Let’s make your own original items as souvenirs in Kuramae! Guide to 3 Must-Visit Shops protecting traditional techniques

“Kuramae (蔵前)” is a hidden-away district between tourist-infested Asakusa and Sumida River which is famous for fireworks. Water transportation by making use of the river was developed in the middle ages, so there used to be lots of houses of wealthy lords and merchants. Perhaps due to the influence of them, Kuramae was crowded with craftsmen involved in various jobs such as handcrafts, toy and fireworks. It is still a town of craftsmen and also creates new trendy items with traditional techniques. This time, we’re going to introduce 3 recommended shops where you can make your own original items for daily life while feeling Kuramae’s history.

Kuramae Station is one station away from Asakusa Station on the Toei Asakusa line.

100% organic from fabric to dye. “MAITO” allowing you to experience plant dyeing, the origin of Japanese dyeing culture

Do you know “Plant Dyeing (草木染め)” that is said to be started about 1,400 BC? It’s a dyeing technique to dye material with colors extracted from plants without using any chemical dyes. At a shop “MAITO” adjacent to their dyeing factory, there are lots of items dyed with plants including clothing and accessory apparel. To our surprise, most of the bright colors dyeing organic fabric are extracted from what we see in our daily lives such as seasonal flowers and coffee, onions and chestnuts. You must have butterflies in your stomach just by stepping into the shop decorated with over 20 colors. In addition, MAITO’s dyeing factory holds workshops to convey charms of plant dyeing every month. Why not try to dye material with colors of seasonal plants chosen by the owner, a dyeing artisan?

Opening Hours	11:30AM – 6:30PM　Closed on Monday
Address	1F, 4-14-12 Kuramae, Taito-ku, Tokyo Prefecture
Access	A 2-minute walk from Kuramae Station
URL	https://maitokomuro.com/

“kakimori Kuramae Tokyo” enabling you to customize a notebook from its size to parts

Kuramae, where many factories producing notebooks once gathered, is still home to professional craftsmen who make a living with printing, cutting and something like that. “kakimori Kuramae Tokyo” is a stationery store filled with what the craftsmen made such as stationery goods, envelopes and notebooks. On the wall of the store, panels that introducing craftsmen and unique stationery making the value of writing more are displayed. When visiting here, you should try ‘Customized Notebook.’ Create your favorite notebook while choosing types and size, fasteners and something like that. They offer over 60 kinds of covers, including leather, linen and paper. About papers on which we write characters, there are over 30 kinds. Their textures of surfaces and how inks stay vary depending on each one. You can choose one from them while trial writing with fountain pens and ballpoint pens sold at Kakimori.

Opening Hours	11:00AM – 6:00PM
Address	Kobayashi Building 1F, 1-6-2 Misuji, Taito-ku, Tokyo Prefecture
Access	A 8-minute walk from Kuramae Station
URL	https://kakimori.com/english

“Mogami Kogei” where the seasoned craftsmen teach you about techniques of Tokyo’s traditional craft

Opened more than 100 years ago, “Mogami Kogei(茂上工芸)” produces ‘Edo Sashimono’ which was a traditional craft of wooden furniture. Edo Sashimono has been loved by Samurai and merchants, Kabuki actors and so on, whose features are a simple design that takes advantage of the wood’s original grain and color and putting wooden pieces together without using nails. Anyway, Edo Sashimono became one of the traditional Japanese crafts by Mogami Kogei’s efforts. On the other hand, Mogami Kogei also creates various items fitting with the times, such as spoons ties, by making use of their techniques with the hope of popularizing Edo Sashimono. Don’t forget to experience making chopsticks and card cases as well as enjoy shopping! A craftsman will give a lecture on how to make it while demonstrating.

Opening Hours	9:00AM – 5:00PM　Closed on Saturday and Sunday
Address	4-37-10 Kuramae, Taito-ku, Tokyo Prefecutre
Access	A 8-minute walk from Kuramae Station
URL	http://sasimono.ciao.jp/English/about_Mogami/founding.html