Vol.4 "Kamimura Liquor Store" - a heartwarming and friendly space filled with creativity and fun

This time, we spoke with Mr. Kamimura, the owner of Kamimura Liquor Store, located in the shopping district in front of Shibusawa Station on the Odakyu Line in Hadano, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Kamimura Liquor Store, a 3-minute walk from Shibusawa Station

-What kind of store is Kamimura Liquor Store?

We've been operating our store in front of Shibusawa Station for 68 years, and I'm the second generation owner. I inherited the liquor store from the first generation, and while the format and style of the store have changed over the years, we've continued to operate to this day. Currently, we sell sake and authentic shochu, primarily from Kanagawa Prefecture. Three years ago, we took on a new challenge by creating a corner bar in our store, making effective use of a section of the store. There weren't many places in the area where people could stop by for a quick drink or for tourists to have lunch, so we thought we'd create a space in our store where people could stop by for a drink and relax. We've been gradually building a standing bar, using the shelves where we previously displayed our alcohol and handmade barriers to create a counter. It's been very well received, and we've become a favorite with many people, including businessmen, hikers, and, more recently, young women who come to eat their bento lunches. Locals now call us "Kamimura Drinking."

A relaxing place where local people and tourists from the Hadano area can casually drop in for a drink

- How do you feel about the changes in the town, the local people, and your relationships with visitors to the area?

I was born and raised in Hadano. Since then, I have witnessed the changes in Hadano. Fifty years ago, the shopping district was so lively that the roads were overflowing with people. At the funerals of my ancestors, mourners would line up all the way to the other side of the road. Tobacco cultivation was also thriving in this area, and since 1948, the Tobacco Festival has been held, boasting the largest number of stalls in the country. On festival days, so many people would come from outside the city and prefecture that it was impossible to move, making the area so crowded with people.

Hadano 50 years ago was overflowing with people, with long lines forming to pay their respects.

However, due to the spread of COVID-19, various events have been canceled. Many stores in the shopping district have closed, leaving it deserted. Meanwhile, an increasing number of people who use Shibusawa Station for hiking and trekking stop by our shop in search of souvenirs and a corner bar. We introduce these people to the fishmongers and butchers in the shopping district, so they can enjoy fresh sashimi and freshly prepared side dishes. We also sell CDs and records from Hadano's record stores. Everyone enjoys listening to nostalgic singers and songs while drinking, and many people end up buying quite a lot (laughs). Rather than just selling alcohol because we're a liquor store, we hope to bring the community together and explore diverse ways to liven things up together.

A relaxing spot for people who have bought snacks from the fishmongers and butchers in the shopping arcade in front of the station.

- What do you think of Kanai Sake Brewery's sake as a local Kanagawa sake?

We have a long relationship with Kanai Sake Brewery, and have been selling their sake for a long time as the only local sake in Hadano City, Kanagawa Prefecture. As Hadano residents, we want to support local sake, and I personally enjoy it and drink it for an evening drink, so I recommend it to my customers. The Junmai sake with the name "Hadano" in it is especially popular among tourists. Another popular sake is "Todakayama," named after a mountain in the area. Even at our corner bar, the drinks flow so well that some customers end up downing two or three bottles. As a local sake brewery, we hope you will continue to work hard at brewing sake that will please everyone.

A wide variety of local sake from Kanagawa Prefecture, mainly from Kanai Sake Brewery, is on display.

"Kamimura Liquor Store" store information

We ship sake, authentic shochu, wine, whiskey, liqueurs (such as plum wine), food, seasonings, and more nationwide.

Store name: Kamimura Liquor Store (Kamimura Co., Ltd.)
Address: 1-1-13 Magarimatsu, Hadano City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Contact: 0463-88-0017
Business hours: 9:00-20:30
Sundays only 9:30-20:00
Closed: Wednesdays Access: 3 minutes walk from Shibusawa Station on the Odakyu Line
Click here for the website