[OGZ's Yamato Town Exploration Story Vol. 12] Nagano Chino Edition: The gateway to Mt. Yatsugatake, the place to go, the mountain tools and cafe Eightdoor!
written by yans
Now, starting with the Nagano edition this time, it is a grand project that starts with a regular exploration diary and then moves on to exploring a certain garage brand, spending an overnight stay with the brand owner learning how to use the gear and using it, and then moving on to an in-depth review of the gear
As the first installment, we are taking a more ambitious approach, taking a look at some interesting mountain equipment stores on the way to meet the brand owners, so we hope you will stick with us until the end of the series!
A rope called Onbashira Goyo welcomes you
It is located in Chino City, Nagano Prefecture, in front of the west exit of JR Chino Station
From the front of the station, go straight along the road that extends south
You will then come to a curved intersection, where you cross the crosswalk and enter the path
The entrance will appear immediately on your left, about three to five minutes from the station
It would be nice if there was a mountain hut in town where climbers could drop in whenever they wanted. That's the catchphrase of mountain equipment store Eightdoor
Looking to the right from the front,
"Put your backpack away" is a nice little consideration from the store
If you turn left, you will see a long counter. Yes, Eight Door also has a cafe attached
Then, to the right of the counter, there are clothing and hats. I thought there must be a cafe and some outdoor items... but don't be hasty!
Going past the counter and through a slightly narrow passage, you'll find a small but packed space packed with gears that will satisfy even the most gear-crazy person! On the contrary, the density of the space is irresistible
And then, what suddenly caught my eye was... a mountain stole from Plylet, a familiar name at Geargin!
Past Visits
By the way, the Plylet edition has also been updated with an Azuma mountain climbing episode with the owner, Mr. Kamikubo, so it is something that readers who have not read it yet and readers who have seen it in the past will want to take a look at
Going counterclockwise and looking further towards the wall, I see TMR! I can't help but feel a sense of nostalgia
TMR is still going strong and popular. Personally, I recommend the 4g titanium spoon shown on the far left. It's a homage to the old one. They also have Evernew and other products
Past Visits
The TMR products that were surrounded earlier were KALUGII's wireframe-like products, many of which seem to be coffee-related.
The accessories in this area are also well-stocked, including the very popular Miyagen whistle
It seemed like static clothing was the most popular
This section has a wide selection of Ridge Mountain gear
In the sleeping bag and tent section we found the LELEKA HAMMOCK, which we used at the Alps Summit a few days after this interview .
Past event reports can be found here
The backpacks seem to be selected mainly from brands such as LITEWAY, Ridge Mountain, and SAYAMA works
Wallets and bottle holders also seem to be from the same brands as the backpacks
There were also Pargoworks products, which could be said to be a standard on the mountains
The fascinating gear space that connects to this path is quite blissful, so let's head back towards the counter
Looking at the counter, it seems they have a full cafe menu, and they also have light meals like toast
This is a must-see for craft beer lovers!
Now that we've had a look around, we'll ask the owner, Shunpei Matsumura, some questions.
Q. Why did you choose to set up shop in Chino?
A. My wife and I both work in Tokyo and Kanagawa, and on our days off we would take advantage of public transportation to go mountain climbing. I met my wife through mountain climbing, but we both grew up in the countryside before moving to the Kanto region, so we both wanted to live close to nature, and we wanted to create an environment where we could go to the mountains whenever we wanted, so we decided to move to Nagano and open our own shop
When I started looking for a place to move to, I quickly decided on Nagano Prefecture. Nagano is a prefecture that is home to many of Japan's most famous mountains, so it's a place that any mountain climber would dream of visiting at least once
Among these, Yatsugatake in particular is easily accessible from the Kanto region, so I often visit throughout the year. Yatsugatake has many wonderful mountain huts, some of which are open year-round, so it's also attractive that you can climb the mountains in winter as well as summer. However, I felt that even though there are wonderful mountains, the area around Chino Station, which is the gateway to the area, is a bit deserted, and there is no place for climbers to wait for the train or kill time after descending the mountain
Eating some standing soba noodles at the station and waiting for Azusa in the waiting room is fine, but I thought it would be nice to have a space like a "mountain hut in town" where you can take a breather and enjoy the sense of accomplishment and exhilaration of having climbed the mountain. So I decided to combine a tool shop and a coffee shop! That's how the shop came to be
Q. What is the concept of your shop? "It would be nice if there was a mountain hut in town where climbers could drop in whenever they wanted."
