A warm place where conversations are born when you drop in

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.
Once inside, you'll find a wickerwork ceiling and a dirt floor. There's a counter reminiscent of a standing bar, a mirror with "Gassan San'e" written on it, a letterpress printing machine, and a writing desk and Japanese chest of drawers in the tatami room - it's a parade of retro elements. As much as possible, the interior has been left as it was in the old days.
People who have lived in the area for a long time often bring medicine boxes, tool boxes, etc., saying that they no longer need them, and give them to us.

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 place for disseminating design from various angles, including as a design office, gallery, and workshop. The store is run by 14 people, including writers and designers, and Kazuki Sato of AUI-AO Design, who has been involved since the store's launch in 2014, is particularly dedicated to promoting the appeal of letterpress printing. By making a reservation, you can also have your business cards printed using letterpress printing.
Sato's designs are also available for sale in the store. Coffee filters and rice ball-shaped cards have textured surfaces created by letterpress printing, giving them a unique appearance. The soft, gentle warmth you feel when you touch them is something you can only get with letterpress printing.
In addition to the appeal of letterpress, Sato says, "I design with the intention of creating something with a twist that will make people use their brains when they hold it."
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 also serves as a permanent store for artists participating in the Oiso Market, which is held at Oiso Port on the third Sunday of every month. Those who can't make it to the market can come here to discover unique works.
In a room on the second floor that was used by the waitress, there was a wide selection of handmade items, including pottery by artists and vintage fabrics, selected by the owner of 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!
Opposite the bathroom are Chayamachi Cafe & Deli and Lee's Bread, a bakery that uses natural yeast and is pesticide-free. Sitting on the veranda, you can smell the delicious aroma of freshly baked bread.
Chayamachi Cafe & Deli apparently stocks rare teas, so I ordered the recommended First Flush Castleton. Castleton Tea Estate is said to be the best Darjeeling tea. 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