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Thanks to a slew of megachains, Soho’s cobblestone streets at times seem to have morphed into an upscale open-air shopping mall. An outstanding exception is Kiteya, an eclectic Japanese boutique nestled a few doors down from Kate Spade. Offering delightful wares from five Kyoto-based artisans, the store’s bazaarlike concept is the brainchild of an affable mother-daughter duo, Keiko and Yumi Iida, who have made it their mission to bring brilliantly colored, traditional Japanese goods stateside. Those on offer include affordably priced, eye-grabbing childrenswear, handbags, and stationery, as well as more costly items like ornate clutches and scarves—printed with the painstaking Yuzen technique—that sell for what you’d find at Chanel a few blocks north. No matter what your price range is, Kiteya lives up to its warm, welcoming moniker. (Translation: “Please come visit us.”) — Caroline Callahan