Charming Antique Store Koedo Kawagoeya is a Showa Retro Haven

Charming Antique Store Koedo Kawagoeya is a Showa Retro Haven

Koedo Kawagoeya／Kawagoe, Saitama (Map)
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When plotting an escape from your everyday landscapes, all you have to do is feed your brain with the unfamiliar, and Kawagoe’s dainty antique store, Koedo Kawagoeya, allows you to do just so.

Breathing quietly on an alleyway that connects Kawagoe’s Old Warehouse Zone and Penny Candy Lane, this store houses a heavenly and hefty collection of colorfully playful retro collectibles from the Showa period. The splendid but rather random mixture of items are mainly items that were once owned by the owner Mr. Eichiro Yoda’s father, but is also a mixture of items that were brought by those who had originally hoped to freshen up their own homes. Ranging from random store banners to retro beer posters, toys that spark nostalgia, antique dishes, all the way to records from the 70s~80s with bold Katakana characters sprinkled all over them, you might even yearn for an entire makeover just with theuse of their items. In case that is what you wish for, you’ll be delighted to know that that is quite possible with their extremely generous price set. Dishes can be bought from 100 yen, posters at anywhere from 500 yen, and a popcorn machine for just 200 yen (just in case you don’t want to pop them in the microwave anymore). And for those who are content with soaking up the nostalgic atmosphere the store provokes, you can sip on coffee or choose a light appetizer at their cafe space in the back.

While you either plan a makeover to revitalize your surroundings or take a charming rest stop, another experience they offer is dressing up in a traditional suit of armor called Kacchu. While it is common in Kawagoe to come across stores that dress you in a kimono, this is the only place that offers a Kacchu-dressing — so for an extra unique experience, this is the one you should opt for.

To feed your love for Showa-furniture, come and browse through the once-preciously owned items that have made its way to Koedo Kawagoeya. Isn’t it strange to think someone’s perception of old can be somebody else’s notion of new?