If you enjoy handcrafts, you will love Yuzawaya ユザワヤ. Follow the signs with the knitting sheep from Kamata Station through the small shopping arcade to the first of seven buildings which host a multitude of art supplies for every interest. Yuzawaya was founded in 1955 as a small hand knitting shop, so yarns, needles, buttons, and thread are still prominent in the collection.
Yuzawaya Craft Stores great selection of items (photo: f.yamada – flickr)
But you will also find silk flowers, stationery, painting and calligraphy brushes, paper and canvas, beads, fabric, patterns…the variety seems almost endless, and hobbyists and professionals alike can spend hours browsing through the selection.
Sheep Clock, 時計 Clock Sign of the Yuzawaya ユザワヤ Handicrafts Shop in Kamata Tokyo Japan (Photo credit: Arjan Richter)
Not only is there a comprehensive selection of materials, but the store also offers classes, though they are taught in Japanese. There is also a biannual contest with several divisions open to craftspeople from around the world. Unfortunately most of the staff do not speak English, making it hard for many foreign visitors to draw upon their expertise. However, most people do not need explanations to enjoy the bountiful supplies in rainbow colors and wonderful textures. If you have an address in Japan, be sure to ask for a membership card at the register; it gives a discount for your first purchase which can save a lot of money, even if you do not plan to use the card again.
Yuzawaya Craft Stores (photo: f.yamada – flickr)
There are Yuzawaya stores in several major cities around Japan. The headquarters and largest selection is in Tokyo, a short walk from Kamata Station, which serves the JR Keihin-Tohoku line and the Tokyu Tamagawa and Ikegami lines. The store website is only in Japanese: http://www.yuzawaya.co.jp/index.html
