Saturday, January 1, 2011

Zakka Shop in Japan

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Happy New Year! I hope you had a great
end of 2010 and a nice start to 2011.

I was really happy that I got to spend time on
new year's day here in Japan with my family.

There are so many things I want to share with you
already but I am going to make this post short
by focusing on zakka shops in Japan and
a temporary update of my etsy shop.


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What does Zakka mean? I get this question very often.
Despite the fact that this word should be
very familiar with me, I tend to space out a little
not knowing the best way to describe the meaning simply.
How about I take you to a virtual tour in a Japanese
zakka shop that is located close to my home in Gunma
so that you get the feeling of what zakka is all about?


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I know I am biased but I have to say Japan rocks for
someone like me who loves to hunt for cute and
inspirational things! I hope you enjoyed the little tour
and will come back to see more of Japan later here.


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Oh and I wanted to let you know that I listed
some old and rare Japanese sewing magazines and
cute fabrics in my shop. On the Day 2
in Japan, I went to a new fabric shop and a couple of
used book stores and you know what happened to me...


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I found myself seriously worrying
about packing and making Joe mad with ridiculous
amount of suitcases, so I decided to list some
in my shop while I am in Japan. lol
I might have to put my shop on vacation in a
week or so since we've got some plans to be out of town,
but if you can snatch something while it's open,
I will send your items within 2 business days.


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It took me a while to estimate international shipping from Japan.
In case I overcharge you for over $2 on shipping,
I will definitely refund the amount via paypal.
Oh and as usual, I would like to add some additional
Japanese fabric if you let me know that you came from here ;)

Have a great day! Thanks for your time to stop by!


69 comments:

  1. cuantas cosas más bonitas, menuda tienda mas preciosa¡¡¡

    Yo quiero ir, pero me pilla un poco lejos.. ja jaja

    un beso y feliz 2011¡¡¡

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  2. Looks like you're having a wonderful time! Happy New Year!

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  3. What wonderful pictures! Zakka looks like a great shop! and I must say I absolutely love the fabrics, especially the elephant ones! Happy New Year!

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  4. Ouh, I have been wondering about that zakka for a long time. So what is the conclusion? childish? or something like that...? Thanks for the post it was wonderful!!!

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  5. Ooooh! What a great tour! I can't wait to go to Japan later this year!

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  6. Hurray, we've got a postcard from Ayumi! That shop looks wonderful. Did you feel self conscious taking photos of everything! Have fun and Happy New Year to one of my fave new flickrland friends. L X

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  7. Awesome post!! Love all the pics! :) sooo jealous! :)

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  8. What a lovely shop, I wish we had one here !

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  9. What an amazing amount of cuteness- I think I would have to lie down and have to be brought back to consciousness with tea and cake! I can't believe so much cute stuff in one shop. The pig handle holder thing is insane- is it to lift up a bin lid? But I can't help but like it! Happy new year!

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  10. oooo Ayumi, thats just wonderfull! I've never seen something like this before!!

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  11. Kawaii~ How super cute!!! My daughter loves all things Japanese, we're off to your etsy shop now...
    Happy New Year to you!
    Yoi otoshi o!

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  12. OMG, this is amazing! I was thinking about a trip to Japan as a honey moon.. but i'm afraid it's very expensive (especially Tokyo). Great post (:

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  13. what a wonderful tour thanks!!
    i'd love to go one day.my dad lived there for awhile a long time ago and loved it....
    off to check your shop :)
    have a happy new year :)

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  14. The gum wrapper zipper bags are so cute!

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  15. I bought the last two in your shop......... :) WOOO HOOOO......I saw several things that I would love to have....the towels...pot holders....the stationary.....LOVE LOVE.......Have fun while your home and take a billion pictures....

    Shannon Margaret

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  16. Happy New Year,Ayumi! Love all you pics of zakka
    store. I love those gum wrapper pouches,too.
    Have a wonderful trip.

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  17. Oh no you are all sold out!! Sweet to think of your readers. Thanks for sharing.

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  18. Wow I would be completely broke just from that one store!!! Why aren't there stores like that in the US?! And now your Etsy is sold out! So sad I missed out on the goodies :( Hope you are having a fantastic vacation and enjoying your family and of course all of those fabric shops! And don't forget you can always mail stuff home - I have had to do that on several vacations! LOL!

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  19. Thanks for the tour! Can't wait to see more...love all the fabrics and the shop is great inspiration.

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  20. I would go CRAZY in those adorable Zakka shops, Ayumi!!! I am in love with those stationery sets with cute envelopes and matching paper.

    Thank you so much for the sweet card and surprise inside which arrived a couple of days ago. You are so thoughtful!

    Enjoy your holiday!!!

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  21. So jealous that shop looks amazing and the pictures are awesome! What a fun way to start 2011. Happy New Year!

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  22. Zakka must mean "adorably cute stuff" if that shop is any sample. *S*

    Happy New Year! You must be having a wonderful time.

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  23. I wouldn't know how to describe it either but I love it all!!! What fun stuff!!

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  24. Happy New Year! I love this post. Now I know what Zakka is about! More please...

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  25. Happy New Year Ayumi! I'd always thought of Zakka as those little touches that make a house a home; that inject your own personality into your space. These photos are adorable. I think Japan must be the capital of cute!

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  26. Thank your for sharing the great photos! Of course my heart is filled with lust for all the cute and imaginative (but still useful) things I see there. I hope you have a wonderful visit in Japan!

