[Yamaguchi, Nagato, Hagi] A Treat for Yourself: 12 Heart-Warming Handcrafted Goods & Stylish Souvenirs
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The Hagi and Nagato area of Yamaguchi Prefecture, which is rich in beautiful nature, traditional culture, and historical sentiment, is actually a treasure trove of general merchandise stores that offer a wide variety of carefully selected items. Each store carries its own lineup of items that will make you feel nostalgic, add color to your daily life, or bring you a moment of relaxation. Find a gift for a loved one or a treat for yourself. If you find an item from your travels, it will be even more memorable.
Discover Heartwarming Handcrafted Goods. Curated Gift Shops & Boutiques
- 1 Tsutsumisha
- 2 Donkey Bookshop
- 3 03.name
- 4 Hagiyaki Pottery Shokozan
- 5 Kimono Style Café
- 6 Gallery JIBITA
Treat Yourself: Stylish Souvenirs That Show Off Your Good Taste
- 7 Shiokaze no Sato Tsunoshima “Tsunoshima Cocktail Emerald Green”
- 8 Otozure-do “Original Goods”
- 9 Hagi-yaki Hall “Hagi Blue-and-White Pattern” Cup
- 10 Hagi-yaki Pottery Studio Shokozan “Shinogi Free Cup”
- 11 Hagi Glass Studio “Inner Crack Sake Cup”
- 12 Tokuchi Specialty Products Shop, Nandaimon: “Tokuchi Handmade Washi Paper Items”
Discover Heartwarming Handcrafted Goods. Curated Gift Shops & Boutiques
1Tsutsumi-sha
Cute paper goods, stationery and daily necessities are available.
This is a general store run by a shopkeeper who loves paper and stationery. The items lined up in the store are all selected by the owner himself, and include letterheads, envelopes, pencils, paper clips, badges, cloth bags, and many other types of items.
The owner purchases items, both domestic and international, that he feels like giving to someone, that he can use in his daily life, and that are easy to use. Of course, we also carry original works by artists in the prefecture. The owner says, "I want you to imagine how you would use the item in your hand while choosing it. The shop owner says, "I want you to imagine how you will use the item in your hand while choosing it.
Nostalgic space with good old things
The store was originally a building used as an office for a cab company, which he renovated himself. His goal was to create a "place you will want to come back to. The shop has a nostalgic atmosphere, as if time has stood still, with the bare beams, floorboards, and fixtures that have been used for years.
In the back of the store is a small tearoom with only four seats, where soft drinks such as "coffee" and "ginger milk tea" are served. Not only are there many repeat customers, but also many people who stop by on their way home on a drive.
Local Guide
Supporters
From letter sets in subdued colors to colorful pop stationery made in foreign countries, there are a variety of items to enjoy just by looking at them.
- Tsutsumisha
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4230-1 Oaza-Takou, Toyokita-cho, Shimonoseki-shi, Yamaguchi MAP
Approximately 9 minutes by car from JR Takibe Station
Take a bus from JR Takibe Station, get off at "Gochibaru" and walk about 1 minute.
10:30-17:00
Closed on Wednesdays and irregular holidays
090-7443-5808
Available
2Donkey Bookshop
Mainly books and book-related stationery. Also a wide variety of tools for daily life are available.
This bookstore is run by the owner, who moved here from Tokyo. The store, which took more than a year to renovate from a former cattle barn, has a rustic atmosphere that blends well with the mountainous landscape. Once you step into the store, you will be impressed by the many books lined up in a row. The lineup changes from time to time, and includes a variety of genres such as technical books, foreign books, antiquarian books, and children's books.
Stationery lines the space next to the cash register. The owner of the store started selling stationery because he thought, "Since we are a bookstore, let's sell stationery related to paper as well.
Relaxing coffee shop and gallery space are also attractive.
The store also carries tote bags and other original goods from the donkey bookstore, Czech beads and other handicraft tools, baked sweets imported from Hiroshima Prefecture, and ceramics, paintings, photographs, and other works by artists from all over Japan with whom the owner has been in contact since his residence in Tokyo.
