My favourite craft shop in Tokyo is Yuzawaya, in particular their Kamata store which spans three buildings – including one that’s six stories tall. (Check out the floor directory below 😁)
They stock a wide range of craft supplies from fabric and sewing machines, to leather, to clay, to felt and wool, to artificial flowers, to beads and jewellery parts.
Apart from craft supplies, they also sell stationery on level 2 of Bldg 7. This floor is wonderful to shop for calligraphy and ink wash painting supplies, like brushes, ink and gansai palettes, iron-on backing paper, and vermilion seal pastes.
As for Japanese washi paper, they have a wall full of paper types and samples; I’ve seen people rip them off so I assume you can take samples home to test out before you buy them.
This time, I bought blue coloured leather, one-touch snap buttons, and some ink wash painting supplies.
At the register, I was asked if I’d join their loyalty program (which costs $5/year for 7% off most items). I initially said no because I don’t live in Japan, but then I was hinted I’ll get 20% off my purchase today if I join, and only needed to provide a name since I live overseas 😊✨
Update 2025: Over a year later when my loyalty card expired, I was hinted I could get 30% off my purchase that day if I re-join, and only needed to fill out my name on a paper form since I live overseas.
Yuzawaya has stores in multiple places, but the large Kamata store is located right outside Kamata Station (South Exit) and open from 10am to 8pm.
Yuzawaya also has an online shop, as well as stores on online shopping platforms. But it’s always worth visiting craft stores in person to see and feel things in person.
Yuzawaya is only twenty minutes away from central Tokyo, and is a 🥈 (= worth a detour) on #myrevisitlist.
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