Souvenir Information at KITTE Osaka! Feel like a traveler at the antenna stores around Japan♪

Hello! I’m Hakoboya, the souvenir promotion captain of Kodawari Times!
KITTE Osaka, a new commercial facility just outside JR Osaka Station, is full of fascinating stores and is a great place for shopping! Hakoboya went to the pre-opening and found many wonderful souvenirs from all over Japan. In this issue, we will introduce some of the recommended souvenir stores we found at KITTE Osaka!

There are many “emon” (Osaka dialect meaning “good things”) from all over Japan!

“KITTE Osaka” opened in the Nishi-Umeda area on July 31, 2024. The 39-story building houses a variety of stores from gourmet food to retail goods from the B1 floor to the 6th floor. There are many rare stores that have opened for the first time in the Kansai area, so it’s hard to choose just one!

In this issue, we will focus on the 2nd floor where antenna stores of various regions of Japan are gathered, which is a unique floor in KITTE Osaka! The theme is “Feel JAPAN Journey－ Emon Nippon Meguri. ” As the name implies, it is a collection of selected “emon”(Osaka dialect meaning “good things”) from all over Japan.

It’s the perfect floor for “Kodawari Times,” which introduces specialty products from all over Japan! As the head of the promotion team, I had to be one of the first to visit the store to introduce it to everyone.
I’ll introduce you to some of Hakoboya’s best stores and recommended souvenirs, so be sure to check it out!

Tabi Shoes and Denim are recommended! Store “KURASHIKI” in Kurashiki City, Okayama

First, we would like to introduce Kurashiki, an antenna store in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture, in the Chugoku region.
Kurashiki City is famous as a sightseeing spot for the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, with its white-walled streets. The elegant streets lined with willow trees and other traditional Japanese scenery can be felt, can’t they?
[Click here to read an article about Kurashiki City.]

To promote the charm of Kurashiki City, which is also such a famous tourist spot, “KURASHIKI” is a store under the theme of “More Kurashiki”. In addition to selling Kurashiki’s famous products, the shop also provides information on sightseeing and immigration!

Hakoboya recommends the following souvenirs of KURASHIKI!

Kurashiki Hampu （Kurashiki Canvas Bags）

Canvas is a plain weave fabric, and about 70% of Japan’s canvas is manufactured in Kurashiki. Kurashiki Hampu (Kurashiki Canvas) is made of thin fabric and is characterized by its lightness and durability. Colorful tote bags are very fashionable when incorporated into a coordinated look!
[Click here to read more about Kurashiki Hampu (Kurashiki Canvas)]

Tabi Shoes by MARUGO

Kurashiki City is one of the three major production centers of Tabi(Japanese socks worn on the feet), and has been manufacturing Tabi Shoes since ancient times.

“Tabi Shoes” produced by MARUGO, a Tabi manufacturer established in 1919, are light, breathable, and unbearably comfortable to fit your feet.
There are a wide variety of types, including sneaker-type shoes ideal for running and walking, fashionable and stylish pumps-type, and Tabi comfort shoes that feel like bare feet. You will be surprised at how comfortable they are, so please try them on for yourself!

Tamashima Dharma doll

Tamashima Daruma is a Daruma doll manufacturer established in 1956. Daruma dolls have long been popular as a good-luck talisman that gets people up even if they fall down. Tamashima Daruma dolls are colorful and very cute, not only the standard red, but also light blue, yellow, and orange! How about decorating your house with them for good luck?

Jeanbeizame（Whale Shark Pouch）

This denim pouch with a whale shark motif was created in Kojima, Okayama Prefecture, a town known for its Japanese denim!
The name of the Whale Shark Pouch is “Jeanbeizame,” a play on the words “jeans” and “Jinbeizame(the Japanese name for whale sharks).” The Daruma doll and chrysanthemum design is very cool and Japanese. It has a carabiner attached, so you can hook it to your pants belt to store your phone or pouch.

At KURASHIKI, there were also denim accessories, glass crafts, and food items such as sweets and seasonings.

HOKURIKU+(HOKURIKU Plus), an antenna store for Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui

Next, I would like to introduce “HOKURIKU+(HOKURIKU Plus)”, a store in the three Hokuriku prefectures (Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui) located in the central part of Japan’s main island, facing the Sea of Japan.
Speaking of Hokuriku, the Hokuriku Shinkansen line will be extended between Kanazawa, Ishikawa and Tsuruga, Fukui in the spring of 2024, making it more accessible from the Kanto region, including the capital, Tokyo!

Facing the Sea of Japan, the city is known for its delicious seafood, and there were many seafood souvenirs! There were also many traditional handicrafts with a long history.

Souvenirs were divided into separate areas for Toyama, Ishikawa and Fukui, so it was very easy to browse. Let’s take a look at each prefecture.

Toyama

Toyama Prefecture is rich in scenic spots such as the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, known for its huge snow walls. “Toyama Bay Sushi” using fresh local fish is recommended as a gourmet food, and is available at about 50 restaurants in the prefecture! It looks so real and delicious! I really want to go there and try it.

There were many famous Toyama sweets on display, and it was hard to decide which one to try!
How about this beautiful lacquerware for eating Japanese sweets? The cherry blossom pattern is so cute.

Found a chopstick rest of Doraemon’s secret tool made of cast metal!

