When you look deep into the cosmos, what is it that you see? A place where countless cosmic phenomena fold over one another and condense into a single point — imagine coming across somewhere like that. Cosmic Pool, a new work by glass artist Mieko Noguchi, has just joined the collection at Taisho Glass SORA in Otaru, Hokkaido. The name comes from the tide pools along the shore. In a shallow hollow in the rocks, shellfish, tiny fish and seaweed all carry on their lives, and th

Looking into the amber of a whisky, you sometimes find yourself thinking of the cask. That deep, rounded aroma is born only when wood and spirit rest together over a long stretch of time. What if you could enjoy a little of it in an ordinary glass at home? Made in Otaru, these MIZUNARA oak wood chips do exactly that. They are cut from mizunara oak grown in Hokkaido — a wood long prized in Japanese whisky making, said to carry a distinctive fragrance reminiscent of sandalwood

An exhibition of work by glass artist Kaori (東 かおり) opened on September 1 at Sou, the creators' market inside Otaru Taisho Glass. Every piece is shaped slowly and carefully by hand. Vivid colour, a clarity that opens up when the light passes through, and the quiet presence that only fine handwork can carry. No two pieces are alike. The way the colours layer, the drift of tiny bubbles, the soft line of a rim — each one shows a slightly different face when you pick it up. In th

From Souko, the creators' market at Taisho Glass Otaru, we introduce a collection of glass animals that seem to breathe with quiet life. Each piece is carefully crafted in the boa-textured style, capturing every endearing expression, soft fur, and small gesture. The warm, gentle style feels as if these creatures have stepped straight out of a picture book. Even among the same animal, each artisan's hand gives every piece its own character — a steady gaze here, a slightly tilt

Summer in Hokkaido is still bringing hot days. Hoping to bring a little coolness to mind, we made some wonderfully laid-back "polar bear tama" glass beads. Since each one is handmade, every face and expression is different. Some look sharp and alert, some seem half-asleep, and some just have an expression that's hard to describe. Even as the same polar bear, each one has its own personality. Our staff member Kimura's favorite is the one with an especially indescribable pout.

Kanzashi might bring to mind special occasions like kimono or yukata. But they actually suit everyday hairstyling just as well. A single pin in your usual updo is all it takes to bring a slightly different mood to your look. We carry plenty of glass kanzashi in cool, summery colors. Whether you're out in a yukata or simply adding a touch to your everyday style, please feel free to try one. And our summer "Kanzashi Lottery" event runs for just three more days, starting today.

What if an entire night sky could be sealed inside a small glass sphere? There is a work that gives that idea real form. Glass artist Mieko Noguchi's special exhibition "The Home of Stars #2" is currently on at SORA, Taisho Glass in Otaru. Countless points of light float within deep indigo glass, with silver swirling outward like a spiral galaxy. Held in the palm of your hand, it feels as though a small universe truly lives inside. The exhibition period is nearly at an end, b

Summer in Otaru is at its most beautiful once the sun goes down. Lights come on along the canal, the water's surface sways gently, and the heat of the day quietly recedes. "Midsummer Night," by Itsuki Kamiura of Otaru Handmade Glass Studio, seems to capture that exact hour. A deep indigo lattice pattern, layered again and again in blue, scattered with silver leaf that catches the light like the glow along the canal and harbor, or the shimmer of a gently swaying surface. Its e

A home is a vessel that holds a family's feelings. It is also the place where life's irreplaceable moments are gathered, one by one. "Jelly House," by Glassnochiu's Nobuhiko Hoshi, expresses that idea of home in pale, gentle colors and translucent glass. True to its name, it has the soft glow of jelly. The rounded shape and the way colors dissolve into one another inside quietly loosen something in you as you look at it. It carries a warmth as if the memories of daily life li

The same wind feels entirely different depending on the season — the warmth against your cheek, the scent it carries, the way light mixes into it. One series tries to express that invisible difference through color. "Aokaze" (blue wind) and "Koinokaze" (wind of longing) are by The Glass Studio in Otaru. They were designed around the air of late spring drifting into summer, and the deep blue of summer at its height. "Aokaze" reflects the clear blue of summer directly. "Koinoka

