Craftsmanship & Community at Karuizawa

Craftsmanship & Community at Karuizawa

Tsuchiya Kaban’s
Karuizawa Store & Workshop

Tsuchiya Kaban’s Karuizawa Store & Workshop

Set on expansive grounds surrounded by lush greenery, the Tsuchiya Kaban Karuizawa Store & Workshop offers a serene retreat from the bustle of everyday life. Located in a beloved summer resort area known for its mild climate and natural beauty—including Mount Asama and Shiraito Falls—it’s a space that continues to inspire our artisans and visitors alike.

Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, this destination invites you to explore at a leisurely pace: experience our designs, watch our craftspeople at work, and enjoy the tranquil surroundings. Over the years, it has also become a place we proudly call home—where meaningful community connections and locally inspired offerings come together to reflect the spirit of Tsuchiya Kaban.

Chapter 1

A Place of Tranquility and Artisanal Spirit

A Serene Space
Flowing with Greenery

Just a ten-minute drive south from Karuizawa Station, our Karuizawa Store & Workshop stands in Minami-Karuizawa, an area known for its many vacation homes. The two buildings—our in-house workshop and showroom—stand side by side, —revealing the direct flow of our products from the hands of our makers to yours—an increasingly rare experience today.

Also unique to our Karuizawa location is the serene, thoughtfully designed space that takes full advantage of the lush, expansive grounds. Large windows frame distant views of Mount Asama, filling the bright, airy store with natural light. Beyond the terrace, a spacious green courtyard invites visitors to step out and enjoy a deep breath—an openness rarely found in the city.

Craftsmanship, In Action

The showroom opens onto a corridor, and soon the steady, rhythmic hum of sewing machines fills the air. In the workshop, craftspeople of all ages and backgrounds come together to create everything we offer—from our iconic Randoseru to fashion pieces, accessories, and pet items.

One side of the workshop is glass, offering views from the showroom and courtyard, where visitors can experience up close the focused dedication of our artisans at work.

Next to the workshop stands an old sewing machine, quietly watching over the craftspeople. This is none other than the very machine our founder, Kunio Tsuchiya, used when he established Tsuchiya Kaban in 1965. After faithfully serving as his companion for many years, it now rests here as part of the space, reflecting the spirit of Tsuchiya Kaban’s early days—and the founder’s unwavering dedication to craft, even six decades on.

Chapter 2

Growing with the Community

Surrounded by Lush Nature

Located in the Hocchi area of Minami-Karuizaway, the showroom and workshop is surrounded by beautiful rice fields, as well as cultural spots like museums. As you walk the path up to the showroom, the pavement is accentuated with relief work showing leathercraft tools.

With a variety of trees planted throughout the grounds, from maple and mountain cherry to plum, and the lush green grass at its peak during the summer seasons, the grounds are thoughtfully cared for by our staff throughout the year, offering a transportive experience, almost like a museum tucked away in the forest.

An Immersive Experience,
Away from City Bustle

The courtyard is a luxurious, wide open space, occupied only by a single bench. The openness is an intentional choice, to allow customers and children to roam freely, or even host collaborative events with local businesses, allowing it to come to life in many different ways.

With many of our customers taking time off from the busy everyday to be here, we intended the openness and free spaces to instill a sense of freedom and tranquillity.

Sharing the Charms of
the Local Community

Another defining feature of our Karuizawa Store & Workshop is its close connection to the local community, where we actively share and celebrate the region’s unique charms. As a member of the Karuizawa Tourism Association, we collaborate with businesses and organizations throughout Nagano Prefecture, hosting events that showcase locally made goods. Our staff works together with the community to nurture a store deeply rooted in its surroundings—one that sparks new synergies, fosters meaningful exchanges, and opens the door to fresh perspectives that continue to inspire our craft.

One initiative that has grown out of these efforts—and marks a new challenge for Tsuchiya Kaban—is the development of products crafted from wild game leather. In 2025, our Karuizawa Store & Workshop will exclusively release a limited collection of shoulder bags and pouches crafted from deer leather, sourced from animals culled in Nagano Prefecture to help manage overpopulation and support ecological balance—a challenge faced across Japan. This step toward creating products with sustainable materials was inspired in part by feedback from customers, shared through our staff, expressing interest in initiatives that align with the SDGs.

Because the hides of wild animals vary in size, color, and markings, creating this limited deerhide collection came with many challenges. Yet the craftspeople behind the pieces hope customers will embrace these natural differences—each one a hallmark of the individuality that the leather from wildlife can offer.

Rooted in the local community, our Karuizawa Store & Workshop continues to take on new challenges—connecting with the region, addressing local issues through sustainability, and exploring new possibilities. We hope these efforts will also spark inspiration for our customers.

If Visiting Karuizawa,
Stop By Our Karuizawa Store & Workshop!

This year, our Karuizawa Store & Workshop marked its 10th anniversary. Over the past decade, it has grown into a beloved destination—not only for the people of Karuizawa and the wider Nagano region, but also for visitors from across Japan and abroad.

Inside, the spacious and serene atmosphere allows you to browse our full range at your leisure, including a display of our signature Randoseru. From the workshop floor, you can watch our artisans at work, bringing each bag to life with careful precision. Seasonal events add fresh charm throughout the year, making the Karuizawa Workshop a place of discovery and enjoyment for all ages. We look forward to welcoming you on your next visit.

Tsuchiya Kaban Karuizawa Store & Workshop
200 Hotchi, Karuizawa, Kitasaku District,
Nagano 389-0113,
Japan

10:00~18:00
Open Daily Until 9/30/2025
Closed on Tuesdays from 10/01/2025 onward 


ACCESS
10-15 minutes from Usui-Karuizawa IC on the Joshinetsu Expressway