christmas day at my place, Elle X. expressed a preference for tea. Of late, having migrated to tea from coffee, my drawers are fairly overflowing with genmaicha, yerba mate, green, black, oolong. Overflowing drawers, that's me...most days. But Elle X. caught with my tea leaves down. With nothing in my drawers but a host of teabags. Who teabags their houseguests? Why, surely not I?! That ain't no way to run a tea party. There was no rectifying the Great Christmas Tea-Bust, but I did head down to Shiga's as soon as possible to restock my coffers for future occasions. Shiga's has all kinds of curiosities: samurai swords, full ninja suits with cloven toes, a sparkly devoted Hello Kitty section for your smelly eraser constitutionals, teacups with steam-trapping lids, a small overpriced "plastic kitchen knick-knack" section, utterly lovely but very expensive tea, sake and sushi sets, and endearing stationery items. I unexpectedly picked myself up a fancy Japanese money clip, on account of my high-rolling ways. I have so much cash I have to clip that shit down so no one gets busted in the head with it! But I digress. Because when I can't make it to Uwajimaya, Shiga's is my go-to spot for various teas. Last trip, I headed home with "Temple of Heaven" (delicious!), "Assam Estate" (assam indeed!), organic red litchi (very good iced) and Russian Caravan tea, which tastes like a campfire built out of orchids and old maps. Amazing and odd. I'd come in there expressly looking for the gunpowder tea I purchased on my last trip, but they were apparently out. They sell sampler bags in 1-3oz bags of many of their teas, which is a great way to keep your palate from loose-leaf boredom. This place really is a fun stop-in place. It is not the most economical place to play, which is why I've withheld an orgiastic 5-star review; they could bring the prices down just a scoche. But the tea prices are reasonable, the people are sweet, and it's my favorite antidote to teabaggery. read more

You know those Tom's shoes that are all the rage? Shiga's Imports has similar shoes that cost only $4! While I appreciate that the $40+ you spend on a pair of Tom's goes to charity, I also appreciate stupidly low prices and good deals. I popped in here one day after a visit at Aladdin's Gyrocery (yum!) and found myself a great new tea set, some nice chopsticks, tasty Asian candies and cheap shoes! I think I spent more on the gyro! read more

My first review in Seattle! I was interested in getting a Japanese futon for its portability. I had checked out some prices in Seattle and was prepared to pay more for a futon than a traditional mattress. Shiga's Imports was my first stop for a shikibuton and I got a queen sized futon for a great price. Granted, it was made in the US and not Japan, but the friendly associate told me that the "western" ones are made of cotton and foam, and are firmer, which was what I was looking for. I am not sure how much more the traditional Japanese ones cost but I am really happy with this futon. Quick, painless, and it fit in the car. read more

For trinkets, For teas, For hoardes of Hello Kitties. For cups, For plates, For fine, exquisite tastes. Oh Shiga's, I love you, It's really truly true. read more

I am immune to knick-knacks and I have enough conversation pieces to last me approximately 17 lifetimes due to my garage sale habit. So I am a little less of a browser and more goal Orient-ed. What they have upstairs is futons. I know you are thinking, "Daaaaaamn. I left those lumpy days behind. Remember the debate about that one stain?" I proffer that, although you may be into your adult furniture-owning phase, your guests can still tough it out on a futon. They have some here, upstairs. You'd think they would come from overseas like everything downstairs, but they are either from Canada or Tacoma: Sweet. That is a decent reason not to choose Ikea or Target for your mattress. Sadly, their frame and cover selection is weak. Craigslist has a better selection of frames (seriously) for cheap or free. read more

It's hard to find a more concentrated and densely packed bundle of Japanophilia anywhere outside of Honshu, Shikoku, Hokkaido or Kyushuu. And as far as I can tell, it's all legit. Here's but a sampling of what they sell here: loose leaf tea, teaware (yunomi, kettle and cup sets, tea tins, matcha whisks), sake sets, plates and cups, Go and shogi equipment, lanterns, shoji screens, painted screens, books, Hello Kitty paraphernalia, incense, noren, cookbooks, futons (slightly different from what you think a futon is) and piles and piles of knick-knacks, some better than others. I expected a store that was more of a glob of Asian culture. A Buddha here, a tacky samurai sword replica there, a row of terrible manga and some shady looking tea cups. But this is all real stuff, and as far as I can tell, the prices are competitive, though not always cheap as things made in Japan seldom compete with their Chinese manufacturing neighbors. Just today I picked up four tea cups, two yunomi, a mind blowingly cheap sake set (utilitarian, I can pick up something better if I get into the hobby) and found everything to meet or exceed my expectations. The staff are friendly and wrapped my teaware without me having to ask. Of course, Shiga's is something of an irony. No Japanese household I've ever been in would tolerate this kind of cluttered, crowded feel either as a home (which one part of the store seems to try and replicate for decorative purposes) or as a store, but it works well considering its location on the Ave. If you're intensely interested in a Japanese-type hobby you will be able to find superior products elsewhere on the interwebz. There's better tea to be had, and higher quality Go boards in other corners of the universe, but I can't think of anyplace that will let you indulge in all the trinkets like Shiga's. Shiga's is not a replacement for Daiso, and vice-versa. They are completely separate stores and each deserve a little bit of your time. Also, if you are a UW student, there are coupons and deals available on select items, but mostly on big items like futons or screens. For the smaller stuff you're on your own. read more