After the rain, a rainbow appears without warning. Those colors exist only when light and water happen to meet in the same place — a miracle that lasts a moment. "The Foot of the Rainbow," made by Katsuyoshi Kono of Art Factor, holds that vanishing scene inside a glass. Turn it, or let the light fall differently, and a soft band of color rises within. A rainbow retreats the moment you try to reach it. This glass does the opposite — each time you pick it up, it feels as though

The 60th Otaru Shiomatsuri Festival 2026 The lively sound of festival music echoed through the streets of Otaru as the 60th Otaru Shiomatsuri Festival lit up the town this summer. At Taisho Glass, staff at our main store and every branch dressed in their favorite yukata to welcome guests in true festival spirit. Surrounded by the energy only a port town like Otaru can offer, we spent a few unforgettable days soaking in the sights of yukata-clad visitors and the buzz of the fe

At SORA, part of Taisho Glass in Otaru, we are now carrying "in the sea," a series by glass artist Rika Kobayashi of licca glass. "The first time I was drawn into the sea and dived in, what opened up before me was a beautiful other world I had never imagined." The artist's own words describe this series — works that carry the wonder of that moment, and her longing for the ocean, straight into glass. The stillness of being wrapped in water. The sound of your own breathing. The

Creators Market "Sou" now features new accessories by glass artist Soukore (Sayaka Inagaki). Each earring and piercing is carefully handcrafted to highlight the natural transparency and gentle shimmer unique to glass. Soft colors are captured within clear glass, adding a subtle touch of color to your ears. The designs pair easily with everyday outfits, making them simple to incorporate into daily styling. New bracelets have also arrived, featuring an adorable round long-taile

An announcement from Taisho Glass Kanzashi Shop about our summer event. During the campaign period, any customer who spends ¥5,000 or more at the Kanzashi Shop can take part in our "Kanzashi Lottery." Enjoy trying your luck and see what prize awaits you! 【Event Dates】 Round 1: July 18 (Sat) – July 20 (Mon, holiday) Round 2: July 24 (Fri) – July 26 (Sun), scheduled Whether you're visiting for the first time or a returning customer, we hope you'll stop by the Kanzashi Shop duri

Otaru Taisho Glass Museum (main store) now carries the new "-Moonlight-" series, handcrafted by The Glass Studio in Otaru. Inspired by moonlight gently rippling across the night sea, each piece captures the grandeur and quiet stillness of nature within deep cobalt blue glass. A delicate silver-leaf texture on the surface catches the light in ever-changing ways, evoking the soft glow of moonlight reflected on the waves. No two pieces look exactly alike — a charm unique to hand

📰 The "Men of the Sea Series," created by Taisho Glass flagship store staff member Miura, has been featured in the Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper! This heartfelt project celebrates the fishermen of Otaru's Shukutsu district by turning each fisherman's unique face into merchandise — born from the wish to "bring the fishermen who support Otaru's industry closer to everyone." The second installment has arrived: Fisherman Magnets! Photo-printed magnets featuring 40 individual fisher

Summer has arrived in Otaru. At Tombo-dama-kan, the lampwork bead workshop inside Taisho Glass Museum, the second installment of our summer limited experience has launched — introducing the "Marine Ball" (Marin-dama), starting June 17th. This season's theme is the ocean. Choose from three charming sea creatures to capture inside your glass bead: a dolphin (blue or pink), a penguin — the ever-popular star of aquariums — and the famous locally-sourced Otaru scallop, affectionat

Have you heard of the "aburidashi" glassworking technique that flourished during the Taisho era? Hirota Glass has revived "Taisho Roman Glass" — a uniquely Japanese craft glass that had nearly faded into history. The romantic milky-white patterns are not painted on. They emerge from the craftsman's masterful control of temperature during the shaping process. In a fleeting moment when the glass holds just the right heat, the delicate beauty of opal glass blooms and the pattern

Summer, Beer & Wind Chimes. When you crack open a window and a gentle breeze sets the wind chimes softly swaying, summer feels just right. Pour a cold beer into a glass crafted by hand in Otaru, and take your time savoring the warmth of the season. Each beer glass is handmade by artisan glassblowers in Otaru, meaning no two are exactly alike. The thickness, the clarity, the tiny bubbles — each one holds the warmth of the hands that made it. "Which glass should I drink from to