The Ichiryudo Building is a multi-purpose building that was born in Renjaku-dori, the castle town of Okazaki. It is a building that renovated the former "Toho Gas Renjaku Showroom Building". On the first floor, there is the hand-baked senbei shop Ichiryudo, which has been loved for over 60 years, and the café Ichiryudo Tea Room. On the second floor is the Ichiryudo Reading Room, which features a unique selection. On the 3rd and 4th floors, there is an interior shop "FILT."

We would like to introduce the appeal of the Ichiryudo Building, which has become a hub of local culture, such as holding a jazz café on the last Saturday of every month.

We want to liven up our local Okazaki with our own hands

Ichiryudo at the time of its founding

First, let me tell you a little about the story of the birth of the Ichiryudo Building. It all started about six years ago, around 2005, when a huge shopping mall was built in the suburbs of Okazaki City, and the shopping district had lost its vitality. So Akihiro Hatazoe from Okazaki was asked by his uncle, who runs Ichiryudo, the family business on his mother's side, if he could do something to give Ichiryudo a boost. Mr. Hatazoe called on a classmate from high school, and a plan to renovate the building was born, hoping that by revitalizing the store, the shopping district would be revitalized, even if only a little.

The entrance to the current Ichiryudo Building. Look for the raccoon signboard.

A group of architects, copywriters, and others from various professions came together to start planning the building. In addition to the renovation of the building, rebranding of the rice cracker shop, development of products and graphic tools, etc. were done sequentially.

The key to renovation is "how to revitalize a rundown building while successfully retaining the good things of the past?" The building was designed by architect Setsuko Sakakibara, a friend of Mr. Hatazoe.

Old-fashioned hand-baked senbei "Ichiryudo"

A table made from logs. There are many hand-baked rice crackers such as Yahagi Senbei and Castella Senbei.

Ichiryu-do was opened in 1955 by the first generation as a store for hand-baked rice crackers. Today, the second generation has taken over the business and continues to preserve the traditional hand-baked method. The rice crackers baked slowly one by one are crispy and melt in your mouth. The day of the interview was "Kuri no Hi" (day of chestnuts). Kuri-Senbei are sold only on the days falling on the 2nd and 7th of every month. I had one myself, and it was a rice cracker with a texture I had never had before, with the aroma of chestnuts spreading softly.

The original Tanuki (raccoon) cans are made by hand one by one at Kato Seisakusho, which has been in business for 110 years. It is also recommended as a souvenir.

[Ichiryudo]
Address: 3-18 Renjakudori, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture Ichiryudo Building 1F
Business hours: 9:00-18:00 (until 22:00 on the last Saturday of every month)
Regular holiday: Wednesday + last Thursday of every month
https://www.yahaghisenbei.com/
The rice crackers are also sold on the website.

"Ichiryudo Tea Room" where you can taste coffee that goes well with rice crackers

A cafe next to Ichiryudo. This is a shop where you can enjoy hand drip coffee that goes well with rice crackers. Specialty coffee that is particular about the production area and quality is hand-dripped one by one after receiving an order. To-go is also possible, and beans and drip bags are sold.

The chairs by Aalto and the lighting by Yamagiwa used in the cafeteria were inherited when "Kantera", a café located in the basement of the Dai-Nagoya Building before the rebuilding, closed. The table is an original made by NAUT, an architectural office and furniture designer in Nagoya who designed the previous store. These memorable interiors have been finished with the desire to make them stand out.

Ichiryudo's special ogura toast (450 yen), today's coffee (500 yen)

Ichiryudo's hidden specialty, "Ichiryudo Special Ogura Toast (red bean paste toast)". For Ogura toast, Tokachi's original red bean paste is made with just the right amount of seasoning, not too sweet. The bread, butter, and red bean paste are all additive-free and do not use chemical seasonings. Just like the rice crackers, there are snacks on the menu that make the most of the flavor of the ingredients.

[Ichiryudo Tea Room]
Address: 3-18 Renjakudori, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture Ichiryudo Building 1F
Business hours: 9:00-18:00 (until 22:00 on the last Saturday of every month)
Regular holiday: Wednesday + last Thursday of every month
https://www.yahaghisenbei.com/

Climb the stairs to the 2nd floor

Between the rice cracker shop and the coffee shop is a skeleton staircase as shown in the photo. Climbing this staircase leads to the "Ichiryudo Reading Room".

2F: Ichiryudo reading room, a reading space with a unique selection

Various Nordic chairs such as "HAY" are lined up. It's fun to find your favorite one.

The second floor is an attractive reading room with its own unique selection. There are approximately 2,500 manga mainly of the subculture type, as well as books and magazines on six themes: music, architecture and design, art, literature and thought, travel, and food and lifestyle. The luxurious space is lined with Scandinavian chairs. These chairs were selected by FILT., an interior store on the third floor.

Concrete floor with work instructions at the time of completion

This is a mark on the concrete floor of the second floor. The work instructions found during the renovation at the time of completion were utilized as they were, because they were surprisingly cool. The theme of "how to revitalize a rundown building while preserving the good things of the past?" This theme is also reflected in these parts of the building.

Calligraphy classes are held on the 1st through 4th Friday evenings. The content is useful in daily life, ranging from basic block letters to practicing names using a fine brush. The tuition is 4,000 yen for four times a month (3,500 yen for junior high school students and younger). A trial course is also available for 1,000 yen per session.

[Ichiryudo Reading Room]
Address: 3-18 Renjakudori, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture Ichiryudo Building 1F
Business hours: 9:00-18:00 (until 22:00 on the last Saturday of every month)
Regular holiday: Wednesday + last Thursday of every month
Usage fee: 400 yen for 1 hour (200 yen for 30 minutes thereafter) *Private rental is negotiable
https://www.yahaghisenbei.com/

3F, 4F: [Moved] Interior shop "FILT."

The third and fourth floors are occupied by the interior shop FILT. The charm of FILT. lies in its ability to coordinate not only furniture, but also the entire space, by taking the time to meet with each individual customer. Although it has only been open for about a year, this popular store is steadily gaining fans by taking charge of coordinating stores and beauty salons.

▼Click here for an interview with FILT.
https://life-designs.jp/webmagazine/filt/

Original cabinet F32 ¥292,000 (+ tax)

Showcase 12,960 each (tax included)

J39 (beach material, soap finish) 72,000 yen (+ tax) / PP68 (beach material, soap finish) 99,000 yen (+ tax)

[FILT.]
https://www.filt-interior.com/

The renovation of the building began with the hope that "by revitalizing the stores, we can revitalize the shopping district even if only a little". Today, the building has become a place where people gather for various events, such as jazz cafes and calligraphy classes. We look forward to the future of the Ichiryudo Building.

*Information as of 2018. Please check the official website for business hours, regular holidays, etc.