What comes to mind when you hear the word "bookstore"? Deepen your knowledge, cultivate your imagination, and sometimes give you the strength to live. Many people may imagine a place filled with shelves full of books that bring such richness.

In the Higashi Ward area of Sapporo, there is a local bookstore that offers a way to "encounter stories" in a slightly different way than the conventional image. This is Hishigata Bunko, which opened in 2015 in a corner of the long-established bookstore Daiya Shobo.

We asked Sonoka Tanio, who joined Diamond Bookstore when it was first established and now serves as the store manager, connecting customers with many stories every day, about the appeal of the store.

Tanio-san used to work in planning and running events in Sapporo, and also held market events. "I wanted to deliver more 'new things for customers' and 'things that are filled with emotion.' That's when I was approached by an acquaintance and said, 'Yes, please,' and that's how it all began," he recalls of when he joined the project.

Redefining our role as a "town bookstore"

The publishing industry continues to face great challenges as times change. As customer numbers decline at bookstores that have roots in the town, Daiya Shobo has been searching for its ideal form as a "town bookstore" in the future.

"First of all, we want people to visit this space," the project members discussed, and little by little the concept of "a bookstore where you can encounter stories" became firmly established.

"We want to create a place where people can feel fun and excited just by coming here." In one corner of the bookstore, we set up "Hishigata Bunko," a space that delivers value that goes beyond the framework of "books."

A space decorated with "stories that evoke the local culture"

The shelves are divided into a diamond shape and are lined with books of a different style from those available at Daiya Shobo, as well as items that will brighten your life, such as miscellaneous goods, stationery, tableware, and food collected from within and outside Hokkaido. Just looking at the products, which evoke the thoughts of the makers and the scenery of the land, makes your heart flutter.

The most important thing is that there is something about the process and background of the product that the store wants to convey. They also make sure to stock items that are often visible online but difficult to actually hold in their hands, which shows that they are carefully selected.

Hishigata Bunko is visited by many people, including locals and those visiting during their travels, looking for items for everyday use and gifts for loved ones.

Encounters with stories are not limited to the sale of books and miscellaneous goods. There are various forms of delivery, such as pop-up events by artists held once or twice a month, talk events, crafts, and workshops titled "coffee classes." The fact that it is a space where "there is something new to discover every time you come" is one of the reasons that attracts people.

Staff's ingenuity in conveying the attractions

Some of the products, which are so fascinating you can lose track of time, come with handwritten "recommended points" from the staff.

"We don't have any rules, but we all love miscellaneous goods and stationery, and each of us has an emotional attachment to the things we select, so it was a natural progression to make POP displays and communicate them in our own words," says Tanio with a smile.

The heartwarming messages that are relevant to the lives of our customers make us feel warm and fuzzy.

Take a break at "Cafe Hishigata"

If you feel like taking a break from all the fascinating stories, you can relax at "Cafe Hishigata" in another corner. The cafe offers a variety of menu items perfect for a short break, including light meals like hot dogs and toast, blended coffee, homemade lemonade, and chai.

Among them, the most eye-catching is "Green Tea for Reading", an original blend commissioned to "Suzuwa Shoten", a long-established tea wholesaler in Shizuoka Prefecture. It has a mellow, slightly sweet taste with little bitterness, so that "you can enjoy it even if you are engrossed in reading and the tea has gone cold."

Another attraction of "Cafe Hishigata" is that you can taste the soft serve ice cream from "Tougetsu", a famous shop that has been loved by Sapporo residents for over 40 years. Although "Tougetsu" once closed its doors, it was later reopened and is now available at the cafe.

The area where the restaurant is located is the hometown of the company president, Mr. Yamada, and he has loved it since he was a child. "Both Fujitsuki and Daiya Shobo have been running their restaurants for a long time and have been loved by locals for a long time, so they have something in common, and they sympathized with the direction of the restaurant, which is what made it happen," Mr. Tanio told us.

A space where you can forget about time and relax

"Of course, it's nice when people pick up the items, but it's also great to see so many people gather at the actual events we organize and enjoy themselves."

"There are books, miscellaneous goods, and a cafe, so I think it's a space where you can lose track of time and spend the whole day there. We also have things that will give you a taste of Hokkaido, like wooden carved bears and Ainu items, so I hope you will enjoy it," said Tanio, carefully weaving together his thoughts on a daily basis and words of encouragement for those who will be visiting in the future.

Hishigata Bunko is full of exciting encounters and discoveries. The comfortable space allows you to immerse yourself in a story without hesitation, and there's a reason you'll want to visit again and again.

ヒシガタ文庫（ダイヤ書房内）
電話番号：011-712-2541
住所：北海道札幌市東区北25条東8丁目2-1
アクセス：地下鉄「元町駅」より徒歩13分程度
HP：https://hishigatabunko.com/
SNS：https://www.instagram.com/hishigatabunko/
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