These days, stores and even markets are filled with cheap, manufactured and mass-produced products. It's no wonder that there appears to be a bit of a rebellious demand for original handcrafted goods. This weekend, Yokohama hosts one of the biggest craft fairs in Japan, offering a wide range of handmade items from interior goods, stationery and art to fashion, kids toys and pet accessories.
The Yokohama Handmade Marche, which debuted last year, takes place at Yokohama Pacifico — a convention center in Minatomirai of Yokohama's Nishi Ward. More than 30,000 items will be featured and available for purchase across two sections — a handmade goods area and a food area.
The food section includes jams, sweets and more, while items such as candles, jewelry, bags and even robots — all hand crafted by artists from various regions in Japan — can be found in the goods section. It's a great place to find unusual and sometimes cross-cultural ideas and designs, such as original items made from African textiles.
Visitors of all ages can also participate in a number of workshops, including ones on creating chalk art, paper collaging, designing accessories and customizing items such as umbrellas.
The Yokohama Handmade Marche takes place on June 7 and 8 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the B and C halls of the Pacifico Yokohama convention complex, near Minatomirai Station. Tickets are ¥700 per day in advance (available till Friday) or ¥1,000 at the door. Elementary school and younger children can participate for free. Reservations are required for workshops, which are held on both days and cost from ¥1,000 to ¥3,500. For more information, call 0120-75-8815 or visit handmade-marche.jp.
