Hirosaki general store "bambooforest" (Daikanmachi, Hirosaki City) will celebrate its first anniversary on February 8th.

With the concept of "enjoying both children and adults together", the store offers wooden toys for children and outdoor products that can be used in everyday life. Miki Takemori, the owner of the store, said, “I had a dream to have a roadside store for a long time. I decided without hesitation because I knew there was an empty store with good conditions.”

“I've always liked playing outside the house since I was a kid,” said Takemori, who once again confirmed the fun of playing outdoors at an outdoor event in Tokyo. Established "bamboo forest" in 2010 to work in the "playground". It does not have a physical store, and is mainly active in opening stores for online shops and outdoor events in the Kanto region. He also started a wholesale business of German toys and gardening miscellaneous goods, and returned to his local Hirosaki in 2012, and set up a real store on the second floor of the shopping district “Rene's Avenue” (Hirosaki City, Dote Town).

Moved from 2014 to the current store. Since the inside of the store can be seen from the outside, “the customer base has expanded. Many people stop and worry about it,” says Takemori. "The shelves inside the store have sharpened corners, and the paint used for the interior is the same as that used in the nursery school," he said, showing the particularity of a store that also handles toys for children.

From the end of last year to January 13th, the "Apple Tree Monozukuri Exhibition" will be held in the store. The event, which exhibited and sold miscellaneous goods made from apple trees, attracted much attention as it was featured in local news programs and magazines. “We will continue to plan events that introduce Tsugaru's things,” says Takemori.

Business hours are from 11:00 to 19:00. Closed on Thursdays and the first and third Wednesdays.