Although the store is a collection of only the owner's favorite items, many regular customers come all the way from other prefectures to visit the store, attracted by the owner's sense of style. The coffee shop space is designed for customers to relax and enjoy the rich natural scenery of Nagato City.
Local Guide
Supporters
There are many sundries that convey the warmth and nostalgia of handmade goods. The gallery space is said to hold events and exhibitions from time to time, so please check the website if you are interested!
- Donkey Bookshop
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- 6994 Tawarayama, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
- Approx. 12 min. by car from JR Hitomaru Stn.
- 11:00-17:00
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday *Open on national holidays
- 0837-29-0377
- Available
303.name
A variety of items to enrich your life.
A select store opened in February 2021. The items on display include daily necessities such as tableware and cutlery, fashion goods such as bags and wallets, and clothing, all of which have been collected to be given as gifts to loved ones or as rewards for oneself.
There is also a full lineup of items from popular brands such as "63 (Roxan)," which focuses on tableware and is particular about natural materials, design, and functionality, and "Craft Studio," which is known for its warmth to the touch.
A calm and relaxing space where you can take your time to choose. There is also a fishing tackle corner in one corner.
The warm yet simple design of the store and the cozy space where customers can take their time in selecting items make us believe that "the time you spend choosing is the time you spend thinking about the person you are giving a gift to. The owner's thoughtfulness can be felt as she says, "The time you spend choosing a gift is time you spend thinking about the person you are giving it to, and I want you to cherish even that time.
In one corner of the store, there is a fishing tackle corner with fishing rods and lures mainly for slow jigging, and the full lineup of products has become a hot topic among fishing enthusiasts. No matter who you are, you can find what you want at this lifestyle store that brings color to your life. You are sure to find your favorite.
Local Guide
Supporters
With sundries that will become the essence of your life and clothing for both men and children, this is a store that can be enjoyed by men and women of all ages. There is also a "03.kōbō" store specializing in take-out drinks and desserts.
4Hagiyaki Pottery Shokozan
Hagiyaki pottery for daily use that incorporates modern sensibilities while maintaining tradition.
A Hagiyaki pottery kiln that has been spinning its history since 1976. The gallery adjacent to the studio is a relocated old private house from the early Showa period, with magnificent beams, transoms, and sunken hearths that are well worth seeing, making it a tasteful space where you can calmly choose Hagi-yaki pottery.
The pottery produced at this studio is based on tradition, yet incorporates modern sensibilities for everyday use. Many of the pieces have modern designs and soft colors, and are well-received for their ease of matching with both Japanese and Western cuisine. Many people come all the way from as far away as Hiroshima and Fukuoka prefectures to buy their wares.
Various kinds of dishes are lined up. Feel them to the touch!
The third generation of Shokouzan pots and pans is the one who designs them, saying, "Shokouzan pots and pans are for the food to be served." The shape, pattern, and texture are all designed to complement the food. Since all the work is done by hand, each vessel has its own unique character, with various shades of gray depending on the glaze and the "shinogi," or ridge line pattern created by using a spatula and a planer.
Each vessel has its own unique character. You can also check the feel of the vessel to find the one that feels most comfortable in your hand. In addition, as Hagi ware is used more and more, its hue changes and its flavor increases. One way to enjoy Hagi ware is to use it daily and nurture it.
Local Guide
Supporters
The sight of Hagiyaki pottery lining the walls is a sight to behold! There are many dishes that will make your daily cooking and eating fun. Even the same type of ware has a slightly different look, so take your time to choose the right one.
- Hagiyaki Pottery Shokozan
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- 3216-1 Oi, Hagi, Yamaguchi MAP
- 4 minutes drive from JR Nagato Oi Station
- Take a bus from JR Higashi Hagi Station, get off at "Oiura" and walk about 1 minute.
- Open 10:00-17:00
- Sunday
- 0838-28-0112
- Available
5Kimono Style Café
Hagi souvenirs such as Hagi ware decorated with summer oranges and camellias, and hand towels are available.
