Hon no Machi — Jimbocho Book Town Guide
Map · Shops · Food · Bookstores · Walk · Events · Articles · Series · News · Back issues · About · 日本語
Founded in 1879, Yamagataya Paper Shop in Jimbocho specializes in washi, traditional Japanese paper. Three years away from its 150th anniversary, the shop is kept by manager Yuko Taki, who married into the family of the fourth-generation owner and has looked after the store for more than 40 years. From affordable washi to handmade letter paper from all over Japan, photographer ELLI took a look. (Hon no Machi, April 2026 issue, “Photographer ELLI’s Town Walks” #11)
“You can’t make good washi without a river and clean water.”
— Yuko Taki, manager
For the 11th installment of ELLI’s series visiting Jimbocho shops, she went to Yamagataya Paper Shop, founded in 1879, and spoke with Yuko Taki, the owner’s wife and the shop’s manager.
A popular shop for beautiful washi and Japanese crafts
The shop: a nostalgic scent as you open the door
Open the door and you are wrapped in a nostalgic scent — and then comes a collection of washi so beautiful it takes your breath away.
Many customers come from overseas looking for washi. There is even an artist who comes from France once a year to buy in bulk and creates artworks from the shop’s paper.
Signature items: “Seasonal Fuji” postcards and tapestries
The tapestries also serve as product samples, and customers often ask for “this paper, please.”
The manager: Yuko Taki
“The places that grow kozo, the mulberry used to make washi, and the craftsmen who make the tools for washi-making are dwindling,” she says wistfully.
Almost every year, Ms. Taki travels to production areas around Japan to see the natural environment and visit the workshops where washi is made. Her goal at the time of the interview: “This year I want to go to Mino in Gifu.”
I was overwhelmed by the energy of Yuko, who connects actively with people in Japan and abroad and makes full use of the internet and AI to spread the appeal of washi more widely.
Shop information
Yamagataya Paper Shop
Address: 1-15-5 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-3221-7829
Founded: 1879
Closed: Sundays and national holidays
Nearest station: Jimbocho Station
▶Shop page (map and related articles) ▶View on Google Maps
*Address, phone and closing days are from the Hon no Machi member shop list (October 2026 issue). Please check with the shop before you visit.
Photographer ELLI’s Town Walks: all installments
▶See every installment and a map of the shops ELLI has visited on the series page
◀Previous: #10 Asanoya
▶Next: #12 Kissa Poupée
#1 Luncheon
#2 The Adirondack Café
#3 Hasebe
#4 Toyodaen & Daisen
#5 @Wonder
#6 Book House Cafe
#7 Kissa Hotaka
#8 Mamekobo
#9 Banuken
#10 Asanoya
#11 Yamagataya Paper Shop (this article)
#12 Kissa Poupée
#13 Ochanomizu Hotel Shoryukan
#14 Kanda Awahei
#15 Daiki Shoe Store
#16 Sakaiya Sports
#17 Fuji Record Sha
Eri Ito (ELLI)
Photographer. In Hon no Machi she writes the series “Photographer ELLI’s Town Walks,” visiting a shop in Kanda, Ochanomizu or Jimbocho every month.
This article introduces installment 11 of “Photographer ELLI’s Town Walks” (photos and text by Eri Ito), published in the April 2026 issue (Vol. 12) of Hon no Machi, the community salon magazine of Kanda, Ochanomizu and Jimbocho.
▶Read the April 2026 issue of Hon no Machi (PDF, in Japanese)
Founded in 1980, Hon no Machi brings you the latest from Book Town every month, together with Jimbocho’s bookstores, publishers, cafés and galleries.
▶Back issues of our series are being published on our note page (in Japanese)
日本語で読む — Read this article in Japanese