Oji Koen Shoutengai

Oji Koen is a neighbourhood in Kobe. It has a shoutengai, which is a shopping street. They are typically covered, as is this one. Oji Koen always makes for an interesting stroll, to see the shops and maybe find some bargains. The stores here tend to have good prices because it is not a fancy neighborhood; it's pretty old-fashioned.

About 1999 or so, we bought a blanket from a futon shop here. We still have it, but it is threadbare, and the binding along the top edge is frayed. We paid ¥6,000 for it. At the time, I regretted the purchase, thinking we'd paid way too much. Now more than 25 years later, it seems like an incredible bargain.

We went back to that shop, told the shopkeeper our story, and asked if he had any more. He brought out two, and we liked the yellow one - the same colour as the original. The price tag said ¥6,800, but he said he'd sell it for ¥6,500. We bought it! It was only ¥500 more than the 25 or 26 year old price. Amazing! Apparently, Oji Koen has no inflation. No wonder we like shopping there.Baca lagi