Located across the street from the former residence of Choshu clan leader Takayoshi Kido, this 150-year-old renovated private house is a café and general store that offers over 100 different types of kimono and yukata for rent, and is very popular among tourists who come to Hagi City to explore the castle town.
Inside the store, you will find a full lineup of original Japanese goods such as furoshiki wrapping cloths, coasters, and clasps decorated with Hagi's fruit tree, the summer orange, and Hagi's flower, the camellia, as well as Hagi pottery and other goods ideal as Hagi souvenirs. There are also limited edition products related to Yoshida Shoin and Hagi City's local character "Haginian. related limited edition items are also available.
Many Hagi ware can only be purchased here. Affordable prices are also an attraction!
Once you pass through the curtain and proceed inside, you will find a wide variety of Hagiyaki pottery imported from several kilns. The items are collected under the concept of "practical Hagiyaki for daily life," and are sold at relatively reasonable prices, which is a nice touch. Since the shop also produces Hagiyaki, mainly by young artists, there is a large selection of Hagiyaki that can only be purchased here.
In addition, a coffee shop with a retro atmosphere serves drinks and sweets in Hagiyaki vessels, allowing visitors to experience the quality of Hagiyaki before purchasing.
Local Guide
Supporters
Staff/staff members at the stores are also involved in the development of local goods, so you can always get the latest Hagi souvenirs. From austere Hagiyaki to cute Haginan. goods, you are sure to find the one you want to give as a gift.
- Kimono Style Café
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- 2-39 Gofukumachi, Hagi, Yamaguchi MAP
- Approx. 6 minutes by car from JR Higashi-Hagi Station
- Take a bus from JR Higashi Hagi Station, get off at "Hagi Museum-mae" and walk about 9 minutes.
- 10:00-18:00
- Thursday *Open if the day is a national holiday
- 0838-21-7000
- Available
6Gallery JIBITA
A wide variety of works by famous artists from all over the country, mainly young artists.
This art gallery displays and sells a selection of ceramics, glass, woodwork, and other works from all over Japan, including Hagi ware. The owner, who was born into an art dealer's family and has been exposed to artwork since childhood, opened the gallery to protect the gradually declining Hagiyaki culture and to increase the number of ceramic art fans.
The shop mainly deals with works by young artists, all of which he has seen with his own eyes and touched with his own hands and which have touched his heart. The shop is often visited by the artists, so if you are visiting from far away, it is safe to check in advance whether the shop is closed or not.
A place where you can encounter works and artists that fascinate you. Solo exhibitions are held about 9 times a year.
The pure white gallery that accentuates the works of art is lined with a wide selection of gems that have become the talk of the town among art enthusiasts. Many people come all the way from urban areas to visit the gallery, saying, "It's hard to find in the city center.
In addition to the permanent collection, special exhibitions are held about nine times a year. Hagi ware artist Eiichi Shibuya, glass artist Mami Tokizawa, ceramicist Ryuji Iwasaki, and others will be exhibited once a month in 2022, and the schedule is being filled until 2026. If you enjoy an artistic trip to Hagi and Nagato, Yamaguchi Prefecture, this is certainly one of the places you should visit.
Local Guide
Supporters
The lineup is full of high-quality artwork, but surprisingly, the prices are reasonable. The owner's wish that customers can enjoy ceramics in their daily lives can be felt. This is a gallery that art lovers should definitely stop by.
- Gallery JIBITA
-
- 138-6, Higashi-Hamazaki-cho, Hagi, Yamaguchi MAP
- Approximately 4 minutes from JR Higashi-Hagi Station by car
- Take a bus from JR Higashi Hagi Station, get off at "Shinkawa" and walk about 11 minutes.
- 13:00-18:00, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 10:00-18:00
- Closed on Fridays, the 3rd Thursday of the month, and irregular holidays
- 0838-22-8725
- Available
Treat Yourself: Stylish Souvenirs That Show Off Your Good Taste
7Shiokaze no Sato Tsunoshima “Tsunoshima Cocktail Emerald Green”
A variety of souvenirs featuring the beautiful colors of the sea
Kakunoshima Island in Shimonoseki City is one of Yamaguchi Prefecture's most photogenic tourist destinations. The beautiful scenery is breathtaking, with the Kakunoshima Bridge stretching straight out over the emerald green sea. Shiohaze no Sato Kakunoshima, located in the center of Kakunoshima, sells original goods featuring the beautiful sea of Kakunoshima.
