Local Guide
6 general stores in the Hagi and Nagato areas of Yamaguchi Prefecture where you can find a reward for yourself on your trip

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.

Cute paper goods, stationery and daily necessities are available.

The shelves are lined with paper goods selected by the owner that are both practical and cute, such as notepads and pouch bags.
The shelves are lined with paper goods selected by the owner that are both practical and cute, such as notepads and pouch bags.

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 building was originally the office of a cab company and was renovated by the owners. A warm space with a handmade atmosphere.
The building was originally the office of a cab company and was renovated by the owners. A warm space with a handmade atmosphere.

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 Comment
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
  • Address 4230-1 Oaza-Takou, Toyokita-cho, Shimonoseki-shi, Yamaguchi MAP
  • Direction Approximately 9 minutes by car from JR Takibe Station
  • Direction Take a bus from JR Takibe Station, get off at "Gochibaru" and walk about 1 minute.
  • Business hours 10:30-17:00
  • Closed Closed on Wednesdays and irregular holidays
  • TEL 090-7443-5808
  • Parking Available

Mainly books and book-related stationery. Also a wide variety of tools for daily life are available.

Stationery used mainly for bookbinding, such as binding thread, pigma pens, and stamps, line up in the space next to the cash register.
Stationery used mainly for bookbinding, such as binding thread, pigma pens, and stamps, line up in the space next to the cash register.

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 coffee shop space by the window with a peaceful view. Coffee
The coffee shop space by the window with a peaceful view. Coffee" for 500 yen, "Cafe au Lait" for 550 yen, etc.

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 Comment
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
  • Address 6994 Tawarayama, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approx. 12 min. by car from JR Hitomaru Stn.
  • Business hours 11:00-17:00
  • Regular holiday Wednesday, Thursday, Friday *Open on national holidays
  • TEL 0837-29-0377
  • Parking Available

A variety of items to enrich your life.

Triangular pot holders such as
Triangular pot holders such as "Tongari Mittens" (748 yen) and "KINTO Day Off Tumbler" (3,300 yen).

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 store's white and brown base color scheme creates a relaxing atmosphere, as if to say,
The store's white and brown base color scheme creates a relaxing atmosphere, as if to say, "We want you to feel relaxed when you are choosing a product.

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 Comment
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.
03.name
  • Address 866 Higashifukagawa, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 5 min. walk from JR Nagato City Station
  • Business Hours 11:00-18:00
  • Closed No holidays
  • TEL 0837-27-0308
  • Parking Available

Hagiyaki pottery for daily use that incorporates modern sensibilities while maintaining tradition.

Rinka 8
Rinka 8" bowl (4,400 yen), Chrysanthemum 5" plate (1,540 yen), Rinka small plate (1,100 yen)

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!

A wide variety of dishes such as bean plates, bowls, and curry plates are available. Soft light shining through the window enhances the beauty of the dishes.
A wide variety of dishes such as bean plates, bowls, and curry plates are available. Soft light shining through the window enhances the beauty of the dishes.

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 Comment
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
  • Address 3216-1 Oi, Hagi, Yamaguchi MAP
  • Direction 4 minutes drive from JR Nagato Oi Station
  • Direction Take a bus from JR Higashi Hagi Station, get off at "Oiura" and walk about 1 minute.
  • Business hours Open 10:00-17:00
  • Closed Sunday
  • TEL 0838-28-0112
  • Parking Available

Hagi souvenirs such as Hagi ware decorated with summer oranges and camellias, and hand towels are available.

Mug cup with summer oranges and camellia: 3,300 yen, free cup: 2,750 yen, hagi kitchen cloth: 550 yen
Mug cup with summer oranges and camellia: 3,300 yen, free cup: 2,750 yen, hagi kitchen cloth: 550 yen

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!

The store is tastefully decorated in the style of an old historical house. The lineup of Hagi ware is mainly made by young artists.
The store is tastefully decorated in the style of an old historical house. The lineup of Hagi ware is mainly made by young artists.

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 Comment
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
  • Address 2-39 Gofukumachi, Hagi, Yamaguchi MAP
  • Direction Approx. 6 minutes by car from JR Higashi-Hagi Station
  • Direction Take a bus from JR Higashi Hagi Station, get off at "Hagi Museum-mae" and walk about 9 minutes.
  • Hours of Operation 10:00-18:00
  • Regular holiday Thursday *Open if the day is a national holiday
  • TEL 0838-21-7000
  • Parking Available

A wide variety of works by famous artists from all over the country, mainly young artists.

Cups by popular Hagiyaki artist Shiro Hamanaka. Hagiyaki pottery with a sophisticated design and presence is highly acclaimed.
Cups by popular Hagiyaki artist Shiro Hamanaka. Hagiyaki pottery with a sophisticated design and presence is highly acclaimed.

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.

A pure white space that accentuates the works. Works by Iku Furuya, a copperplate artist, and Jun Fujiwara, a Shigaraki ware artist, were on display that day.
A pure white space that accentuates the works. Works by Iku Furuya, a copperplate artist, and Jun Fujiwara, a Shigaraki ware artist, were on display that day.

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 Comment
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
  • Address 138-6, Higashi-Hamazaki-cho, Hagi, Yamaguchi MAP
  • Direction Approximately 4 minutes from JR Higashi-Hagi Station by car
  • Direction Take a bus from JR Higashi Hagi Station, get off at "Shinkawa" and walk about 11 minutes.
  • Business Hours 13:00-18:00, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 10:00-18:00
  • Regular holiday Closed on Fridays, the 3rd Thursday of the month, and irregular holidays
  • TEL 0838-22-8725
  • Parking Available
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.