Now, from the previous Gunma story, the stage will move to Tochigi
Previous visit
This is the second day of our two-day, one-night reporting expedition
We arrived at Kaemoncho in Tochigi City
From one of the several free parking lots, you will come out onto the main street, and both sides of this street are the face of Kaemoncho
As we move forward from the image above, we can see our first visit on the second day on our left!
However, I arrived a little early, so the store wasn't open yet (lol)
Since I'll have to wait a little while, I'll take a little walk around Tochigi City until the store opens
First, we went to the Guidance Center, right next to the place we were visiting
As the text in the image states, this facility was created by renovating part of a miso factory
You can learn about the tourist information aspect and the history surrounding Kaemoncho
There is also a magnificent portable shrine on display
Now, we leave the Guidance Center and head out of Kaemoncho for a short while towards the center of Tochigi City
When I visited, the hydrangeas were just beginning to bloom, and Tochigi City is home to Mount Taihei, which is famous for its hydrangeas
From near the middle of Mount Taihei
I like to use this mountain as a starting point for short traverses
There is a parking lot and a souvenir shop lined up at the midpoint of the mountain. You can also get there by car
It's a great place for sightseeing or to go on a traverse from here
The view from Kenshindaira P near the middle of the mountain
The view from the parking lot is great, and you can enjoy it any time of the year, from the season of fresh greenery to the autumn leaves
This area has a mix of old-fashioned charm and modernity, similar to Kawagoe in Saitama
Just by going down a small alley you'll find some great food
If you continue on, you will come across a magnificent temple, and one of the characteristics of the area is the large number of shrines and temples
It has quite a history
Continuing along the current, we came upon Shinmei Shrine, known as Tochigi's Ise Shrine
This also seems to have a long history, but I won't go into it too deeply as it would deviate from the main text (lol)
The pond on the premises is also impressive, but it's about time to head back
If you really want to explore Tochigi City, one day is not enough, so if you're interested, why not visit?
The Uwa River that flows through the city of Tochigi may be a symbol in some ways
Follow this stream north and return to Kaemoncho
I'm back
Yes, this time it's well past opening time so let's go inside!
So, our first visit to Tochigi was to Kawarakidake, an up-and-coming outdoor shop that suddenly appeared in this area where there were no other outdoor shops!
And right next door to the property is a ramen restaurant
This is also a very popular restaurant, and there is always a line, especially on weekends. Because of this, I have never tried it, but I would like to try it someday
This ambiguity, where it's unclear what is each other's equipment, creates a nice atmosphere
Now, let's enter the store. The small shop is crammed with outdoor-related products! By the way, the product lineup is as of the time of the interview and is still in flux, so please just take it as a glimpse into the atmosphere
Among the miscellaneous mix of garage and major items, there are some items that make you wonder, "What is this?"
It seems that the genres are roughly grouped together for each display corner, which makes it easy to understand
In the cookware section, we will be introducing products from TMR and Raysmore in future issues. Both are very popular at the moment
The lineup is rather unique, but they also carry some of Finetrack's straightforward, no-nonsense products
It's also very Kawarakigaku-like that they have a lineup of icci products that use roof tile motifs
In any case, the products are found all over the store, and in some places they are like hidden items, so you can enjoy the feeling of going on a little treasure hunt
If you look carefully, you might come across an unexpected bargain
Let's meet Shiro Kojima, the owner of Kawara Kitake, a restaurant full of unique interior design ideas
I'll ask you about anything that interests me
Q. How did the store come to be established in that location?
A. My father, who loved mountain climbing, took me to the Alps from an early age, and when I was a teenager, I was forcibly abducted (taken) to Mount Keicho, where we had to trek through the bush on a challenging route. This made me absolutely hate mountains, but
I was in my late 20s, working hard and feeling a bit tired (everyone goes through that period), and I was dating a guy at the time
I decided to go to Oze with my girlfriend (who I later married), and for some reason we had so much fun that we started climbing mountains again
After that, I became interested in UL gear and wanted to work in graphic design while running a mountain equipment store
It all started when I thought it would be fun if I could do it
Once we actually started, it wasn't as easy as we thought it'd be, and we've been going through a constant process of trial and error every day since we opened!
Q2. What is the concept of your current store?
A. It's not just about being light, but also about being fun. From beginners to fashion lovers,
This is a great way to laugh out loud at those starting out on hiking, or those who want to lighten up and move even a meter forward
Aiming for space
Q3. Where is Kawarakidake headed from here?
A. We are always thinking about original products and fun events, so please check out our Instagram
I'm happy. I just want to continue running the shop, always maintaining my originality and independent spirit
That is why Kojima is constantly fighting every day to improve Mt. Kawaraki
What did you think of Kawarakitake? The store may be small, but it's full of charm
Kawarakidake is also actively involved in collaborations, events, pop-ups, etc
Later, I visited Mr. Mita, who is well known for his work on Yama to Michi, and became friends with Mr. Kawaraki.
At the joint pop-up event EMPTY DESTRI with PEDESTRI , a garage brand
I went there and it was amazing
This heat! It's amazing that they can generate this much heat
It's amazing and moving that this is an area where there had never been an outdoor shop before
I will continue to visit this place personally. After climbing the mountains in this area, I will take a stroll around Tochigi City
However, when I came to Tochigi City, I found one more thing to look forward to
And! On September 8th, 2024, a market will be held by hikers, not just for hikers, originating from Mt. Kawaraki.
The Temple Market will be held
I have never been to this place before, so I would like to go there personally
I want to go and feel the new wind in Kaemoncho
Temple Market vol.3
https://kawarakidake.com/pages/temple3
I went to the Temple Market
This is usually a quiet approach to the shrine!
It was so lively, with many people visiting and it was a big hit
A combination of the latest garage brand items, a flea market of outdoor celebrity personal belongings, music, and food and drink
There's no way we wouldn't have a blast! I'm already looking forward to the next event
Now, leaving Kawara Kitake behind, we head to the much talked about shop that opened on the same day as our interview!
Kawarakidake
Located inside KAEMON BASE, 2-11 Kaemoncho, Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture. *We have now moved to a new store
New store address: 3-9 Kaemoncho, Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture
Official website : https://kawarakidake.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kawarakidake/
yans
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