One of the most popular is the Kakunoshima Cocktail Emerald Green. This original mojito-flavored cocktail is made with a rum base and blended with mint and lime juice. The fruity "Kakunoshima Cocktail Cobalt Blue" is also recommended.
A wide variety of processed seafood products and Kakunoshima goods from the Kakunoshima area
The building was designed to blend in with the scenery, inspired by the "menoha huts" (huts used for gathering seafood) that dot Kakunoshima. The interior is filled with marine products, sweets, sake, and other specialties unique to Kakunoshima. Another attraction of this store is the view of the cobalt blue sea stretching out before you and the beautiful sunset over the Sea of Japan.
Other great features include the abundance of seafood at Fresh Shiozensato, located on the premises, and dishes that make the most of the flavors of locally caught ingredients, such as grilled turban shells and grilled squid, at Isomi-tei.
Local Guide
Supporters
There are also many original goods and original sweets that incorporate the beautiful scenery of Kakunoshima into their packaging. It is a great way to share the spectacular scenery with the person to whom you are giving the souvenir.
- Shiohaze no Sato Kakunoshima
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- 853-4 Kakushima, Toyokita-cho, Shimonoseki-shi, Yamaguchi MAP
- Approximately 25 minutes by car from JR Takibe Station
- Take a bus from JR Takibe Station, get off at Gakko Yoko bus stop, and walk about 2 minutes.
- 9:00-17:00
- Wednesdays, December 31, January 1
- 083-786-0700
- Available
8Otozure-do “Original Goods”
Simple and easy-to-use original goods from Yumoto Hot Spring
The store is located on the "Bamboo Stairway" from the parking lot of Nagato Yumoto Hot Spring to the Otosore River. The shop handles original goods from Nagato Yumoto Hot Spring and other products selected based on the concept of "cute".
Recommended is a sakosh decorated with the logos of Nagato Yumoto Hot Spring and "Otosoredo. It is popular among tourists for being just right for storing hot spring goods. Other popular items include bamboo chopsticks with thin tips that can easily hold food, masking tape, can badges, and other small items. These simple yet cute items make great souvenirs.
Renovated 60-year-old private house. The interior is reminiscent of a bath and a watchman's stand.
The "Sightseeing Town Development Renovation Project" of Nagato Yumoto Hot Spring was launched in April 2020 through workshops and other activities with the participation of local residents. Many famous architects and designers, as well as students, local children, and elderly people, were involved in the renovation of the 60-year-old house.
A feature of the building is its unique interior design, which is reminiscent of a bath and a watchman's stand. There are also displays reminiscent of a footbath. In the adjacent Hagiyaki Gallery, visitors can view works from the Fukagawa Kiln of Hagiyaki, a traditional Nagato craft with a history of about 360 years.
Local Guide
Supporters
The shop is full of stylish goods that are easy to use in everyday life. There are stones embedded in the floor on which local children and elderly people have freely drawn pictures and letters, so be sure to look for them underfoot when you visit.
- Otosore-do
-
- 2321-1 Fukagawa-Yumoto, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
- 10 min. walk from JR Nagato Yumoto Stn.
- 10:00-19:00 (L.O.D. 21:00)
- Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (open if the day falls on a national holiday)
- 080-4026-3935
- No parking (use Nagato Yumoto hot spring parking lot)
9Hagi-yaki Hall “Hagi Blue-and-White Pattern” Cup
You can find both orthodox and modern Hagiyaki pottery.
Hagiyaki & Souvenir Shop is run by a Hagiyaki kiln owner. Hagiyaki pottery is handled in a wide range of products, from modern daily necessities such as cute accessories and fashionable tableware to prestigious tea ceremony utensils and flower vases, most of which are original products only available at this store.
