Muto Shop

[A shop filled with love for Yanagawa: Special hand towels created by the owner]

Near the shop is the Yanagawa Castle Hori Water Gate, one of the tourist attractions in Yanagawa. It was once a water gate used to protect the castle from the moat, but now it is a place where many boats pass by as the entrance to Yanagawa where people enjoy river rafting. On the day of our visit, boats carrying tourists passed through the water gate amidst the cherry blossoms in full bloom. This shop, which opened in March 2011 after renovating an office building, has a nostalgic atmosphere. “When you think of sightseeing in Yanagawa, you think of river rafting, but it’s also fun to walk there. Please stop by on your way out,” says the shop manager.

The cafe corner serves coffee brewed with a coffee press. There is also a full menu of herbal teas and lattes. The manager used to work selling coffee beans in Okawa City, but had a desire to open a shop that could convey the charms of Yanagawa. The current shop is the embodiment of that dream. For that reason, the store is packed with miscellaneous goods and foods related to Yanagawa. In addition to Yanagawa specialties such as Mutsugoro Ramen and nori seaweed from the Ariake Sea, there are also many specialty goods.

The manager’s recommendation is a hand towel called “Suigou Yanagawa Handbook.” This hand towel was designed by the manager himself and features 13 things related to Yanagawa, such as Hakushu Kitahara and Mutsugoro. He says that anyone who can name all the pictures is “a Yanagawa lover.” This is a shop where you can slowly rediscover the charm of Yanagawa while enjoying a cup of tea.