KIRI JAPAN DESIGN STORE — Local services in Tokyo

🍶 A Frank Look at an Artisan Pottery Shop

This shop is clearly a passion project driven by an owner who deeply admires the spirit of the shokunin (artisan). The focus here is on unique, one-of-a-kind pieces, specifically Aritayaki and Minoyaki—this is a huge draw for serious pottery enthusiasts.

The fact that the owner directly commissions their concepts for exclusive products is fantastic and translates into pottery that you genuinely won't find anywhere else.

A major highlight of the visit was the staff's willingness to let me handle the products. Being able to physically touch the handmade pieces immediately conveys their special quality—you can truly feel the softness of the shape and the unique hand-worked design. This tactile experience is a huge differentiator from shops that keep everything behind glass.

The Verdict: This is more than just tableware; these pieces feel like a genuine upgrade to the mealtime experience. They perfectly embody the concept of Washoku no Bi (the beauty of Japanese food culture).

A Quick Note: My only uncertainty is the photo policy. I wasn't clear if taking pictures inside was restricted. If they want to share the beauty of these unique artisan pieces, a clear, encouraging photo policy might help spread the word! (Cons would be...

During a recent trip to Japan, I was flying out of Haneda and wanted to pick up a cool souvenir to take home to the U.S. I walked into Kiri and was blown away by the unique, handcrafted traditional sake sets.

Yuta was very knowledgeable and patient as my family and I checked out multiple products. He even took the time to connect with us about our hometown in southern Japan, and shared with us that he enjoys the handmade sake items in Saga and the Kyushu area.

One of the coolest parts of our experience in the store was when he brought out a box containing handmade sake cups that were hundreds of years old. He took the time to show us some highlights and answered any questions we had. The cups and sets were fairly priced, especially since they were handmade and painted. Eventually, I chose a more unique handmade sake set rather than an antique, traditional one (photos attached). Yuta wrapped and packed my sake set carefully to ensure safe delivery back to the U.S. I highly recommend this unique gift shop and I hope you’re able to find a sake set to bring...

2025: UPDATE! Returned to Kiri and bought a set of cups. Best store in Haneda airport. I will be coming back on my next trip to Japan!

2023: I went to this store in the airport on my last day in Japan. It was a great experience. Yuta was very friendly and helpful, he showed us several different products and was patient. We bought a few things here which he packaged carefully and made it home safely...