Among the many Hagiyaki items, we especially recommend the Hagi Seikamon, which combines two representative Japanese ceramics, Hagiyaki and Arita-yaki, into one. Hagi ware, with its soft earthiness and rustic texture, has been given an Arita-yaki underglaze blue coloring, and is attracting attention as a new type of pottery born from the fusion of these two traditional techniques.
Hagiyaki pottery lined up in a narrow space is all one-of-a-kind. Experience Hagiyaki pottery.
The Hagiyaki Kaikan offers a wide variety of Hagiyaki pottery, from affordable to high-end, and in addition to shopping, visitors can observe potters at work, paint on Hagiyaki pottery, or experience "tebineri," a process of forming clay to make their own Hagiyaki pottery.
Hagiyaki pottery can be enjoyed for its "Nanabake" color, which changes over time as it is used. Staff/staff members say, "Please find your favorite Hagi potteries and take good care of them. We also recommend taking the time to carefully nurture your one-of-a-kind Hagi ware, which you made during the painting and hand-building experiences.
Local Guide
Supporters
The owner of "Hagi Aohana Mon" found a dyed Arita-yaki porcelain he liked and visited the kiln himself to collaborate with them. He brought the Hagi-yaki fabric to the kiln in Arita, where craftsmen dye each piece by hand, and then bring it back to Hagi to be fired.
- Hagi Ware Kaikan
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- 3155, Tsubaki-higashi Shinkawa Higashi-ku, Hagi, Yamaguchi MAP
- Approx. 3 min. by car from JR Higashi Hagi Sta.
- 8:00-17:00
- Closed on weekends and holidays
- 0838-25-9545
- Available
10Hagi-yaki Pottery Studio Shokozan “Shinogi Free Cup”
Hagiyaki that can be used in daily life, incorporating modern sensibilities while preserving tradition
Established in 1976, the Hagiyaki Pottery has spun a 46-year history. The pottery has a lineup of dishes perfect for daily use, incorporating modern sensibilities while preserving the traditions of Hagiyaki.
While there are many types of dishes such as tea bowls, teacups, and curry plates, the owner especially recommends the "Shinogi Free Cup". The cups have a wide mouth, are easy to hold, and can hold a large amount of drinks. Incidentally, "shinogi" is one of the traditional Japanese ceramic art techniques, which are all done by hand here. Therefore, each piece has a slightly different expression, so please take your time and enjoy selecting a souvenir.
Attractive lineup with a wide variety of items from chopstick rests to platters
The third generation is responsible for the design. Shokouzan's tableware is meant to complement the food served on it," he says. The charm of Shokozan's pottery is that you can actually hold the pieces in your hands, so you can feel them before buying them.
Next to the studio is a gallery in a reconstructed old private house, where visitors can enjoy Hagiyaki to their heart's content in a space with magnificent beams, beautiful transoms, and a sunken hearth. It is no wonder that many visitors come all the way from other prefectures such as Hiroshima and Fukuoka, not to mention tourists.
Local Guide
Supporters
The greatest appeal of these vessels is their design and color, which do not distract from the food, and each one has its own individuality. Hagi ware changes color as it is used, so we want to continue to use it with care for a long time and enjoy the changes as well!
- Hagiyaki Pottery Shokozan
-
- 3216-1 Oi, Hagi, Yamaguchi MAP
- 4 minutes drive from JR Nagato Oi Station
- Take a bus from JR Higashi Hagi Station, get off at "Oiura" and walk about 1 minute.
- Open 10:00-17:00
- Sunday
- 0838-28-0112
- Available
11Hagi Glass Studio “Inner Crack Sake Cup”
One-of-a-kind glass works made from raw stones in Kasayama, Hagi City
The glass studio is located in Kasayama, Hagi City, the only place in Japan where quartz basalt is produced. The greatest feature of the studio is that it uses quartz basalt mined in the vicinity of the studio, and its production is integrated from the raw stone to the finished product.
