Near Ko Hachimangu Shrine in Kojima, Kurashiki City, there is a quiet little shop selling miscellaneous goods.
It is ZAKKA MOKO, which celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2022.
The shop sells handmade goods, each one unique.
Many people visit ZAKKA MOKO to find goods for themselves, as well as gifts for people dear to them.
Customers all say the same thing: “If you go to MOKO, you’ll find something.”
Here’s an introduction to ZAKKA MOKO, where you can find goods in Okayama that you can “only pick up here.”
The information provided was current when this article was published in January 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What Is ZAKKA MOKO?
ZAKKA MOKO is a shop selling miscellaneous goods that opened in 2017.
The wide variety of handmade goods and the warm personality of the shop’s owner, Noriko Tomioka, have captivated customers, and the shop celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2022.
The shop’s sales area is on the second floor of the building.
Walk a little way down the hallway, and you’ll see the shop.
The permanent display area is at the front, and the special exhibition area is at the back.
The main goods for sale are accessories, such as pierced and clip-on earrings.
The shop also sells tableware, stationery, and clothing (for children and women), offering a wide range of items under the general category of “goods.”
Another appealing feature is that the space itself has a natural atmosphere, not just the goods.
With white walls, furniture that evokes a sense of nostalgia, and wood suspended from the ceiling in place of clothing racks, the whole shop is a space that makes you want to look around.
At certain times of day, sunlight streams in, making the space even more comfortable with its soft atmosphere and natural light.
ZAKKA MOKO is a shop that pays attention to every detail of its space, so visitors can take their time looking at goods carefully made one by one.
Features of ZAKKA MOKO
Its concept is “a place where people, things, and feelings come together.”
It is a place where the owner, Ms. Tomioka, artists, and customers can meet.
ZAKKA MOKO has several distinctive features.
Goods
Every item sold at ZAKKA MOKO is handmade.
Goods that Ms. Tomioka thinks are “nice” are the standard for what the shop carries.
It seems that her heart is drawn to “things that only that person can make.”
“Rather than simply putting together commercially available parts, we collect many works made with original designs, from the materials and molds onward.”
One of ZAKKA MOKO’s defining features is that you can discover one-of-a-kind goods while feeling the warmth of handmade craftsmanship.
Most of the artists live outside Okayama Prefecture
ZAKKA MOKO carries goods made by around 20 artists on a permanent basis and around 5 to 10 artists for special exhibitions.
Ms. Tomioka makes a point of sourcing works by artists who live outside Okayama Prefecture, accounting for 80 to 90 percent of the selection.
“It’s hard to see the actual works of artists who live outside Okayama Prefecture, isn’t it? By carrying goods that are ‘only available at MOKO in Okayama,’ I want to make this a place where artists and customers can meet.”
Special exhibitions
Special exhibitions are held every month, so there are apparently 12 a year.
Ms. Tomioka plans them all herself, choosing a theme and gathering goods to match.
At the time of the interview, the exhibition on display was the annual “My Favorites Exhibition.”
It is a continuation of the first special exhibition, held to mark ZAKKA MOKO’s first anniversary.
Ms. Tomioka usually contacts artists directly to invite them to exhibit at special exhibitions, but she says this time also included a first-time experiment.
“For this ‘My Favorites Exhibition,’ we tried recruiting artists for the first time. They were all artists I was meeting for the first time, which felt very fresh.”
Being able to discover new artists and works almost every month is another appeal of ZAKKA MOKO’s special exhibitions.
A building that was once a dormitory
The building housing ZAKKA MOKO was originally used as a dormitory for a sewing factory.
According to Ms. Tomioka, the building is about 60 years old.
Ms. Tomioka’s great-grandfather ran the dormitory, and afterward it was sometimes rented out as an office.
Just before ZAKKA MOKO opened, the building was no longer in use, and only the building itself remained.
Ms. Tomioka says that when she wanted to open a shop selling miscellaneous goods, “I remembered this building, which had been used as a dormitory.”
After consulting her family, she opened ZAKKA MOKO on the second floor.
If you look closely inside the shop, you’ll see that the shelves originally used along the walls have been left in place as display space.
Perhaps because it is located in a residential area, “We have many customers who come specifically for MOKO,” Ms. Tomioka told us with a smile.
A look at some of the goods for sale
Here are some of the distinctive goods available at ZAKKA MOKO.
Each artist’s work is one of a kind. Some items may be sold out.
Pierced and clip-on earrings
Pierced and clip-on earrings are the most common items at ZAKKA MOKO.
“Tsuru-kokemomo” is an accessories brand that the shop carries year-round.
These charming pieces feature tiny flowers scattered among parts made of translucent resin.
Some are round, while others are irregularly shaped like ice, and no two are alike.
Some even have different shapes on the left and right—one of the hallmarks of handmade work.
Women’s clothing
The shop carries women’s clothing made by artists, including tops, skirts, and dresses.
The photo shows clothing by “aoiro.t,” carried to coincide with the “My Favorites Exhibition.”
The brand mainly makes children’s clothing, so adults can complete matching outfits by wearing the pieces together.
When ZAKKA MOKO first opened, it did not carry adult clothing and apparently stocked only children’s clothes.
However, Ms. Tomioka says that she herself liked and often wore clothing made by independent artists, so customers often asked her, “Where did you get that?” and “Who made it?”
She thought, “Maybe it would be nice to carry clothes after all,” and began stocking them about a year after opening.
There is also a fitting room in the shop, so customers can enjoy shopping with peace of mind.
Stationery
The shop also carries a wide range of stationery.
During our visit, the memo pads and letter paper made by cozyca products stood out.
The stationery created in collaboration with artists features hand-drawn illustrations, and each item invites you to take a closer look.
Goods for children
Goods for children include hair accessories and clothing, as well as tableware and forks for mealtimes.
The accessories, each sewn by hand, have gentle yet vivid colors.
We were struck by how many goods have designs that both children and adults can enjoy.
What inspired the opening of ZAKKA MOKO?
We spoke with owner Ms. Tomioka as she looked back on the past five years.
ZAKKA MOKO Information
| Name | ZAKKA MOKO |
|---|---|
| Address | 7-5-21 Kojima Shimonomachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-454-5780 |
| Parking | Available Space for 3 cars |
| Hours | Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Monday, Tuesday, Sunday Check Instagram for temporary closures and other updates |
| Payment methods |
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| Website | ZAKKA MOKO |
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