1. Iwami Ginzan Gungendo

Gotenzeki is one of the five former weir (irrigation canals) areas in Yamagata City.
It was used to carry agricultural and domestic-use water for over 400 years, and part of Gotenzeki also flowed to the moat of the Yamagata Castle.

The area was redeveloped in 2010 utilizing the old-fashioned masonry canal and was renamed Nanokamachi Gotenzeki, now a place of relaxation for citizens and tourists.

At the far end of the Gotenzeki area is located the Iwami Ginzan Gungondo Yamagata Gotenzeki branch introduces here.

Gungondo is run by the Iwami Ginzan Lifestyle Culture Research Institute Co., Ltd. headquartered in Oda City, Shimane Prefecture.
Based in Omori Town, which has a population of 400 people, it is a company that proposes clothing, food, living, and beauty, all which are indispensable to our lives.
They have shops in department stores all over the country, so I think some of you may have used their products before.
This time, we asked the store manager, Mr. Nagata, about recommended products.
Please make use of this information.

2. Exterior of the shop

Here is the appearance of the shop found at the back of the Gotenzeki area.

At first glance, it looks like the Classic Café renovated warehouse introduced in the 4th article of the Gotenzeki special feature.
And that is right, in fact, Gungondo too is a shop in one of Iwabuchi Tea House’s renovated warehouses.
Combined with the appearance and location of the warehouse, it has a hideaway atmosphere among the shops found in the Gotenzeki area. (^-^)

3. Inside the shop

When you pass through the noren curtain, you will be greeted by the daily necessities area.

Tableware, incense, and seasonings that look good on your body are lined up.

The shelves were built and the products were arranged in a sophisticated manner, and it was so beautiful that it felt good to see (^-^).
I really want to learn how to do this (^^;)
All the products are attractive, but I personally recommend the cute accessories.
Please take a look at them (^-^)

From the daily necessities area, climb several stone steps into the warehouse! !! !!

The interior of the renovated warehouse has a high ceiling, exposed beams and Japanese antique product shelves to create a unique and calm atmosphere.
In a spacious space, miscellaneous goods and cosmetics are lined up, centering on clothes.

Gungondo is a brand with the concept of “living with roots”, so the products with calm colors were impressive.
It seems that many of the customers are women in their 40s and 50s, but I felt that even those in their 20s and 30s would bring out “unusual charm” (^-^).

As an aside, if you go deeper into the warehouse, you will be able to meet a medaka fish, which is rarely seen these days.

Most of the Gungondo brnaches have one as it is said that they want people who come to the store to feel healing.
It made me feel nostalgic (^-^)

 

4. Three Recommended Products from Gungondo

We asked the manager, Nagata-san, about three recommended products!

① Indigo dye

The first recommended product of Gungondo is indigo dye.
It is a discerning gem using original fabrics.

Among the indigo-dyed products, we especially recommend these indigo-dyed bamboo sandals.

It is a product that was born in cooperation with Karube Sosho of Sagae City.
These sandals are a unique mixture of indigo, bamboo skin, and traditional Japanese techniques.
The bamboo skin is carefully and strongly knitted by craftsmen to be used for indoors but also a little outdoors.
The more you use the indigo-dyed fabric, the more it will gain taste, so you can enjoy aging it just like a leather wallet.

② Satoyama palette

Satoyama plants that are familiar to residents of Omori Town.
The beginning of the Satoyama Palette was to collect colors from these plants and dye clothes with them.
The various colors are created by a technology called “botanical die.”
It is a technique to supplement the color intensity by adding a small amount of chemical dye to the pigments of plants collected in Satoyama.

It’s soft to the touch, and it seems that you can wear it all year round regardless of the season with just one piece (^-^)

Another product related to Satoyama is tea that is kind to the body. It is a true “body-feeling village tea.”

The recommended situation for the tea that is a blend of selected ingredients centered on Shimane plants:
・ as a meal companion
・ for a refreshing feeling
・ for a relaxing time at night
・ for daily warmth with hot tea
・ for motivation
・ after meals or with sweets
・ for a leisurely tea time
・ when you want to relax
etc.

That’s right, that is, it’s an almighty tea that suits any situation (^-^)
Please select according to your mood and physical condition.

③ MeDu

Iwami Ginzan in Omori Town has been selected as a World Heritage Site for its historic value and cultural landscape.
It is said that it produced about one-third of the world’s silver at its peak.

The relationship between the silver mine and the plums is deep, and it is said that the miners working in the mine tunnels applied plum meat to their persimmon astringent masks to protect themselves from dust and mineral poisons.
The MeDu brand was born with the desire to utilize its excellent usefulness in creating healthy “self-reliant skin.”

MeDu’s basic cosmetics do not contain fragrances, so they are recommended for people with skin problems.
Hand cream is especially popular and can also be used as a nail cream.
I also tried it, but it was easy to stretch and not sticky, and it felt like it would fit in my hand.
In this age when there are many opportunities to disinfect hands with alcohol, many people suffer from rough hands, so I think that it will be appreciated as a gift (^-^)

5. Affiliated Parking

You will receive 30 minutes of free parking for purchases over 5,000 yen and 1 hour for purchases over 10,000 yen.

・ Nanokamachi Parking Plaza 2
・ Repark Yamagata Nanokamachi Odori
・ Yamagata Prefectural Parking Lot
・ Eigyokudo Parking Lot
・ Yamagata City Chuo Parking Lot
・ Az Parking Lot
・ TAN6 Parking Lot
・ N-GATE Parking Lot
・ Yamagata City Kasumi Parking Lot
・ Yamagata City Otemachi Parking Lot
・ Needs Bldg. Parking
・ Kajo Central Parking
・ NANA YT Park 24
・ Times (limited to Yamagata area)

[Fees applying]
・ Parking lot in front of Saiseikan, Yamagata City
・ Yoshida Parking
・ Yamagata Station East Exit Transportation Center Parking Lot

 

6. Finally

In the future, it is said that they will disseminate the charm of Omori Town and take on the challenge of making efforts so that people come visit.
There is also a plan to install a monitor in the store to convey the scenery and charm of Omori.
It would be nice to realize it at the Gotenzeki branch. (^-^)

Finally, I received a message from the shop manager, Nagata-san.

“It’s a shop, but I hope you can relax.
The Gotenzeki branch is particularly quaint, so please feel free to drop by.”