Old Town Choshi

Old Town Choshi Japanese Izakaya DIY Book Nook Kit

A small Japanese tavern to build by hand

Old Town Choshi is a DIY book nook kit with the open front of a traditional-style Japanese izakaya, a casual tavern where small dishes and drinks are served. Also labelled Choshi no Shitamachi in the product images, this 218-piece wooden miniature combines a shopfront, tiled roof, food counter and interior shelves. Its broad open frontage gives you a clear view into the finished scene, while the side openings reveal more of the tiny room. It works as a miniature house display beside books as well as part of a bookshelf arrangement.

A counter full of everyday details

Two stools face a counter arranged with miniature dishes, bottles and mugs. Behind them are cooking utensils, printed menus, a small telephone and shelves filled with the things a neighbourhood tavern might collect over time. A tanuki-style ornament sits among the counter details, with lucky-cat imagery elsewhere inside. These are printed and assembled miniature decorations, with their own handmade texture. As you place them around the room, the building becomes more than a façade: there are little compositions to enjoy from the front and through the side.

An afternoon you can spend absorbed in making

Set aside some time to assemble the structure and bring its smaller scenes together. The product images give an estimated build time of three to five hours; your pace will depend on your experience and how long you like to spend on each detail. You can work through it in an afternoon or spread the build across shorter sessions. English instructions are included in the HiNooki kit. It is a hands-on project for adult miniature enthusiasts and older teens, with the store recommending ages 14 and up.

Lanterns, carp streamers and warm interior light

A row of round lantern decorations runs beneath the Japanese shop sign, with elongated red lanterns at the sides. Above them, maple-leaf details rest on the dark tiled roof. Outside are potted plants, a pole with carp-shaped streamers and a Shiba Inu cutout wearing a green scarf. The warm LED lighting draws attention to the bottles, shelves and counter. A touch switch on the side of the building controls the light, so the completed miniature can be enjoyed both in daylight and with its interior illuminated.

A finished izakaya for your shelf

At roughly 19 cm tall, the completed tavern is compact enough for a shelf or side table, with space around it to appreciate the flags and open sides. Place it alongside books about food, travel or Japan, or let it stand on its own as a miniature shop display. For someone who enjoys Japanese street scenes, wooden model kits or dollhouse miniatures, Old Town Choshi offers the satisfaction of making a detailed object and then living with the scene they have put together.

Product details at a glance

• Product: Old Town Choshi / Choshi no Shitamachi; Japanese izakaya DIY book nook kit for self-assembly.
• Piece count: 218.
• Estimated assembly time: 3–5 hours; individual pace varies.
• Recommended age: 14+ according to HiNooki.
• Lighting: warm LEDs with a side touch switch.
• Assembly guidance: English instructions.
• Prepare separately: glue and batteries, which are not included in the HiNooki kit.