The main products are "basalt glass," which is light green in color, and "internally cracked and pierced glass," which has a three-layered structure that seals in cracks on the inside. The most popular item among women is the "uchi-hibi gugumi-nomi. The cracks are said to spread little by little over a period of three years, and the change can be enjoyed.
Enraptured by beautiful glass works. Experience glass blowing in midair.
Glassware made at the Hagi Glass Studio is made to order. Orders are accepted from one piece in the desired design and material. For this reason, the only products on display in the store are made to order and made extra. You may not always come across the same product, so if you fall in love at first sight, we recommend that you purchase without hesitation.
Visitors can also experience glass blowing in the air (reservations required) and accessory making at the studio. The glass pieces made by your own hands will surely become a memorable part of your trip.
Local Guide
Supporters
Most glass studios in Japan use commercially available glass materials, so the Hagi Glass Studio, which refines glass from raw stones, is a very rare entity. Incidentally, the president recommends the soy sauce jug (from 3,300 yen), both the body and lid of which are elaborately made. He is confident that it will not drip.
- Hagi Glass Studio
-
- 1189-453 Higashi Koshigahama, Oaza-Tsubaki, Hagi, Yamaguchi MAP
- Approx. 5 min. by car from JR Koshigahama Stn.
- 9:00-17:00
- None
- 0838-26-2555
- Available
12Tokuchi Specialty Products Shop, Nanmon: “Tokuchi Handmade Washi Paper Items”
Tokuchi handmade Japanese paper with a simple texture
A special products shop selling a wide variety of local specialties of Tokuchi, Yamaguchi City. The shop sells a wide variety of products, including seasonal vegetables, processed goods, and handicrafts, but the most popular souvenir is "Tokuchi handmade Japanese paper". Tokuchi handmade washi has been handed down in the Tokuchi area for about 800 years and is designated as an intangible cultural asset by Yamaguchi City.
There are a variety of products available, such as fold-dyed "dyed washi," "washi dolls," and practical "business cards" and "postcards," so why not choose one while thinking of the face of the person to whom you are giving the souvenir?
Buildings made of high quality wood quarried from the mountains of Tokuchi
The Tokuchi area of Yamaguchi City is known as the place where Shunjobo Shogen Shonin cut lumber for the reconstruction of Todaiji Temple in Nara about 800 years ago.
The building of "Nandaimon" was constructed to resemble the Nandaimon of Todaiji Temple in Nara. The building is not only famous for its unique products such as "Kawaraketsumei tea," a health tea that has been enjoyed in the Tokuchi area for centuries, "Tokuchi and Man-no-imo" and "log shiitake mushrooms," but also for its architecture. The imposing appearance of the building will be etched in your memory as one of the memories of your trip.
Local Guide
Supporters
Dyed Japanese paper made by Tokuchi Handmade Washi is also used for the bedboard in the bedroom of Hoshino Resorts KAI Nagato. Please enjoy its warm texture when you stay at the hotel!
- Tokuchi Local Products Sales Office Minamidaimon
-
- 1565-1 Tokuchibori, Yamaguchi-shi, Yamaguchi MAP
- Approximately 25 minutes from JR Hofu Station by car
- From JR Hofu Station, take the bus. 1 min. walk from "Hori" bus stop.
- April-December: 9:00-18:00, January-March: 9:00-17:00
- Year-end and New Year's holidays
- 0835-52-1772
- Available
MAP
- Discover Heartwarming Handcrafted Goods. Curated Gift Shops & Boutiques
-
- Treat Yourself: Stylish Souvenirs That Show Off Your Good Taste
- Hoshino Resorts facilities nearby
Local Guide who was in charge of this article
- Naoka Takada Healing mood-maker
Hoshino Resorts KAI Nagato
Nagato Yumoto hot spring, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Located in Nagato Yumoto Onsen, a representative hot spring in Yamaguchi Prefecture, this hot spring hotel features a structure designed in the style of an Edo period "Ochaya-yashiki" (teahouse mansion).
Access by bus Approx. 15 min. walk from JR Nagato Yumoto Hot Spring Station
- Example of Accommodation Rates
- 1 person per night Starting at 32,000 yen