Tortoise General Store

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.

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.

i wish I could live in this store.

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.

This review is for the wood carving workshops that Yo Takimoto does every so often on the patio of the store. My son did a workshop with Yo today. While I did not stick around for the entire thing, I will say that Yo is a patient and encouraging teacher. The class is not for every kid. I would say that it is better for older kids who are focused and able to work on a single, small piece for several hours. Of course adults are welcome to take the workshops too which cost about $ 40. Yo brings about ten types of wood from which to choose. They are already cut down to manageable pieces a few inches long. Students select a piece that appeals to them and then get to work with a small carving knife. After that, much time is spent sanding the piece. The results are beautiful and elegant and simple. Highly recommended.

most beautiful store I have been in. It has been curated beautifully.

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 cliché, 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…

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.

Fantastic shop with some very cool/​beautiful/​unique/​traditional Japanese made products. Everything ranging from housewares, to knives, pottery to jewelry, notebooks to baby clothes.
Go just for the fun of looking, if for nothing else.

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.

I LOVE this place! Super stylish, cozy, beautiful aesthetic. The glass and wood shelves in the newish back section are amazing. Truly I wish I could live here.

Tortoise has the most awesome of back rooms. Feels more like a gallery than a furreal shop — I’m happy to see them endorse the artists they do.

We loved it here! Lots of great stuff. My girlfriends and I did some shopping, and the store is laid out beautifully. They were obsessed with the store’s instagram after we left, too. Recommended if you like well-​curated and well-​made products.

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.

This is a gem. Incredibly merchandised and a must stop when visiting Abbot Kinney. Georgeous housewares and furniture. Make sure to stop by both parts of the store! There is a back room that you access via the courtyard.

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.

Pure delight! Easily my favorite store in LA.
Japanese design goods heaven and Affordable.

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 Animé, 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.

Japanese, Midcentury, and other lovely things
I want everything!

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…

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.