Misuyabari sewing needles — Local services in Kyoto

This store was one of the highlights of my trip to Kyoto. Difficult to find, the Sanjo Metaingai appears to be built around it, as it has been there for around 400 years. Go through this little hallway in the shopping arcade, and you will suddenly emerge in a beautiful garden. The shop owner told me he is the 18th generation of sewing needle merchants there. He is very personable and knowledgeable and encouraged me to pick up the sewing needles before deciding. There are quilting needles, embroidery needles, sashiko needles, dressmaking needles, and more. Just ask for what you want to see, and he'll give you options. There are also pincushions and tiny pinhead figurines of animals sculptured by a local artist. My experience was so pleasant and the needles I bought are...

I think my favourite shop in Kyoto hands down. It's a little hidden in a courtyard, but Google location is pretty accurate.

The shopping area is very nice, less frantic than Kawaramachi, has a roof for a rainy day, very appealing looking cafes and tea shops, many other nice shops like Musubi and Kyukyodo.

If you do any craft you need needles for, do visit this beautiful little shop where you can buy needles for all sorts of craft, and a few accessories and yarn.

The shop setup is so lovely, in a little garden where you can sit and take a break. I think the needles are high quality and hand made, and not expensive given the quality.

Also, they had the cutest animal shaped pins I have never seen anywhere else.

Really...

This place isn’t too hard to find as long as you know to look for it! You can glimpse a little bit of the garden from the main shopping street. The garden is a beautiful thing to find right in the middle of a shopping street, and the store itself is equally wonderful. The owner is very friendly, attentive, and helpful. He immediately showed me the right needles for cross stitching once I told him that’s what I did. I love the history behind the store and its needles, but also the craftsmanship behind all the notions sold here is so obviously excellent. I really had to hold myself back from buying too much! In addition to the needles I bought, I did get a beautiful little...