Specialised Shopping Streets for Fabrics & Crafts (Tokyo & Osaka, Japan)

A street filled with textile merchants. A town filled with kitchenware supplies. Japan has many “問屋街” (Tonya-gai) – or wholesale market streets – which are characterised by a concentration of wholesale businesses and suppliers that specialise in specific types of goods.

While most only sell to businesses in bulk, there are some wholesale market streets filled with shops that also sell to consumers.

Here are wholesale market streets specialising in crafting and sewing that you can drop in to shop at.

Nippori “Fabric Town” Senigai (Tokyo) – 日暮里繊維街

Nippori Fabric Town, centered around Nippori Station’s central street, is a vibrant district currently home to approximately 90 shops (around 60 businesses). This district has become a go-to destination for those who enjoy fashion, crafting, and creative pursuits, including designers, apparel manufacturers, artists, and students, all seeking materials for their projects.

In its early days, from the Taisho era to the end of the Showa era, Nippori Fabric Town was primarily known as a wholesale district, serving specialized professionals from various regions. But as times changed, more shops shifted towards retail and began catering to individual consumers.

Nippori’s central street, known as Nippori Central Street, has seen a significant increase in specialty stores focusing on textile materials, leather, accessories, buttons, patterns, sewing supplies, and accessories. See the map of shops

If choosing one shop to start with on this street, visit Tomato. There are a few Tomato stores along the street, the most comprehensive store for fabric is the main store with 5 levels.

And if you’re into leathercrafts, make sure to check out the 3 “And Leather” stores along the street:

“Crafter’s Holy Land” Asakusa-bashi (Tokyo) – 浅草橋

Asakusa-bashi, located in Tokyo, is often referred to as “The Holy Land for handmakers.” This district is renowned for its extensive array of shops and stores dedicated to crafting supplies and materials. From traditional Japanese dolls like Hina dolls and Gogatsu dolls to imported beads and an assortment of crafting essentials (including the popular Parts Club and Kiwaseisakujo), Asakusa-bashi caters to craft enthusiasts from all over Japan and beyond.

Kiwaseisakujo’s main store has an impressive number of jewellery and accessory parts across 4 levels.

In recent years, an increasing number of shops in the area have started catering to general consumers, making it not only a hub for wholesalers but also a destination for those looking to explore their creative side. The district’s popularity among crafters has turned it into a pilgrimage site, attracting artisans and hobbyists from across Japan.

“Textile Mecca” Semba Center Building (Osaka) – 船場センタービル

Semba Center Building, located between Namba and Osaka Castle and served by three Osaka subway lines, is a shopping centre made up of 10 buildings or sections. Often referred to as a the “Textile Mecca”, buildings 4 through 9 is filled with wholesale textile merchants with some shops also selling to individuals at bargain prices.

The origins of Senba can be traced back to when Toyotomi Hideyoshi built Osaka Castle on the site of the Ishiyama Hongan-ji temple. At that time, a large number of retainers and warriors gathered in this area due to the construction of the castle, and there was a significant demand for weapons, armor, food, and daily necessities. To meet these needs, Hideyoshi forcibly relocated merchants from Sakai, Kyoto, and Fushimi to this vicinity, rapidly advancing the development of the castle town. Included was the Donike Textile Wholesale District, and so textile merchants are still here today.

Note the building is closed every third Sunday.

Extras

Other great fabric stores in Japan

These shops are not part of a wholesale market district, but worth considering a visit in Japan.

• Yuzawaya Kamata, Tokyo (Google map)
• Okadaya fabrics bldg, Tokyo (Google map)
• Bunka Gakuen University Shop, Tokyo (Google map)
• Momenya Makino, Tokyo (Google map)
• Nomura Tailor, Kyoto (Google map)
• Cocca sesse in Hankyu Umeda Department Store, Osaka (Google map)
• ATELIER to nani IRO, Osaka (Google map)
• Mina Perhonen, Kyoto (Google map)
• Linnet, Kyoto (Google map)
• Chicago Kyoto Store for vintage kimono fabrics (Google map)

Other crafts & hobby chain stores in Japan

• Parts Club
• Kiwaseisakujo
• Okadaya
• Tokyu Hands (Update 2024: not as much as a few years ago)
• 100yen shops like Daiso and Seria also sell popular craft supplies