University District institution. Been around since the 50's I think. Japanese dishware, great tea selection, hand packed and prepackaged teas and all the associated accoutrements. Best Japanese futon selction in the city. Be sure and ask to see the secret futon display upstairs. Indian bedspreads, Hello Kitty, Asian sweets. Great shop to check out! read more

Shiga's is a University District institution. It's been there for over 50 years! You can read about the history of the Shiga family on their website; they've been in Seattle since before the internment. The late Andy Shiga was also the driving force behind creating the University District Street Fair, which is still going strong. With the increasing globalization of society and Internet ordering being possible nearly everywhere, this shop is perhaps not as unique as it used to be, but it's still a really fun place to browse and pass some time and a great place to find gifts. The ceramics here are higher quality than you'd find at Daiso. The main thing I love here is the tea -- they have a great selection of loose-leaf tea for very reasonable prices. The aisles are a little crowded and I have to be careful about my purse not knocking into anything, but Shiga's is a nice little oasis from the hustle and bustle of the Ave. read more

What a FUN place to shop for oriental items! Sanrio is also here and they even have a sticker club photo machine. I love shopping here. The owner is very nice and the store will keep you busy shopping! They also have loose leaf tea and a collection of nice tea pots and sake sets. Great place to buy gifts! The store is interesting. Pictures soon! read more

Shiga's Imports - I think it's actually called Shiga's Imports. - Home Decor Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The window displays caught my eye and made me covet many items, but I come back again and again for the tea selection. Shiga's Imports has a solid selection of loose leaf teas, from fine greens to exotic herbal blends at prices and quantities that won't break the bank or go stale before you can drink it all. They even have samplers for $1-2 that make a few cups! Plus all of the accoutrements you didn't even know you needed - several kinds of strainers, storage tins, cups, and teapots also at exceedingly reasonable prices. I've also found a very nice selection of home decor, incense, Sanrio collectibles, and cultural items. The staff is low key and helpful, and the imported wooden box I purchased as a gift was unlike any I've seen elsewhere. So even though on a good day my tea collection stretches to 15+ varieties, I always find a gem or two to take home. But seriously, don't park on the Ave - and if you *must*, be sure to put more time on the meter than you think you'll need. It's shockingly easy to kill time here, and the $44 spent on a parking citation could be spent on cool stuff instead! read more

A Go set in the window here drew me in as I've been thinking about getting into the game. I was surprised to see a nice sized store full of great Japanese items. As I looked around at the lamps, tea sets, cups, chopsticks, clothing, games, candles, incenses, and more I was even more surprised at the prices! The prices are very low but everything here seems to be great quality. I found a lot of stuff that I want to buy here eventually and will be back to get it all one by one throughout frequent visits. read more

Store looks small from the outside but it goes pretty far back. There's an entire aisle of hello kitty products but most of the store is kitchen oriented--utensils, cups, dishes, tea/sake sets, etc. Tea is definitely plentiful and is sold in zip lock bags. There is a small selection of fabrics and kimonos but it doesn't look like they have been touched in a while. Sorry to disappoint any anime fans--there is nothing related to anime in this store. read more

I could wander in this place for hours soaking up the Asian ambience and wondering what half the gadgets are used for. Stocking stuffers, party favors, home decorations...Shiga's has things you would never even imagine but will have to have once you see them. You'll come out of this store wanting to travel to Japan. read more

Love this place. They have wonderful tea and plenty of cool Japanese items. I personally loved the tea containers and their Origami section. They were super friendly when I had questions about the tea. Lots of helpful pointers. read more

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This is a cool fun hiddein the ave place. You forget how much you liked it until you go back in. Its family owned and they are always nice. The variety of things you definitely NEED and curios and simply nice cards, cups, plates and so much more. You need to go. read more

Every shelf packed with colorful, shiny treasures...the air thick with fragrances of incense cones and votive candles. It reminds me of places in Eugene, OR my parents used to take me to such as 5th Street Public Market or the flea market out at the fairgrounds. Shiga's is decidely more Asian, though. And not so hippied-out. Shiga's is your go-to spot in the U-District for Asian ceramics (arguably a bit over-priced), Hello Kitty/Sanrio, slippers, origami papers, Buddha statues, lucky cat figurines, chopstick rests, panda magnets, sushi playing cards, and a variety of other knick-knacks from the Far East. I picked up a cute bowl and saucer painted with tiny koi fish on an aqua background, plus a couple of gifts for a friend's upcoming birthday. The Ave doesn't get up early on weekends, so if you're not hung over from last night's kegger and are looking for brunch before 11 a.m., this is a fun place to kill time before restaurants open. read more

