Japan has abundant forests and many different kind of tree so that developing a broad range of woodcraft was a quite natural development for Japan. Japan has a very strong culture of using wood including house construction.  As a material, Japanese wood has an unmatched warmth and responsiveness, and the large number of traditional woodcrafts it has inspired have found a corresponding special place in the Japanese heart. 

NIHON ICHIBAN opened its first brick and mortar shop at lake Ashinoko in Hakone.

The shop offers a selection of products from the online shop allowing customers to experience authentic Japanese craft and design product. The line-up also includes a wide range of ume plum products from NIHON ICHIBAN parent company's Chinriu Honten.

The Hakone shop offers tax free shopping and a free WiFi service.

Hakone wood mosaic refers to a type of wood marquetry from Hakone in the Kanagawa Prefecture. The Hakone zaiku, or Hakone marquetry has been produced in the region for hundred of year, it is a very old tradition of woodcraft in Japan.