[OGZ's Yamato Town Exploration Report Vol. 09] Nagano Azumino Edition - Exploration Report on the outdoor shop "LEISURES"
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
Last time on our Azumino outdoor shop tour, we introduced "ITOMIZU," which opened in July. This time, we visited "LEISURES," also in Azumino, which just opened in April 2024. Since we also visited this shop in mid-July, it's quite possible that the product lineup has changed. We ask for your understanding
table of contents
An impressive selection that will make you want to explore every now and then, and has excited kids who love mountain gear from all over the country
The shop is located less than 10 minutes by car from ITOMIZU, the previous shop. It is a trailer house with a warm wooden exterior and a lovely logo
Well, I'm not really comparing them, but this is a very small shop, completely different from the last time I went to ITOMIZU
However, don't underestimate the fact that it's a trailer house. Are you ready to be amazed? Let's go inside!
Even though I arrived without an appointment, as soon as I opened the door the owner, Mr. Sakurai, greeted me with his usual friendly smile
Actually, I knew him from his days working in sales for a certain outdoor brand before starting this shop
However, I didn't know at the time that he was such a serious through-hiker and such a fan of gear that he opened his own shop
It would be rude to write it all here, so please check out Sakurai's profile here
https://www.leisures-hcls.com/about
The store was packed with outdoor gear at a density many times greater than I had imagined. The sales floor, which is about the size of a studio apartment (23.2 m2), was packed with carefully selected mountain equipment from 60 domestic and international brands
However, anyone with even a passing interest in mountains will immediately realize from the photo above that this overflowing collection of items is not just a haphazard selection of best-selling items
The store is basically stocked with ultra-light gear, but the store also reflects the personality and attention to detail of the owner, Mr. Sakurai, who is a leading through-hiker, who until recently worked for an outdoor manufacturer, and who is a genuine equipment lover
For example, when it comes to backpacks, they have a wide selection of cutting-edge, cutting-edge models from around the world, including backpacks from Zpacks, a leader in UL gear in North America and around the world, Trailbum, which has been a leader in UL packs in Japan, and the latest popular brand LITE WAY
On top of that, we also came across a new brand that has just come onto the market. This is a DCF backpack from Korea's HIKER WORKSHOP, from Asia, where many interesting UL brands have recently been born
And that's not all that's even more impressive
Looking at the shoes, next to a classic zero-drop shoe brand that is popular among UL-type stores, there is Caravan's CRV, a domestic brand that is not often found in UL-type stores (photo below, right)
They don't just pursue new or good-looking items, but rather, as long as the contents are of good quality, they will purchase the product regardless of the brand's age or size, which is impressive
There are also plenty of other popular gear items that sell out instantly on online stores, as well as shiny accessories that any gear-loving hiker will want. To be honest, I never expected I'd be able to kill so much time in such a small space, haha
The TMR Industries aluminum cooker is currently on backorder
The thin, strong, and convenient DCF stuff sack "UJMT."
"Floating Urushi KOMLA" is an ultra-lightweight, eco-friendly, washable mug made from washi paper and lacquer
The one I highly recommended at the time was Naked Labo's Power Puff Thermal Sack, an ultra-lightweight insulated and cooled bag made with extra-thick Thinsulate. It comes in a variety of sizes and shapes to suit your needs, and is an ultra-lightweight, compact, soft-type cooler that's incredibly convenient
The SotoLabo Dry mesh Kitchen Tool case is a unique, self-standing kitchen tool case that combines the storage capacity of a soft case with the stability of a hard case
The clothing lineup includes everyone's favorite brands like STATIC and Trailbum, which are lightweight yet highly functional and are a surefire hit for hikers
[Latest information for Fall/Winter 2024: More popular brands and items arriving one after another!]
I have just received some recent information about the store, so I would like to add that there are even more interesting products on offer than when I last visited (in July)!
Everyone loves "Hyperlite Mountain Gear."
STATIC also has winter items. Oh, this is the highly anticipated "ADRIFT DYNEEMA MITTEN." The lineup is perfect for the snowy mountains
I also discovered the latest accessories from Field Record, which has been featured on this site many times
They also have a solid selection of brands such as "noicoyamaico" and "LEISMOR," which were introduced in the recent
There are also other outdoor parasols and trekking poles from ANTCAUS, a well-known brand of shelter poles. There are also lots of other interesting gear that I learned about for the first time here
summary
In any case, the store owner, who is well-versed in through-hiking and solo camping, has carefully selected excellent gear from not only Japan but all over the world with his discerning eye, and the selection is impressive, so you won't get bored no matter how many hours you spend there
What's even more amazing is that they offer a repair service for mountain gear, so they accept repairs, shortening, and modifications to all kinds of mountain gear, not just items purchased in the store. It's truly a store that exists to fulfill all the wishes of hikers
First of all, the concept of the shop is "light & challenge". As the owner says,
Lightweight and comfortable to walk in
To travel long and far
Enjoy the outdoors with great gear
Give it a try with light tools
This shop is a perfect embodiment of that idea. It will definitely appeal to anyone who enjoys long trails or solo hiking, and Sakurai-san will surely be able to answer any questions you may have about what to buy or what other concerns you may have
Personally, I find myself wanting to check out the store regularly each season. I recommend all hikers across Japan to stop by someday!
For more detailed store information and online shopping, please check out the store's official online shopping website and official Instagram
■Official online store
https://www.leisures-hcls.com/
View this post on Instagram
Related reading
[OGZ's Yamato Town Exploration Report Vol. 07] Nagano Azumino Edition - Exploration Report from the outdoor shop "ITOMIZU"
[OGZ's Yamato Town Exploration Story Vol. 03] Kiryu Edition - There are plenty of events on the first Saturday of every month! Let's walk around Kiryu street
[OGZ's Yamato Town Exploration Story Vol. 04] Kiryu Edition: New Life! A long-established revival bathhouse in Umeda Hometown Center [Ichinoyu]
[OGZ's Yamato Town Exploration, Vol. 05] Tochigi Kaemon Town Edition - Do you know about the mountain called Kawarakidake? [Revised Edition]