Classiky

Far away from the jostle of Osaka, and farther still from the constant whirr of Tokyo, you can find a small coastal town with a canal-side shop named Classiky. Situated in the idyllic town of Kurashiki (whence it derives its name), Classiky operates in a repurposed storehouse. The place bursts with personality: there’s a gallery space that shows the work of local artists and writers, and a room for workshops; and most importantly, every surface is covered with Classiky’s own delightful products.

Many of their items are unpretentious in character. Visitors might be charmed by the simplicity a solid Classiky wooden box, or a thick porcelain dish. Other products, bearing hand-drawn, naïve portraits of bears and whales, give liveliness to the collection. A certain fondness for cats slinks through their catalogue. Surfaces are left with minimal coatings, and the website notes simply that ‘even shortcomings are lovely and appealing’.