![Discover Japan leather's new sophistication in Toyooka & Kobe, where a history of craftsmanship lives on [Day 1]](https://ho-jl.com/images/2026/11/19c80a91-d9cf-4506-a80c-a6047f1225b1.webp)
Toyooka has carried on the craft of bag-making for 1,000 years, while the port city of Kobe is also known as a center of shoemaking. Noteworthy shops have opened in these areas, where sightseeing and shopping are a pleasure. Enjoy some shopping tourism for bags, shoes, and small goods that refine traditional techniques with a fresh sensibility.
From Kounotori Tajima Airport—made all the more appealing by JAL's revamped domestic fares and subsidy programs from the cities and towns of Tajima—head to Toyooka. Day 1 takes in popular shops and the factory of a leading company, followed by a stay at a retro auberge.
The flagship shop of “Atelier nuu,” a factory brand from Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture. Rather than following the conventional cycle of launching new products every season, its lineup is a timeless collection made to be used and loved for years.
SHOP INFO
▼ Tour the factory of a leading company with a global reach
A leading company with a global presence, highly regarded for its technical capabilities in Japan and abroad. Responding to changing times, it develops and manufactures bags with a sensibility unique to Japan and know-how unique to Toyooka—carefully assessing needs, spotting challenges, and working to solve them.
▼ A superb soba lunch at a renowned Toyooka restaurant
This renowned restaurant earned a place in a web media outlet's “top soba restaurants” ranking (No. 1 in Hyogo Prefecture) and enjoys wide support, not just among soba lovers. Along with the classic tempura soba, refreshing options such as chilled soba are also popular.
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▼ Refresh yourself with great coffee
A café known for its delicious house-roasted specialty coffee. It also sells original baked goods and jams, and its sodas made with seasonal fruit jams, fruit punch, and coffee jelly parfait are superb. Takeout available.
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▼ A gallery-like atelier and shop
An atelier and shop set in a renovated 90-year-old building that once housed a long-established traditional Japanese restaurant (ryotei). The highlight is its vividly colored leather bags, made without stitching and accented with neatly set rivets.
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▼ Supporting creators and showcasing their work!
This creative hub, complete with ateliers and shops, opened in June 2022. It supports creators' freedom to create and sells works full of individuality. Its library of fashion books gathered from around the world is also worth a look.
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▼ The main street of Toyooka, the city of bags
Launched in March 2005 with the aim of “revitalizing local industry and the shopping street.” Besides bag retailers, it is home to many bag-related shops offering repairs, cleaning, and more. Don't miss its photo spots, such as a bag vending machine—a rarity even worldwide—and art objects!
▼ A specialty store where you can also join a workshop
A hub facility dedicated to bags, Toyooka's local industry. It houses a specialty store stocked with a wide range of products from the regional brand “Toyooka Kaban” (Toyooka bags), along with a school. Workshops where you can try making small leather goods and mini bags began in November 2023.
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▼ Retro moments at an auberge that is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property
Housed in a superb building that is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property, this six-room auberge lets you fully savor its retro atmosphere.