I used to buy gifts in here all the time. Then I bought something that broke immediately and when I returned it was basically told, "You break it! No refund for you!" I showed them the flaw that caused the break, not my fault, and they said, "All sales final! You go away now!" I forever after thought of them as crooks. I did manage to get my refund surreptitiously, and a little more as punishment. read more

Wow! From the outside, the window display makes this store seem very cluttered and disorganized -- but it's surprisingly spacious inside and has a LOT of stuff. It is so easy to kill time here. There are a lot of great little gifts here that you can get for friends or family... most (if not all) Asian-themed. Everything here seems to be of pretty good quality, and it's reasonably priced. My favorite thing about this store is their tea selection! It's very inexpensive compared to other teas, and they have so many different sorts. I got 4 samples (each has roughly 1/2 oz) for $0.95 a sample. I also got a small tin (perfect for 1/2oz-1oz sizes) for about $2.65. They have larger tins as well. I knew as soon as I stepped inside this store that this would be the worst thing ever for my wallet. And given that it's so close to campus... I'm going to have a difficult time resisting dropping in between classes to pick up a sample of tea. This is a great place, and if you haven't tried it yet you're definitely missing out. read more

If you're into teas, this place has a variety of everything from Chinese, Japanese, herbal to chocolate flavored teas. If you need cheap shoes, this place has it. Honestly, do yourself a favor and visit because it does have something for everyone. read more

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This place was really nice, I went to get a hanging paper lantern and I also got a bracelet (which was tea colored) and my sister got a fan and there, customer service deserved every star, when I dropped my 5 dollar bill the lady at the cash register even sent a person after me to give it to me, this place has everything and deserves everything 10/10 best place ever read more

Shiga's Imports - My bracelet! - Home Decor Near Me - Seattle, Washington

you walk in here and there's so many things you can buy for your apartment/home. the thing is... it's hard to decide on what. i would get a headache from looking at thousands and thousands of different sets, toys, decorations, scrolls, accessories, stationary, and buddhas. it's great- but it's definitely not a place i can stay inside for long. major brownie points to the fact that i can shop for all of my friend's mothers here. lol read more

Shiga's is cool! I get their sequined slip-ons here for $8 bucks. I've got turquoise ones and red ones and gold and silver & black ones... They have a selection of kimonos (from affordable hapi coats & yukata to fancy $500 beautiful formal kimono), kung fu shoes, geitas, real japanese futons, good incense selection, housewares, knick knacks, etc., etc. Love this shop! read more

Awesome place for Japanophiles. Pretty inexpensive Japanese trinkets. clothes, and houseware. You can get Go and Shogi equipment here as well. Friendly staff, too! read more

Woah, do you need a new sake set, fancy chop sticks, hello kitty, or a Japanese outfit? well you come to the right place ,if you answered yes to any of these questions. the store has almost an endless selection of Japanese stuff. i highly recommend this to any one who likes the home department in uwajmaya. read more

ok so while this place has a barely adequate selection of japanese imports, it's really not worth the effort. I came in, asking for origami paper and found a handful of paper packets. I asked if I could take a look at a packet which claimed to have 60 colors. They were completely rude about it, saying that the colors were all displayed on the front. uhhh no, there were not 60 colors on the front of the packet. and no of course I couldn't take a look at the paper inside. and of course, all sales are final and no returns allowed. Did I mention that it was $20 for a pack of origami paper?? Totally not worth it, it's expensive and the staff is rude and snobbish. save your money and go elsewhere, even amazon.com will have a better selection and prices! read more

Read all comments, for they be true! This is an awesome store for buying small little Asian themed house items and knickknacks. It's a pretty old school store with cramped quarters and a potent odor. I've been 100% pleased with the dishes, tea cups, little wooden drawers and statues I've bought there. If you're running out of ideas on what to buy somebody for Christmas, this is the best place on the Ave to go. read more

This is a fun shop to browse through and a great place to find good gifts and Asian items like Japanese robes, sandals, pillows, dishes, etc.... For students looking to add interesting and colorful decorations to their dorm rooms this is a great place to go--the lanters, posters, and beaded doorway hangings are lots of fun. They also have "lanterns, jewelry, clothing, teak and modern furniture, Indian bedspreads, fiber rugs, dishware, tea and sake sets, and much more" according to their ad in the U-District Restaurant Guide. read more

Love this store! They have a great assortment of different items, some pretty expensive, others a deal. My friend just got a hot sake set there, and I got a few little dishes. They have some hello kitty stuff (not as much as i'd like, but still) and some great fabric and bedspreads in the back. Most of their ceramics are pretty pricey, but it's nice to support a local business! read more