Welcome to Azumaya!
Azumaya is a small family-run kimono shop in Nishio city, nestled in the heart of central Japan. My name is Yoshihide Shibakawa, and I run Azumaya together with my parents, my wife and my staff. My grandfather started Azumaya in 1946, and we have 70 years’ experience providing our clients with the very best of the kimono world.
Our philosophy
You’d be surprised how few kimono shop owners and staff actually wear kimono. Our philosophy is simple – we love kimonos, and we love to wear them! My family and our staff members wear kimono every day. We know kimonos inside out, not just as something that we sell, but as something we love to wear. Kimonos aren’t just traditional dress, they are Japan’s top fashion item, for both men and women!
You might also be surprised to know (or you might already know) that many Japanese people find kimonos difficult and expensive, or feel they don’t have many opportunities to wear them because they think kimonos are the same as suits or dresses in terms of dress code. At Azumaya we stock all types of kimonos – everything from formal kimonos for weddings to casual, every day wear. We believe that kimonos should be fun, fashionable and affordable.
In that spirit, we run a live show about kimonos and kimono lifestyle every Sunday. You can check it out here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/test2213 (Japanese only)
You can also order items from the comfort of your own home through our internet retail site: http://www.kimono-hiroba.jp/
Our services
Of course we sell kimonos, yukatas, obis, zori shoes and accessories, but we also provide kimono aftercare and alterations. We provide washing and stain removal services, adding family crests, gold leaf, and patterns (to cover damage etc), re-dyeing and size adjustment. We also transform kimonos into clothes.
Our partners
We pride ourselves on our wide range of fashionable kimonos, obi (sashes), zori shoes and other kimono accessories. Our partners include Masuyagihei, Hishiya Calen Blosso, Takahashi Kimono Kobo, Sankatsu, Fujii-ko, Kyoto Asami, multiple yukata brands, Rumi Rock, Enomoto, Hamamatsu Chūsen and Ojiya Chijimi. We also stock silk, linen and cotton kimono fabrics and items from all over Japan, including our local Mikawa cotton.
Access
By train
From Meitetsu Shin-Nagoya, take the Meitetsu Line and switch for the Meitetsu Nishio Line at Shin-Anjō station. Get off at Nishio station. There is also an express train that runs direct from Nagoya to Nishio (about 45 minutes). Azumaya is about 3 minutes from Nishio station (see map below).
By car
About 15 minutes from the Anjō – Nishio Interchange on National Highway (Kokudo) 23
About 30 minutes from the Otowagamagori Interchange on the Tomei Expressway
About 35 minutes from the Okazaki Interchange on the Tomei Expressway.
About 45 minutes from Toyohashi.
Access map from Nishio station. Click to enlarge.
Getting in touch
We will do our very best to assist you with any questions or requests you might have.
You can call us 00(81)563-57-4091 between 10am and 8pm (closed Tuesdays).
NB: Not all of us speak English fluently!
If you are not a Japanese-speaker, we recommend that you use the contact form below to get in touch, and we will get back to you as soon as possible!
Contact form
Please fill in the form below and click send. We will get back to you as soon as possible!
If writing in Japanese, please do not use half kana. Please fill in all sections marked *
