Kotori コトリ

Thank God for Google when I decided that a trip to Kamakura was called for I decided to check if I could find anywhere worth going apart from Tuzuru. This is how I found Kotori in Omachi walking distance from Kamakura station (in the opposite direction of Tuzuru), down a quiet little street which I will be making a frequent visits to in the future.

I checked their online shop before I went in person, but I hadn't anticipated finding much by what I'd seen on the site. But happily I was very much mistaken, Kotori had much more to offer than in store. One good thing is they sell Kotori branded stuff not just the usual Midori, Mindwave, Orange Airlines, MT, etc. Of the Kotori items I only bought their stationery themed postcard. I love this little shop and their logo is so cute pencil perched birds.

Onkochishin

Way back in May during Golden Week, I found a great little shop in Ofuna not far from the station. It was a very lucky find whilst out and about and since its discovery I have been a regular. ‘Onkochishin’ is a gorgeous shop selling retro furniture and antiques. Filled with not just with Japanese but Western items some of its furniture has been upcycled rather than restored and turned into something absolutely beautiful and new. Onkochishin means Respect the Past, Create the New so a very fitting name for the shop. As motto it is one I like on a personal level and try to live by.

There is the usual mixture of toys, tea sets,  fabric, tables, chairs, pottery, jewellery, books, magazines and my one of my particular favourites; typewriters which I drool over each visit. However, my favourite thing about Onkochishin are the vintage postcards which are a sold at 50¥ each. Not only within my budget but suits me and my paper/postal fixation. I coud spend all day going through their postcard collection. Ninety percent of the postcards are Japanese but there are some international (I found a great on Windsor Castle on my visit trip). They also span decades as well as countries and there are few that are used. So great examples of old, Japanese and foreign stamps and postmarks can be found if you take the time to look. I love finding postcards sent from overseas written in kana with foreign stamps.

Needles to say if I was staying permanently in Japan or had money to burn my purchases would be a lot more than postcards. For now I’m happy with my vintage postcard collection and the few small Christmas gifts I’ve found. An added bonus is that the staff are always really warm and welcoming. I’m always provided with a seat so I can settle down and go through the postcards properly and comfortably. The last few visits I’ve even been given a cup of tea. Onkochishin is definitely one of my favourite haunts and I would strongly recommend it to anyone in the Ofuna area.