A.Mountain huts are indispensable for climbers. Not only can they provide a place to rest, replenish supplies, and gather information, but they can also be a place where people can meet and connect with each other
Eightdoor is a mountain hut in front of the station where all climbers can drop in casually and spend their time as they wish. Before starting the climb, you can stock up on essentials, take a short break, and gather information. After descending, you can savor the afterglow of the mountain you climbed while sipping coffee at the counter. You may even discover new gear that you've never seen before, which may inspire you to explore the mountaineering world in a way that suits you
Go through the door called Eightdoor, meet new tools and people, and then move on to the next mountain
Q. What are your future prospects?
A. Thanks to you, it's been a year since we opened. We have customers who are coming back from the mountains chatting about their mountain adventures over coffee in the cafe, and some even delay their trains. Everyone seems to come to Yatsugatake about twice a year, and many of them are repeat customers even from far away
At the same time, I also want to have closer ties with the local community. About once a month, our shop hosts an event called Coffee Hiking, where we hike with customers through the low mountains around Chino. It's a fairly relaxed event, but I'd like to hold something more in-depth, and ask our guides to provide mountaineering safety training. For example, map reading classes and first aid classes. Because we run a shop close to the mountains, we often hear stories of people getting lost or injured. To ensure that customers don't just get lucky, I've come to strongly feel that I need to teach them not only how to use the equipment, but also how to use it, and ultimately practical mountaineering techniques, so that they can continue to enjoy the mountains for a long time
We receive a lot of support from local people as well as people returning from far away mountains, so we hope to give back by holding seminars like this
It seems like there are many doors of possibility waiting, so we can't miss the next developments! So, we have received a letter from Eight Door recommending this season's FW products, so we would like to introduce them to you
"We'd like to introduce three new items for this year! First up are the STATIC ROAR series and the STATIC AROUSAL series. Both use AYUKAN yarn, a cross between Octa and wool, and in addition to the high heat retention and loose feel for the weight of Octa, these are noteworthy garments that also have the deodorizing and moisture-regulating properties of wool!
The ROAR series is a mid-layer made from AYUKAN knitted using the WHOLEGARMENT technique. WHOLEGARMENT knitting is seamless and three-dimensional, resulting in a soft, enveloping feel and no cutting waste. The fabric is knitted loosely with thin yarn, providing warmth while still allowing for good ventilation. Another major benefit is that it is odor-resistant and lightweight, making it a great choice for carrying as an extra long-sleeved top on overnight mountain trips in the summer! The design is also easy to wear on a daily basis, so you'll often find yourself wearing it on days when you're not heading out to the mountains
The AROUSAL series is a base layer made from AYUKAN fabric knitted into a pile. It features just the right amount of elasticity and a soft feel, making it an ideal base layer for fall and winter. It's opaque, so you can wear the AROUSAL on its own and maintain a comfortable temperature, even when hiking up snowy mountains, where temperatures can easily get hot. It's also odor-resistant, so you won't have to worry about wearing it continuously on overnight hikes. We carry the following models: ROAR HOODIE, ROAR RELUX HOODIE, ROAR CREW, and AROUSAL L/S SHIRTS.
The third item is RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR's Power Stretch Earmuff Cap. Based on the design of the Basic Cap, which is synonymous with RIDGE MOUNTAIN GEAR, earmuffs have been added to make it suitable for winter wear. While there was originally a model made with gridded merino wool fabric, this time a version made with Polartec® Power Stretch has been released. Polartec® Power Stretch is a versatile fabric that combines all the essential elements for winter hiking—stretchiness, breathability, warmth, moisture wicking, quick-drying, and durability—and also provides a relatively good degree of wind protection, making it useful for walking in the cold winter wind (such as in open, windswept areas in the high mountains). Living at the foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains, we are forced to battle the cold, strong winds that blow down from the mountains in winter, but I also like the warmth and design, which make it perfect for keeping out the wind in the city
All of these are Eight Door FW's recommended products, so I'm curious!
What did you think of Eight Doors in Chino, Nagano? The owners continue to open new doors, and I have high hopes for them to help liven up Chino. Although it's frustrating that I don't have many opportunities to visit due to the distance, I'd like to support them from afar
And now the story continues to our next destination, a certain garage brand, so please stay tuned!
Mountaineering equipment and cafe Eightdoor
・3582-3 Chino, Chino City, Nagano Prefecture
Business hours: Weekdays 11:00-18:00, Holidays 8:30-18:00
・Irregular holidays
・Official website : https://eightdoor-chino.com/
・Official Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/eightdoor_chino/
After exploring Eight Doors, I took a stroll around Chino Station and in front of the station. It was already late afternoon, and the area was bustling with hikers. I was impressed by the fact that there were more hikers heading out than those returning home
I also went into the tenant building in front of the station, and was amazed to see that there was a Montura there! Just as I was thinking this, as most people probably already know, the store closed down, which is a bit sad. Also, as the owner of Eight Door said, there are a lot of mountain climbers, but there aren't many mountain-related stores... That's the impression I was left with
I left Chino hoping that Eight Door would help make the Chino area even more lively
*As of August 2025, it has been revived at the same location in Montura!
Continued here!
Yans
A person who has grown into a gear lover and finally ended up writing on Gear Gin. He has been a tough gear enthusiast and loves modifying and making his own gear, and also loves outdoor events. We would like to place emphasis on brand exploration and shop reviews.
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