Kojiya Kura is built with concrete walls and a copper tile roof.
14:02 JST, June 24, 2024
KOSHIGAYA, Saitama — In Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture, not far from Koshigaya Station on the Tobu Isekai Line, along what was once the Nikko Kaido Road, a number of old buildings can be seen.
The buildings, which were formerly merchant houses and warehouses, retain the atmosphere of the city’s Edo period (1603-1868) when it flourished as a post station town.
Among them, Kojiya Kura is especially notable. The former warehouse has a unique exterior, with reinforced concrete walls showing a long history and a roof covered with copper tiles covered in teal.
A company that produced and sold miso, founded in the late Edo period, built the warehouse in the early years of the Showa era (1926-1989). However, after the miso maker closed its operations in 1958, the warehouse remained vacant for about sixty years.
The citizen group Kyu-Nikko Kaido Koshigaya-shuku wo Kangaeru Kai (“Old Nikko Kaido Road Koshigaya Interest Association”), which has been working to preserve the historic landscape around the former post station, is playing a leading role in utilizing old buildings in Koshigaya .
In 2020, the former warehouse was converted into the current structure, where a private library and a café offering various services operate daily.
When visiting Kojiya Kura, visitors may initially be surprised by the very thick entrance door. The metal door uses a rotary lock like those found in bank vaults, and there are apparently bricks packed into the door to make it very fireproof.
These features help visitors understand the building’s historical purpose, which was to store valuables and account books.
The library on the first floor contains approximately 1,200 books, including those for children. There are wooden chairs on the floor where visitors can sit and read for free for as long as they want. Visitors can also enjoy reading while enjoying a cup of coffee purchased from the neighboring café.
Michiko Toda, 57, brought books collecting dust at home to Kojiya Kura, and now runs the library and cafe.
Michiko Toda is seen in a private library with books she brought from her home.
Top: Miniature Chidori-uchiwa fans are hung as ornaments. Bottom: The second floor displays many sets of Hina-ningyo dolls donated by locals.
“This has become a place where strangers who come to read books start chatting and connecting with each other,” she said.
The second floor is used as a multi-purpose room, where needlework and yoga classes are given.
The miniature Chidori-uchiwa fans displayed as ornaments were made by students in the classes. The fans are traditional handicrafts made in Koshigaya and create a refreshingly cool atmosphere.
There are also sets of Hina-ningyo dolls on display, donated by local residents, giving the space an antique Japanese aesthetic.
“Old buildings have the power to make people feel nostalgic and draw them here. I want to use this building with care, so that I can welcome as many people as possible,” said Toda.
***
Kojiya Kura
Address: 3-29 Koshigaya Honcho, Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture
Access: A 15-minute walk from the east exit of Koshigaya Station on the Tobu Isesaki Line
Opening hours: The private library and café are open on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm. A different owner operates the café every second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
