Forget Donki (just for now, at least 😛 ) when on the hunt for Japanese souvenirs in Tokyo because you will want to check out Ginza Oonoya, an old shop smack right in the bustling streets of Ginza. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from Tsukiji Fish Market and just almost across the Kabukiza Theater, so it’s not really out of the way and you’ll definitely come across this place when touring around Ginza area.
Ginza Oonoya is famous for their ‘tenugui’ or Japanese traditional towels decorated with various patterns, designs, or imagery with ukiyo-e, kabuki, Chineze zodiac, and other traditional Japanese designs. You can use tenugui in many ways – be it as a towel or handkerchief, table cloth or placemat, neck scarf or head covering, and you can also use tenugui to wrap bento boxes and gifts. It’s also a piece of artwork that you can have framed so it’s definitely a great souvenir to remember the trip by or to gift to anyone back home.
Having opened in the first year of the Meiji period (in the year 1868), you know you’re dealing with the experts here and you can be confident you’re getting tenugui from the real deal. They’re the authority in tenugui in Tokyo, and they were even covered by The New York Times in this article.
Although Ginza Oonoya is more known for their tenugui, the store actually started out as a shop selling ‘tabi’ or traditional Japanese split-toe socks (the ones you see being worn by the Japanese during traditional ceremonies and events, often worn along with kimono or yukata and wooden Japanese sandals). Tabi socks were pretty much in-demand during those times, however times have changed and the number people of people wearing tabi on the daily has dwindled as traditional wear has been viewed as more of a ceremonial attire.
Nowadays aside from tenugui and tabi products, Oonoya also sells Yukata and Kimono accessories such as wallets and bags as well as Japanese traditional footwear (setta and geta).
Ginza Oonoya is one of the three stores of this kind left in Tokyo. I was fortunate to come across this store while visiting nearby Tsukiji Fish Market, and the cheerful obasan (grandma) running the shop was so kind to let me in and see some of their products which they were very proud to showcase.
The store’s structure is old compared to the more updated structures surrounding it, so it pretty much stands out when you pass by it and it’s hard to miss.
And although there isn’t much space inside the store, their vast inventory of traditional Japanese textiles and other goods make up for the lack of space, and surely you’ll find something that fits the bill and never leave empty handed if you’re on the hunt for traditional souvenirs.
Oonoya has 2 stores:
- The one in Ginza where I went to: 5 Chome-12-3 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo
- Apparently they have another store which is housed in a very old yet beautiful traditional building: 2 Chome-2-1 Shintomi, Chuo City, Tokyo
