Feb 27, 2014

shop#41 Some-no-Anbo

On March 3rd, we celebrate HINAMATSURI, which is the girls' day. Parents display a pair of dolls for their daughters every year in the middle of February and put back in the box right after the March 3rd. I found Tenugui, the Japanese towel, in this shop dyed Hinamatsuri dolls.




Feb 26, 2014

Feb 22, 2014

shop#39 Yanaka-do

To CAT Lovers, here is the shop of Maneki-Neko, which is located in Yanaka area. These cats are believed to bring you good luck. You can find your own birthday cat and every cats are different.





Feb 17, 2014

shop#38 Miyamoto Unosuke (Taikotan)

Miyamoto Unosuke makes and sells Japanese drams, TAIKO. On the 4th floor of the building, there is a Taiko Museum which has hundreds of drams from all over the world. Surprisingly, you can play most of these drams. 
Entrance Fee: Adult 500 yen; Child 150 yen 





Feb 12, 2014

Feb 11, 2014

shop#36 Takeya

Choose your own handmade chopsticks from various kinds.^^ 


shop#35 Nishijima Shoten

This is a shop selling Japanese umbrella for Japanese dancing or miniatures for souvenirs. These are made of oiled paper. You can actually use the long one in the rain.



Feb 6, 2014

shop#34 Makino-Gyokushindo

KIFUDA, a Japanese Traditional Name Tag will bring you a good luck. The storeowner helps to make your own Japanese names with Kanji characters. The price is from 1,800 yen and it takes just an hour. The shop is located about 30 yards from Kaminarimon.

- from shop's leaflet -
We carve your name in Japanese letters (Hiragana, Katakana or Kanji) on the wooden tag. We can also carve good fortune characters of Japan or favorite words on it as well. This custom was started in Edo period. In those days they write or print their name on Japanese papers and brought them to shrines and temples to make their prayers. Nowadays the names are carved on wooden tages. This wood has been used to build shrines and temples for many years because it is nonperishable and famous in Japan. Wood name is Khiva. This name tag will bring you good luck. Please carry it with you at anytime!








Feb 5, 2014

shop#33 Soutei-Yabukita

Dishes with Sakura make you feel spring. You can have Japanese handmade crafts or goods here. 




shop#32 Rokka-an

This shop is selling Ukiyoe Printings and Japanese Crafts. Kagozome Lanterns are so beautiful. 




Feb 2, 2014

Feb 1, 2014

shop#30 Dengama

This shop, which sells various Japanese tableware in reasonable prices, is at the corner of Kappabashi Tool Street and Asakusa Boulevard. In this season, you can find cute Sakura dishes or bowls. 




shop#29 Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya

Here you can take a lesson to make fake foods e.g. lettuce or Tempura. I have no idea why there is a huge beetle on the balcony, though. The website is Japanese, but I saw on TV that many tourists from other countries are enjoying to make fake foods.

http://www.ganso-sample.com/experience/kappabashi_exp.html