Our First Visit to Sunny Sunday in 2017

Today we would love to share our exciting trip to Sunny Sunday.  Firstly, who is Sunny Sunday? Well, Sunny Sunday is a small stationery and zakka shop in Hitachiota city in Ibaraki prefecture, about 2.5 hours by train or car from Tokyo.  If you are traveling by train, we recommend taking an express train from JR Ueno station to JR Mito station and then change the train for JR Hitachiota station (JR Suigun Line).  On the way from the station to the shop, you need to go up a sloping road, so if you have a big carry bag or are with a stroller, you may want to take a taxi from the station.  If by car, there is a little free parking near the shop (2 cars in front of the shop and 5 cars at the back of the shop).

This is their beautiful warehouse style shop. 

Inside the shop, there are so many stationery, zakka items, snacks and clothes.



Huge section for washi tapes - Washi Tape Paradise!





Sunny Sunday original washi tape section.  I totally forgot that I already ordered these tapes for our shop which were supposed to arrive in one week after this trip and bought these tapes for myself.  I was surely one happy customer there, not a stationery shop owner. Haha.


It was such a pleasure to finally meet the owner of Sunny Sunday in person.  I was amazed that he runs this beautiful shop alone and also designs all the Sunny Sunday original washi tapes and paper items.  I asked why he started designing original washi tapes, and he said he started it when some regular customers told him that they couldn't find washi tapes they really want - something vintage and good for collage.  His original washi tapes born in this little shop have become very popular not only in Japan but also in many countries!

He support local artists, and you can find lots of beautiful and unique handmade accessories and zakka items in the shop.  He also does collaboration with local artists for his original washi tapes, and one of our favorite is with a famous eraser stamp artist HUTTE who is also from Ibaraki prefecture.  Her detailed plant design is so gorgeous, and I am sure you will love it!

In this shop, you feel love and care the owner puts into his shop.  You can easily spend long time in the shop.  If you are visiting this shop with your boyfriend or husband who has absolutely no interest in stationery like my husband and are worried to make him wait too long, don't worry.  There is a little rest area with chairs just across the street, so you can buy him some snacks from Sunny Sunday and kindly offer him to wait there which I did. :D

After fun shopping, please don't forget to visit Cafe+1 only few minutes walk from Sunny Sunday.  It is a very cozy atmosphere cafe where you can enjoy organic food and sweets.  There is also a floor area, too.


My recommendation is cheese soba noodle (left).  They offer in half size as well, so if you are going there with children, they may take a half size.

 
Set menu to go with noodles.  I had A (vegetable plate) for additional 380yen (US$3.80).  There are coffee, tea, iced coffee, iced tea, orange juice etc for additional 200yen (US$2).

 Happy girl with vegetable plate. :)

 
This cheese soba noodle was so tasty!!  It comes with rice, and after eating noodles, you put rice in the soup which was really delicious!

If you are visiting Tokyo and wishing to do a little day trip to a little outside Tokyo, visiting Sunny Sunday is ideal!  I hope this article encourages you to visit Japan and Sunny Sunday one day!

By the way, all Sunny Sunday original washi tapes and paper items are available in our shop HERE.  We have some Sunny Sunday shop cards, so if you would like one to be included in your order, please let us know in the note at the time of check out.  Thank you!

Also if you need any help (more info about their shop etc), please feel free to contact me.  They only accept inquiry in Japanese language, but I am happy to help you if you need any help!

Best wishes,
Ayako

**Location details**
Sunny Sunday (language: Japanese only)
2395-2 Higashiichicho
Hitashiota-shi Ibaraki-ken
313-0051 JAPAN
TEL: 0294-72-3025
OPEN 10:00 to 19:00 (it can be changed, please check their Instagram)
CLOSE on Thursdays (it can be changed, please check their Instagram)

Cafe+1 (language: Japanese only)
2288 Higashiichicho
Hitashiota-shi Ibaraki-ken
313-0051 JAPAN
TEL: 0294-72-8860
OPEN: 11:00〜17:00/ Sunday & Public holiday:11:00〜15:00（LO 14:30）
CLOSE：Thursdays and 1st Wednesday and 3rd Sunday