3 shops to visit around Kaminarimon Gate: Japanese items by Asakusa’s craftsmen that will be treasures for the rest of your life

Once upon a time, Asakusa was used to be one of the busiest entertainment areas in Edo (Tokyo’s former name). In 1657, most of Edo’s land was fired because of a big fire, and ‘Yoshiwara’ in Nihombashi, the most popular red-light district at the time, was moved to Asakusa. Later, the theaters of Kabuki and Ningyo Joruri (a Japanese puppet show) are also moved here, and the performing art developed. In the process, the craftsmanship was required for various things such as tools used for performance and fans that spectators had. Due to this historical background, Asakusa has craftsmen with Japanese traditional techniques even now. This time, we focused on Japanese items that were created by these craftsmen and will be treasures for the rest of your life. We’re going to introduce 3 shops like hidden gems.

All of the shops are within 5 minutes’ walking distance from Kaminarimon Gate.

“Hakocho” with the unique technique that colors engraved illustrations on paulownia wood with luxury Kimono fabric

Founded in 1874, “Hakocho (箱長)” makes and sells as many paulownia items as it can be said that they have all. There are a great variety of items from traditional ones such as box and chest to ones that meet the needs of the times such as photo frame and mask case. The most popular item among Japanese people is a hand mirror coming with a pouch. It seems that foreign visitors are apt to buy a wine rack. When choosing items, don’t forget to look at the designs created with their traditional technique! Hakocho is the birth shop of this technique, and its process to make is as the following: they firstly engrave lucky charms including bell and dragonfly on the surface of paulownia woods with 3 types of carving knives, color engraved lines, cut out luxury silk fabric for kimono, which is pasted with Japanese paper, according to the patterns and embed them in grains. The combination of paulownia woods and kimono fabric is heart-warm and elegant. If you have enough time, why not take a part in a workshop? You’re sure to feel love towards your own original accessory case.

Opening Hours	<Orange St. Shop> 10:30AM – 6:00PM　<Metro St. Shop> 10:30AM – 6:00PM
Address	<Orange St. Shop> 1-4-5 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo Prefecture <Metro St. Shop> 1-34-5 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo Prefecture
Access	2 shops are a 3-minute walk from Kaminarimon Gate <Orange St. Shop> A 5-minute walk from Hotel Gracery Asakusa A 9-minute walk from Hotel Tavinos Asakusa <Metro St. Shop> A 7-minute walk from Hotel Gracery Asakusa A 10-minute walk from Hotel Tavinos Asakusa
URL	https://www.hakocho.com/kimekomi

“Yonoya” where rare craftsman creates the most luxurious hair combs making your hair beautiful

Do you know what Tsuge-kushi (つげ櫛) is? It’s Japan’s most luxurious comb made of boxwood trees with the hardness and elasticity perfect for combs. Some of ancient Japanese stories have sentences showing this comb. In fact, craftsmen who can make Tsuge-kushi are decreasing, so there are only 2 shops in Tokyo. One of these is “Yonoya (よのや櫛舗)” located on the Denpoin-dori Street in Asakusa. Since its founding, 1717, craftsmen have making Tsuge-kushi with their hands one by one. Stepping into the shop, Tsuge-kushi with various shapes, sizes and fine teeth welcomes you. The wood for Yonoya’s combs comes exclusively from Satsuma boxwood trees in Kagoshima prefecture, which takes about 50 years to grow to a suitable thickness. Apparently, they start make Tsuge-kushi after repeating drying and smoking them to drain water for about one year and a half. The shape designed to fit in hands makes it easier to comb hairs and the camellia oil soaked in wood gives hairs a shine. By the way, the wife of its owner who knows Tsuge-kushi well will give you detailed advice on how to choose combs, care for them and so on.

Opening Hours	10:30AM – 6:00PM　Closed on Wednesday *They’re sometimes closed on Wednesday and Thursday, so please check the official website.
Address	1-37-10 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo Prefecture
Access	A 4-minute walk from Kaminarimon Gate A 6-minute walk from Hotel Gracery Asakusa A 8-minute walk from Hotel Tavinos Asakusa
URL	http://en.yonoya.com/

The folding fan specialty shop “Arai Bunodo” fascinating famous Kabuki actors with exquisite and bold design and allowing you to get custom made one

Japan has mainly 2 types of folding fans: ‘Kyo-folding fan’ featuring elegant patterns and ‘Edo-folding fan’ with a small number of bones and bold designs such as striped patterns and letters. In Asakusa, it seems that the latter folding fan became popular at the time the performing culture developed because not only dancers but also spectators used it. Located at the entrance of Kaminarimon Yanagikoji and at the westside of Nakamise-dori Street, “Arai Bunodo (荒井文扇堂)” has made Edo-folding fan for over 120 years in Asakusa. Lots of famous Kabuki actors including ex-18th Nakamura Kanzaburo and 12th Ichikawa Danjuro often visited here. There are folding fans for Kabuki and Rakugo etc and ones that we can use casually. The owner creates and colors all of them. If you find your favorite folding fan, it’s a good idea to insert your name on it. In addition, we also recommend you ask the owner to make your original one by choosing the type of Japanese paper and patterns.

Opening Hours	<Kaminarimon Yanagikoji Shop> 10:30AM – 6:00PM　Closed on Monday after 20th every month <Nakamise-dori Shop> 10:30AM – 6:00PM　Closed on Wednesday
Address	<Kaminarimon Yanagikoji Shop>  1-20-2 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo Prefecture <Nakamise-dori Shop> 1-30-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo Prefecture
Access	2 shops are a 2-minute walk from Kaminarimon Gate <Kaminarimon Yanagikoji Shop>  A 5-minute walk from Hotel Gracery Asakusa A 10-minute walk from Hotel Tavinos Asakusa <Nakamise-dori Shop> A 6-minute walk from Hotel Gracery Asakusa A 9-minute walk from Hotel Tavinos Asakusa