Happen upon a once-in-a-lifetime find in this shop, famous among those in the know, that transcends the limits of a variety store
People gather and relax in this specialty store in Akaoka in Kochi, which will pique your curiosity.
Akaoka-cho in Konan City once flourished as a mercantile area. This is the location of this intriguing shop, crammed with rows of antiques and sundry articles, where people gather as if drawn to it.
The building is a former candle shop, constructed over 200 years ago. This historical place became a “waki honjin,” an inn that provided lodging to travelers of a certain rank, and Tadataka Ino, a surveyor from the Edo period (1603-1868), also stayed here. The store’s name comes from “shedding light (ko) on items kept inside (oku) = Okkoya (ya = a shop).” The people of the area bring and sell “precious items that are not used but cannot be thrown away,” and hand-made items. Antique kimono, bowls and Japanese-style paper from Kochi are arranged with no particular theme, and shopping here is like a treasure hunt. You may find a personal souvenir of your travels here.
The owner, Ayae Mashiro, loves Akaoka very much. She welcomes even first-time customers with a smile and a “take your time,” bringing out tea. The relaxed figures of regular customers all mixing together are quite impressive.(This information is as of March 2018)
Tableware from the Meiji period (1868-1912), items the townspeople have taken from storage (from 500 yen)
Kimono that have been sleeping in closets. From 3,000 yen, these are reasonably priced but in good condition, and the retro patterns are beautiful. You can also put them on!
Geta (from 7,800 yen). The straps are originals using old cloth from traditional families
Handmade by local grandmothers
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