Souvenir Index

Local Products Representing the Aizu Area Lacquerware Sake Lacquerware crafting in Aizu began four hundred years ago with the strong support of local economic legend Ujisato Gamo. Aizu then became the focal production point of the industry, and people began cultivating plants from which the actual lacquer was made, in addition to manufacturing the actual lacquerware crafts. The high level of quality and variety of local laquerware resulting from this system of labor division, is a special characteristic of this industry in Aizu. The Aizu area’s abundance of high quality water and rice has allowed the sake-making industry to flourish here for many years. In Aizu there are numerous unique sake makers producing many kinds of sake with distinct tastes. Aizu Painted Candles Pottery For a long time, Aizu has been famous for being a major production area for candles. They are made with the wax collected from the seeds used to make lacquer. Even now, Aizu’s candles are hand made one-by-one. The origin of pottery production in Aizu dates back to 1593, when Ujisato Gamo ordered workers to produce black tile for the roof of Tsuruga Castle in an effort to repair it. Now, there are many pottery makers in Aizu which make their own style of crafts. Aka-beko (Red bull figures with Amusing nodding heads) Sweets This toy is considered to be a lucky charm which prevents disease as well as attracting good luck for events such as childbirth. Akabeko is based on the legend of a cow which assisted in the building of a temple. The slow head movement of the toy is humorous and cute. Japanese style sweets and cheap sweets in Aizu have been made with traditional methods. Also, western style sweets are made using the latest processing techniques. These styles of colorful Aizu sweets are suitable as gifts. (If you click following list of names, it jumps to the area location page.) Aizu Wakamatsu City ・General Souvenirs・ Tsurugajo Kaikan (Local products and souvenirs of Aizu) Torazo (Local souvenirs etc) Kokin (This shop sells local products of Aizu) Aizu-machikata Folklore Museum(You can buy local products of Aizu) Aizu Original Product Hall (You can buy local products of Aizu) Eki Cafe (This shop sells local products and has a cafeteria) ・Lacquerware・ Onodera Lacquerware Shop (Aizu lacquerware shop of a long standing) Suzukiya Rihei (Aizu lacquerware shop of a long standing) Shirokiya Material pavilion (You can see and purchase Aizu-laquerware) ・Sake・ Aizu Shuzo Historical Museum (You can do sake tasting and buy sake) Kaishuichikura (Inside you’ll find a cafe, a sake and specialty goods store, and a gallery) Suehiro Shuzo (Sake storehouse related to Hideyo Noguchi) ・Painted Candles・ Ozawa Candle Shop (This shop specializes in candle painting) ・Local Toys・ Takefuji (This shop sells folk crafts from Aizu) ・Sweets・ Aizu Aoi (This shop produces Japanese-style sweets and sells them) Aizu Candy Museum (Selling traditional cheap sweets in Aizu) Matsumotoya (You can buy traditional sweet bean jelly) Kitakata City ・General Souvenirs・ Kura no Sato (You can buy souvenirs) Michi-no-Eki Kita-no-Sato (You can buy souvenirs from Kitakata) Iide to Soba no Sato Center (You can buy local products from Yamato District) ・Lacquerware・ Kinomoto Shikki(This is a souvenir shop dealing with lacquerware) ・Sake・ Yamatogawa Shuzo(You can do sake tasting and shopping) Obara Shuzo (This sake producer has distinctive techniques) Inawashiro-machi ・General Souvenirs・ Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum (This shop has souvenirs related to the Doctor Noguchi) Aizu Folklore Museum (You can buy souvenirs from Aizu) Kitashiobara-mura ・General Souvenirs・ Michi no Eki Ura-Bandai (There is a market where you can buy specialty items) Bandai-machi, Aizu Wakamatsu City Kawahigashi Region ・General Souvenirs ・ Nisshinkan Aizu Han School (You can buy souvenirs) Aizu Mura Park (You can have a bite to eat and buy gifts) Michi-no-eki Bandai (Inside there is a restaurant and convenience store.) ・Sake・ SakaegawaShuzo “Yukkura” (You can do sake tasting and shopping) Kitakata City Shiokawa Region, Yugawa-mura, Aizu Wakamatsu City Kita Aizu Region ・General Souvenirs・ Kawabansho (This place displays and sells local specialty products) ・Sweets・ Naraya (This shop makes and sells the famous sweets Kokonoe) Aizu Misato-machi ・Pottery・ Aizu Hongo Pottery (There are many kilns here where pottery is made) Shimogo-machi ・General Souvenirs・ Shimogo Local Product Market (You can buy local products from Shimogo-machi)