[OGZ's Yamamachi Exploration Vol. 13] Urawa's Old-Fashioned Outdoor Shop - Rimba - [Spring 2025 Weekend Event Information!]

column

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Column , Yamato Chi

Written by yans

It's been a while since the last Yamatomachi series, but this time we're in Urawa, Saitama Prefecture

Previous visit

table of contents

Start from Urawa Station
Let's go inside the store
For the latest Rimba information
What is Rimba, says owner Yokohama?
A traveling bakery?
KLIPTED POP-UP STORE NEIGHBORHOOD!
From Rimba store to Minami-Urawa Station

Start from Urawa Station

It is located in front of the east exit of JR Urawa Station. If you are visiting, you will have to walk quite a distance from the station to get there, so I will also provide navigation this time. The distance may be a bit intimidating for first-time visitors, so I hope this will be of some help

If you head south from the rotary in front of the station to the right, you will soon come to a scramble intersection, so continue south onto a narrow road

On the left is a coffee bean specialty store. I have purchased coffee from there before, and while the beans are roasted they serve complimentary coffee, so you can relax while you wait, and the finished fragrant beans are amazing

After passing the coffee bean shop, you will come to an intersection with a convenience store on your right. Turn left here

Doing so will take you to Urawa's shopping district, which has a nostalgic atmosphere. From there, you just need to follow this narrow path, but it's quite a long walk, so the shop is still a long way off

It's also good to remember that there are three intersections with oncoming traffic along the way, this being the first one. There are also a few smaller intersections

After passing the shopping district, you will then go through a residential area

At the second intersection, on your left is Urawa Racecourse. If you get lost, it might be a good idea to head towards the racecourse and ask someone nearby for directions

This is the last intersection with traffic lights, so if you cross and go straight you'll soon arrive

On the left side of this road

The place where this sign welcomes you is

We have arrived at Rimba, an outdoor shop in Urawa that looks like an old Japanese house! As I will explain later, this store has actually moved once before, so it is now in its second generation

Let's go inside the store

Let's enter the store. It's not a large one, but the outdoor gear is neatly and cleanly displayed inside. The charm of a privately owned store is that the owner's personality shines through in the way the items are arranged and selected. However, this view is from when I visited a while ago, so the lineup has changed quite a bit since then. We will switch to the latest store interior from midway through, so please come and experience the latest Rimba there

As soon as you enter the store, head to the left aisle, where the items are roughly organized by genre

The left wall is filled with tools that can be used in the mountains or for camping

There are plenty of cookware in the back

At the time, the center section featured the cooker series from TMR, which we also mentioned in our Gearjin visit report

Past Visits

So I'll switch to the latest version that I recently learned about

For the latest Rimba information

We visited again in April 2025, and the images of the interior of the store are almost up to date

You can come by car to the parking lot in front of the store, but it is only large enough to fit one or two cars, so if there are other customers there you may have to park in a parallel line.In such cases, customers inside the store and the store owner will need to work together in a spirit of mutual help

It's still an exciting space!

Next, go straight ahead to the entrance and you'll find a wide selection of small items and accessories at the back, next to the cash register

OLIGHT has recently started to appear in physical stores

It's a typical screw-type light, but it has a twist to it so it won't come off even if you turn it too much, and it's rechargeable rather than battery-powered, giving it a modern update. It's a great item to have as a secondary light

If you look at the back of the store, you will see a lineup of popular backpacks such as Gossamer Gear, Trail Bum, and Row Row Mountain Works

In one corner, you'll find Evernew's ultra-perverted new product, the Hardcore Mat!

If you look up at the ceiling, you'll see a hanging display of ZENN by Pargoworks, which I had just seen at the event!

Visit past events

Looking down, you'll find Luna Sandals and a Bear Canister, which you may need depending on the mountain range and campsite you're visiting

The central display in the store features Mofuma's recently popular table series

There are also resin bottles from RIVERS, which are easy to use and I have one myself

The Permanent Baton DCF Pouch series is selling well! The shop owner commented

You may not see them that often yet! We also carry Mountain Rover products

Tox's titanium windshield is compact and collapsible

At the far east end of the store, there is also a selection of hobby items such as used records

To the right of that is a great selection of men's clothing, including Teton Bros., Lab, Houdini, and Static

, ultra-lightweight rainwear, the New Phantom Jacket, in the event report above

Below that is the Altra series

From there, on the back wall to the north, there are stuff sacks and other items, and next to it on the left is the cooker corner introduced earlier

From there, go left and head east. You'll find tents, ground sheets, poles, etc

Looking up, you will see a wide selection of SOL products, burners, and repair-related products

SOTO, Redlenser, Milestone, etc

Next to it are original handmade items made by artists

Rimba's lineup goes beyond just outdoor products, which shows its depth

Looking back, there are straps, gloves, and outdoor umbrellas, which are currently booming among various brands for some reason, and all of their products are very popular

The back side has socks and caps

Continuing on, we came across women's clothing and second-hand clothing, which has recently become popular in some areas of the mountain area. With that, our tour of the store is more or less complete. At this point, we'll introduce the owner of Rimba, Yokohama-san

What is Rimba, says owner Yokohama?