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  27. wow...thanx for sharing these...^^

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  28. wow.. that shop is look amazing. maybe if i were there,,i don't wanna go home,,hehe

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  29. Love all your pictures!!!...I want to go too!!!

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  30. that shop looks so cool, so many nice things... i especially like those clocks, so cute! i would love to go to japan one day!!! i hope you have a lovely time :)

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  31. wooooow!!! I love all these things...

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  32. What a lovely post! Love your blog!

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  33. Quanta coisa linda!!!!!! Amei tudo isso!!!!
    FELIZ ANO NOVO!!!! DEUS ABENÇOE, PROTEJA E ILUMINE VC E SUA FAMILIA EM TODOS 365 DIAS DE 2011!!!!! SAÚDE, FELICIDADE E SUCESSO SEMPRE!!!!!
    Abraços e bjs. Marize/Maceió-ALAGOAS/brasil

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  34. Oh my gosh! I would just die of happiness in that shop!

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  35. wow, that´s like zakka overkill, isn´t it?! i love the alarmclocks especially..
    happy new year to you!!
    claudia

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  36. Thank you so much for all the Zakka cuteness, Ayumi. Nice to know that you are having a great time in Japan. Happy and safe travels!
    Wish you and your family a very Happy and peaceful New Year :)

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  37. I love the Moomin mugs... I really miss the moomins - they were quite popular in the UK in the late 80's....
    Also LOVE the apple fabric...
    Have a wonderful trip!

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  38. How many nice things.Happy New Year. Hugs

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  39. Adorei o seu trabalho!!!

    Já o coloquei no meu blog:)))

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  40. i want to go on a shopping spree in japan. i only wish i had been into crafts when i went in my teens.

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  41. thank you for sharing your photos! I want to go to Japan! Happy New Year to you!!

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  42. I'm so very happy that I found you!! Can't wait untill your sho is on again!!
    I guess I just said it on your flickr, but Happy New Year!

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  43. OMG, all of those things are completely adorable. Do you know if there is some kind of a website/shop?

    You don't find such stuff too easily in sweden :-)

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  44. seriously.. I ENVY U!
    i can't stop looking at those picturessss

    seriously... ;( i've missed ur etsy!

    btw, for Nicky: i found this online store that u might interested in, but pls check with the owner if they do shipping to Sweden.
    YOZO: http://www.yozocraft.com/

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  45. Thank you so much everyone for your lovely comments! I hope I convinced you to take a trip to Japan.

    Nicky-
    This place is called Humpty Dumpty and its website is here. There are no online shops for this store unfortunately, but if you search zakka shop on google, you may find stores that carry some of these goodies :)

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  46. THanks for the tour! Zakka is my new word ;)

    WISH I could go to Japan to see it all for myself - maybe I will have to coerce my cousin into getting some things for me.

    And I am bummed I missed the fabric in the shop - hope I can luck out after you get back!

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  47. Happy New Year !
    Thank you for sharing your photos, elephants fabrics are super cute ! Would love to go one day to Japan :)

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  48. I'm beside myself. Please list more in your shop. I mailed my package for Suzuko on Monday.

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  49. I am drunk on cuteness. Thank you so much for all those wonderful photos. I ::heart:: zukka!

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  50. Oh my gosh- Sometimes I get to go to Daiso in SF so I thought I had some idea...but this is WOW! I'd describe zakka as more cute bits and bobs than one could ever imagine, that no one really needs but everyone wants! Fabulous that you are visiting home AND able to blog and sell from there! I followed your link from the Ringo Pie post. I will add you to my blog reader so I don't miss your next shop update. Nice to meet you Ayumi!

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  51. I am so jealous! I love Japanese things, and love the style so much. I have always wanted to visit there. Someday, I hope!

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  52. Don't ever let me go in one of these shops! You may never see me again! Brilliant!

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  53. Hi Ayumi

    I found your blog through a link on :- http://cuttopieces.blogspot.com/

    I love your creativity and the fabrics you are using - I have already tagged a few tutorials in my 'must do' list!!

    Have you or will you prepare a tutorial on the lovely oven mitts I saw back at the beginning of your blog? I would love to make some as gifts for my family.

    Keep blogging!!!

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  54. I love the photos - I love your blog!!! You are such an inspiration!!!
    I think I would faint if I ever got to go to one of these stores in Japan -- cute overload!!
    theclothes-line@blogspot.com

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  55. Great pictures!
    I just wanted to tell you I gave you an award in my blog!
    http://soteitei.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-got-award.html

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  56. omg i'm going crazy lookign at all those cutie zakka things! must visit japan someday. ;)

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  57. Thank you soo much Ayumi for sharing with us these beautiful pictures! I can't wait to visit Japan!

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  58. Hey magazine friend! My project is snuggled next to yours in the Spring 2011 issue of Stitch! I hope you don't mind that I linked here in my last post. =)

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  59. I would go crazy in this shop! So many pretty items!


    Camila F.

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  60. Hi! I put some links to your tutorials in my blog. Come take a look and see if it approves.
    Cheers!

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  61. This is a smart blog. I mean it. You’ve so much knowledge about this issue, and so much passion. You also understand how to make people rally behind it, obviously from the responses. You’ve got a style right here that’s not too flashy, but makes a statement as large as what you are saying. Great job, indeed.

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  62. All of those are sooo cute! Love little asian stores. I was in Korea and had an interesting time shopping, would love to go to Japan!

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  63. Wonderful article, thanks for putting this together! This is obviously one great post. Thanks for the valuable information and insights you have so provided here. Sell Your Products

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