A warm and inviting place where conversations can easily begin if you just drop by.

A Stroll Through the Kanagawa Gallery
File.6 Tsukiyama Arts & Crafts
Shino Yamamoto (Galerie Watts)

This time, we'll be featuring a location in Oiso. When you think of Oiso, you think of Oiso Long Beach!
...and more, it boasts the largest number of horizontal burial chambers from the late Kofun period in Japan, Mount Koma which tells the story of the Sengoku period, is the eighth post town on the Tokaido highway, and, above all, is a town where eight successive prime ministers, including Hirobumi Ito and Shigeru Yoshida, once lived, making it a perfect place for a leisurely stroll through nature, culture, and history.

In addition, I heard there was an interesting corner of Gallery Sanpo, so I went to Oiso in winter for the first time. Perhaps because I have a strong image of Oiso as a summer place, I wondered if I was the only one who felt it was colder than usual... but then I realized it was a winter day with a brief blizzard in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

The destination was supposed to be a 2-minute walk from the station, but we just couldn't get there...
I only found out that this is the birthplace of swimming beaches thanks to taking a wrong turn (lol).

According to the Oiso Town tourism information website, Oiso was ranked number one in a nationwide poll conducted by the Nippon Shimbun in 1908 to select the top 100 summer resorts in Japan. The intention behind the establishment of Oiso Beach by Jun Matsumoto, the first Surgeon General of the Imperial Japanese Army, was to promote and restore health. It was quite different from the leisure activities we see today.

Okay, let's get back on track and head to our destination, "Tsukiyama Arts & Crafts." It was right next to the station. The shop's website has a detailed directions section with photos, so if you're directionally challenged, be sure to check that out. (I wish I'd realized that sooner...)

This place, which reeks of the Showa era, is the rumored corner.
The building, which is 70 years old, was once a bar called "Gassan," and was apparently frequented by reporters covering former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida.
Stepping inside, you're greeted by a woven bamboo ceiling and an earthen floor. The counter evokes the image of a standing bar, there's a mirror inscribed with "To Mr. Gassan," a letterpress printing machine, and in the tatami room, a writing desk and a traditional Japanese chest of drawers—it's a parade of retro items. The interior has been preserved as much as possible from the past.
People who have lived in this neighborhood for a long time often bring in things like medicine boxes and toolboxes because they no longer need them, and people often give them away.

Tsukiyama may look like an antique shop at first glance, but it's actually a select shop that mainly features crafts by artists working in the Oiso area.
At the same time, it serves as a platform for showcasing design from various angles, including design offices, galleries, and workshops. The shop is run by 14 people, including artists and designers, and Kazuki Sato of AUI-AO Design, who has been involved since the shop's launch in 2014, is particularly dedicated to promoting the appeal of letterpress printing. It's also possible to have business cards made using letterpress printing if you make a reservation.
The shop also sells paper products designed by Ms. Sato. The coffee filters and rice ball-shaped cards have a distinctive look thanks to the letterpress printing that creates raised and recessed areas. The plump, soft, and warm feel to the touch is also a unique characteristic of letterpress printing.
In addition to the appeal of letterpress printing, Sato says, "I consciously design things that have a twist, that make the person holding it think."
They're all charming and stylish, sure to bring a smile to your face. They make you want to give them as gifts or write letters.
Tsukiyama's role also includes serving as a permanent shop for artists participating in the Oiso Market, held on the third Sunday of each month at Oiso Port. If you can't make it to the market, you can find a variety of unique works here.
In a room on the second floor that was apparently used by the inn's maids, there was a wide array of handmade items, including pottery by various artists and antique fabrics, all selected by the owner of the "Nanohana" gallery in Odawara.
A bright room filled with lovely sunlight. I wonder if the maids used to lie down here, or relax while chatting with rice crackers in hand.

If you go to the back, you'll find a separate building that used to be a bathroom, aptly named "GALLERY Bathroom."
It seems the space is used for solo exhibitions and events, and coincidentally, YOMORU's felt art exhibition was being held there. A tourist who happened to be visiting Oiso also exclaimed, "Beautiful!" Apparently, the artist came from New Zealand, the home of wool production, what a coincidence!

Aiko Toriumi, the founder of YOMORU, who smiles brightly in front of her artwork, is also a member of the Tsukiyama staff. She was born and raised in Oiso, and her three children are also growing up happily in the area. After this, she ran off to a nearby elementary school, saying, "It's parent-teacher day!"

Suddenly, I noticed ceramic flowers in the grass at my feet. This playful touch by local ceramic artist Asako Okamura is perfectly suited to this courtyard!
Across from the bathroom are "Chayamachi Cafe & Deli" and "Lee's Bread," a bakery specializing in bread made with natural yeast and pesticide-free ingredients. Sitting on the veranda, you can enjoy the wonderful aroma of freshly baked bread.
"Chayamachi Cafe & Deli" is known for its selection of rare teas, so I ordered their recommended First Flush Castleton. Apparently, the Castleton tea garden is considered the finest in Darjeeling. To go with it, I had a cardamom roll from "Lee's Bread."
Apparently, this is a popular type of bread in Sweden. Both were new experiences for me; the cardamom was a spice, but the amount was just right, and the tea had a gentle flavor, making for a peaceful tea time.

Tsukiyama originally started with the idea of utilizing Oiso City and this property to contribute to urban development.
Watching the families come in one after another to buy bread, I felt a warm, happy feeling as I headed home, realizing that this is a beloved local spot.

Gallery Information
Tsukiyama Arts & Crafts

1156 Oiso, Oiso-machi, Naka-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture 255-0003
info.tsukiyama@gmail.com
Gallery hours: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM Closed: Mondays

"access"
▶︎Get off at JR Oiso Station. 2-minute walk.
https://www.facebook.com/tsukiyama