Owner Yuichi Yokohama

- Rimba concept -

"The concept of Rimba is to offer a carefully selected lineup of gear that can be used for a wide range of solo activities, such as mountain climbing, camping, and cycling, as well as gear that can be used both outdoors and in everyday life."

– Rimba relocation story –

"We were looking for a property that would be a little difficult to access, but where we could relax and unwind, and that is the first store at the west exit of Urawa Station."

The first store was also a very tasteful property

"But just as the store was getting on track, an apartment building was being built, and we had to move out... However, one year and three months after we were evicted, we found our current location and decided to move."

- The future of Rimba -

"I would like to keep the core of the shop as an outdoor shop, but incorporate more elements (including the current sale of records and alcohol). My hope is that in the future I will become a 'local store' where people can connect even more than they do now."

A traveling bakery?

-Tsukimo Bazaar: Traveling Bakery-

"Not only is the bread delicious, but the food is also outstanding! He has been selling bread and providing food at Rimba for over 15 years. He has a unique sensibility and is always inspiring."

Yokohama may appear in the Rimba parking lot along with his announcements, so be sure to check his blog and Instagram regularly. Also, there's information about the Rimba event this weekend, which Tsukimo Bazaar is also involved in!

KLIPTED POP-UP STORE NEIGHBORHOOD!

"A pop-up store event for the bag brand 'KLIPTED.' It's become a worldwide hit, with many famous overseas DJs and record diggers using it! It's also gaining attention in Japan. This is your chance to try out the actual products! There will also be small items for sale."

"TSUKIMO BAZAAR will also be providing the food. We will be serving a variety of exciting and original dishes inspired by Okinawan, Tajikistani, Indonesian cuisine, and more. You'll be hooked on their deliciousness! Alcohol will also be available for purchase."

The event will be held this weekend, April 27, 2025, from 12:00 to 18:00, where you can enjoy food and drinks while browsing KLIPTED products. Fans of KLIPTED products will find it irresistible. Information is available on Rimba's Instagram. One important thing to note is that the Rimba parking lot will be used as the venue for the event, so if you're coming by car, please note that you'll need to park in a nearby coin parking lot

What did you think of Rimba? It's a little far from the main station, but it's a blissful experience to be able to leisurely browse for the things you really want in the calming atmosphere of an old Japanese house. If you're an outdoorsy guy or girl, the distance is no problem, and you might find the item you've been looking for there

Rimba

・2-2-38 Oyaba, Minami-ku, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture

・℡048-708-8104

・Business days: Monday to Friday 12:00-20:00 / Saturday 12:00-19:00 / Sundays and holidays 12:00-18:00

・Closed on Wednesdays

Official website : https://www.rimba.jp/

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urawarimba/

From Rimba store to Minami-Urawa Station

Finally, if you are heading to JR Minami-Urawa from the store, the store is located exactly halfway between Urawa Station and Minami-Urawa Station, so it is roughly the same distance no matter which way you go.However, if you also want to experience the atmosphere of the town, it can be a difficult decision as to which way to go, but you can also take advantage of both on the way there and back

To get to Minami-Urawa, first turn left from the store and head south

Turn right at the intersection where Shitaraba Dry Cleaning is located and go a little further

You will come out onto a main road, so turn left and go straight

The elevated railway you see in the distance is the JR Musashino Line, and turn right at the intersection just beyond it

You will come out onto the street in front of the station, so go straight ahead

Arrived at JR Minami-Urawa Station

There seem to be a lot of bars around Minami-Urawa Station, so if you're a drinker who only walks, it might be a good idea to go there.On the other hand, the area around Urawa Station is a pretty uniform area with everything you could want, so I think it would be fun to stroll around both areas, as they have different personalities

yans

My love for gears has led me to write for Gearzine. I'm a hardcore gear enthusiast who loves modifying and building things, and I also love outdoor events. I'd like to focus on brand exploration and shop reviews