Murata Japanese Tableware & Gifts

Traditional designed kitchenware, plates, tea cups etc. Hand crafted (no two are alike). The store is well organized and has a wide selection of items. Come back frequently as stuff is always discounted. I love the cute Japanese bunny rabbit themed items (I like anything rabbit related). Prices were decent and the customer service was awesome.

There is a nice variety of tableware, clothing, wrapping paper and other items in this store with contemporary and traditional art and patterns. The shop is small, but not cramped. The service is pleasant and very helpful.

If you need to buy a yukata or just some cute, authentic Japanese items, this is the place to go. Everything in the store has traditional design on it which is the fun part! They have Traditional Japanese garments (Yukatas: Summer version of Kimonos for Men and Women), accessories to go with the yukatas, Japanese style table ware, bento boxes (lucnh boxes), hair accessories, etc. I can spend a good hour in the store and still be quite amused. Not that I’m easily amused!
My adventure that brought me to Murata started when my friends needed to buy an obi for their yukata. I began my search online. I wanted to compare prices and what not. I found a website that sold specifically Japanese traditional wear, but with shipping ontop and the uncertainty of quality and shades of colors and patterns, it got me to look locally. I browsed online again to look for a store in Vancouver that sells traditional Japanese items (I went to Unilocal first haha) and I ended up being reminded about Murata. Seeing that this is the only store in Vancouver that sells traditional Japanese wear, I decided to go for it. My friends and I made our way to Murata and we found exactly what we wanted at a even lower price than the ones from the online website. The store lady even taught us how to put it on too!
We had a good conversation with the store lady and found out that we were all planning to go to the Powell Street Festival the next day. She managed to find us at the festival to make sure we didn’t have any problems with our yukatas.
I totally recommend buying your yukatas from Murata. Not only is the service stellar, but a yukata is something special, and something that people usually keep for generations, so make sure to test out in person and also buying locally is an economically sound choice (at least for Yukatas. trust me, for Vancouverites (and you need it shipped), I did the math already. Save yourself the hassle)

If you are looking for a gift for a wedding or housewarming, you’d do well to come to Murata where they carry a typically elegant selection of Japanese tableware such as dishes, teasets and Japanese fabrics. Some of what you will find here is fairly «typical» looking, but there are always items here that are very artistic and interesting. This is definitely worth the stop if you’re on the hunt for a gift that no one else will bring to the party.