Ishikawa

Ishikawa Prefecture is home to a wealth of tourist attractions, including Kanazawa’s “Kenrokuen Garden”, one of the most famous gardens in Japan. Ishikawa Prefecture’s tourism PR mascot “Hyakuman-san,” whose motif is a daruma doll called “Kaga Hachiman Oki-agari,” has a strong presence!
Taking a picture with him will bring you good luck!

There is also a wide selection of crafts and local sake. There is also a small “Hyakuman-san” ornament. It’s so cute, you’ll want to have one in your home.
Next to the ornament is a very nice piece of Kutani ware (Kutani-Yaki) pottery. It is a traditional craft of Ishikawa Prefecture, and is one of Japan’s representative colored porcelains. The colorful designs are sure to brighten up your dining table.

Fukui

The last one is Fukui Prefecture. Fukui Prefecture is also known as “Dinosaur Kingdom” where dinosaur fossils are excavated more than any other prefecture in Japan. Dinosaur skeletons and characters of dinosaurs are on display. Katsuyama City is also home to the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, which attracts many tourists from Japan and abroad.

From Fukui Prefecture, there were many wonderful souvenirs on display, including many sweets, sake, and traditional crafts.

Among them, we especially recommend the Wakasa Nuribashi (Lacquered Chopsticks) produced in Obama City! These vividly lacquered chopsticks are decorated with seashells, gold and silver powder, and other gorgeous ornaments. How about giving Wakasa Nuribashi (Lacquered Chopsticks) as a gift as a traditional Japanese craft?

[For more information about Fukui Prefecture, click here.]

HOKURIKU+BAR & Concierge

HOKURIKU+ also has a sake server where you can compare delicious local sake from the three Hokuriku prefectures! You can buy your favorite one at the store, which is a great service for those who love sake.

In addition, there is a concierge on staff who can respond to inquiries in English (other languages may be available). They can provide travel suggestions tailored to your individual needs, so please consult with them if you wish to visit the three Hokuriku prefectures!

Yukiguni Shoten, a selection of Niigata’s finest products

Last but not least is Yukiguni Shoten（Yukiguni Shop）, an antenna store in Niigata Prefecture, a neighbor of Hokuriku and Toyama. Niigata Prefecture is famous for its rice production, as it faces the Sea of Japan and is blessed with mountains and rivers. There are many delicious rice brands such as Uonuma Koshihikari and Shinnosuke.
In recent news, the 400-year-old “Sado Island Gold Mines” has been registered as a World Heritage site! This is sure to attract many tourists to Niigata in the near future.

Here are some of the recommended souvenirs we found at Yukiguni Shoten, which offers a variety of sweets, foods, and local sake from Niigata Prefecture!

From left to right: “Yaki-Eihire(grilled ray fin)”, “Sasa-dango Pan(Sasa-dango bread)”, “Sado Akino Nagomi Anpo Dried Persimmon”, and “Echigo Myoko Kanzuri Kaki no tane”, which were given to us as opening souvenirs!
Gourmet souvenirs in Niigata are unique! I couldn’t resist buying the “Sasa-dango bread” because of its cute panda package.

Sasa dango is a Japanese confectionery originated in Niigata, consisting of a dumpling of mugwort with sweet bean paste wrapped in a bamboo grass leaf. The sasa dango bread is made of bread dough instead of bamboo grass leaves, so it is very easy to eat and makes a great souvenir.
The cross section looks like this♪ See how it is filled with mochi and anko (sweet bean paste)?

The mochi dumplings and bread go great together! I could eat as many as I want!
“Sado Akino Nagomi Anpo Dried Persimmon” were also very juicy and tasty, and “Yaki-Eihire(grilled ray fin)” and persimmon seeds are great as snacks with alcohol! Everyone should give them a try!

In addition, Yukiguni Shoten has a “Kaku-uchi Corner (Standing Drinking Corner in Japanese)” where you can drink Niigata sake and eat snacks. For those who don’t drink alcohol, you should definitely try the soft-serve ice cream!

It is made with fresh milk from Sado Dairy Industry, and it is refreshing, yet very tasty and full of flavor! There are three flavors to choose from: Camembert, coffee milk, and a mix of Camembert and coffee milk. The Camembert has a salty taste that goes great with milk, and the coffee milk has a bittersweet taste that is irresistible. If you are greedy and want to try both flavors, I recommend ordering the mix.
This is the perfect sweet for this hot summer, so be sure to try it when you stop by Yukiguni Shoten!

Hiroshima, Shimane, Okinawa, and more…feel like you are traveling to Japan!

We have introduced three stores this time, but there are many more places to enjoy the antenna stores on the second floor of KITTE Osaka. Finally, I will introduce a few more of the other stores from the outside.

“Hiroshima IPPIN” with the red torii of Itsukushima Shrine

Hyogo Omiage（Souvenirs）Excavation Shop, with an objet of Kobe Port Tower

The shimenawa of Izumo Taisha Shrine in Shimane Prefecture is the landmark. IZUMO SHIMENAWAYA

SUPER LOCAL SHOP TOSATOSA, an antenna store of Kochi Prefecture

“Okinawa Takarajima（Treasure Island）” offers a wide range of souvenirs from the tropical island of Okinawa

We encourage you to visit KITTE Osaka to see for yourself what is inside the stores you are interested in!
Only KITTE Osaka has so many antenna stores from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south. Please visit the 2nd floor of KITTE Osaka and feel like you are traveling around Japan.