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
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
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