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- Echizen Crafts & Workshops - Fukui, Day Trip From Kyoto or Kanazawa
Echizen Crafts & Workshops - Fukui, Day Trip From Kyoto or Kanazawa
In the ancient period from the year of 710 to 794, Echizen was the capital of gigantic province spreading across the four prefectures in Japan. Due to that, Echizen prospered and has been the producing area of five national traditional crafts today which are all handmade including Washi paper, kitchen knives, lacquer wares, potteries, and tansu chests. It is only in Echizen that you can closely view how artisans/craftsmen produce at their workshops and also experience in making crafts.
Yoshie K.
Meeting Point
Echizen-Takefu Station
Udatsu Paper & Crafts Museum
You will learn a basic knowledge of washi paper making viewing an artisan or craftsman producing it.
Washi Villlage Tour
Explore a small washi village in the nice and tranquil atmosphere where it has prospered since the ancient period. You can enjoy viewing the classic example of traditional Echizen houses as walking.
Washi Paper Workshop Tour & Experience
Explore a workshop to learn how washi paper is made from fibers taken out of barks of trees and experience in making washi using their tools if you wish. Workshop(s) we visit are basically making various size of paper and/or you can see how designs on a paper are created by a craftsman's hands.
Okamoto Jinja Shrine and Otaki Jinja Shrine
These shrines have over 1,500 and 1,400 years of history, respectively and it is the complex building structure with dignity appearance. The goodness of paper making has been enshrined in Okamoto Jinja Shrine which is only one in Japan and has been designated a National Important Traditional Culture.
Lunch in The Echizen Washi Village
Enjoy eating traditional dishes using locally harvested veges, fishes and meat.
Umeda Washi Paper Shop
Various handmade Washi paper products from over 40 makers are available at a 20% less price to the market. It is so much fun to explore the shop to see different style of paper works including envelops, letters, memos, trays, dolls, decorative paper, lampshades and etc.
Knife Village
Learn about how a handmade knife is made by viewing craftsmen making it from the 2nd fl of a factory as well as a small museum. 13 different companies with over 40 artisans/craftsmen are producing beautiful knives and sell at a shop in this village.
Oyanagi Tansu Chest Shop
Learn how a traditional tansu chest is made from viewing a craftsman produces. Every parts of tansu chest including decorative metal fittings and Hozo Tsugi (mortise and tenon technique without using nails) are handmade and you can close look how those small pieces are made by a craftsman.
Ending Point
Echizen-Takefu Takefu Station
What to Expect
You can learn how traditional crafts with a long history are handmade by artisans or craftsmen and view closely at their workshop/factory of Echizen Washi Paper, Echizen Knives, Echizen Lacquer wares, Echizen Potteries and Echizen Tansu Chests. If you wish to experience in making, you can join a workshop. In the washi village, we stroll the village and also visit the tranquil but dignified shrine where a goodness of paper making is enshrined. History of each craft: Echizen Washi paper and lacquer ware; over 1,500 years, Knives; 700 years, Potteries: 800 years, Tansu Chest: over 200 years.
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Inclusions & Exclusions
Tour fee
Transportation fee related to the tour and lunch for you and a guide.
Factory tour for washi paper and Tansu chest: 2,200 yen/person
Workshop for washi paper: 2,200 yen/person
Important Information
- Visiting places (washi paper, knife, pottery, tansu chest and lacquerware) are at your choice and time is flexible.
- Very economical taxi ticket supported by Echizen city is available at 500 yen for one direction. You can buy when you arrive at Echizen-Takefu
Station.
- Echizen Pottery Village and a lacquerware village are at 1,000 yen for one direction.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Reviews
Ken N.
“ Day Tour in Fukui ”
A responsive, responsible and excellent tour guide. Yoshie-san went out of her way to ensure that we enjoyed our day. Thank you so much.
Yoshie K.
Hi Ken, thank you so much for your review on my tour in Fukui. We happened to see monks chanting a sutra which made the entire temple very solemn. I am so pleased that you could enjoy viewing beautiful nature in Fukui. Will wait for you to come back! Thank you again. Yoshie
Widdy H.
“ Absolutely the best guide in Kanazawa: Shirakawago! ”
I give Yoshie a well deserved 5 stars! She is a very pleasant and kind person with perfect English! She is diligent and very organised in planning our itinerary. She was flexible in accommodating our last minute requests. I can tell she did a lot of research especially on her selection of lunch at a UNESCO heritage site. It was the most memorable lunch we ever had in Japan!! It was a grilled fish restaurant using the Shirakawago’s traditional grilling method in one of 9 Gassho Houses in Gokayama. The restaurant owner showed us a photo of his father who was a mountain hiker (?). The owner carried on his father’s legacy and runs this restaurant. At the end of the lunch, the owner did a short spontaneous performance for us: he played an instrument special to this region with singing and dancing!! Wow… what an unexpected bonus to the wonderful lunch! We owe this memorable experience to Yoshie for the fantastic planning and being the best tour guide! Next time In Kanazawa, I will certainly hire Yoshie again! Widdy
Yoshie K.
Hi Widdy, thank you so much for your overwhelming and thoughtful review. I am very pleased to receive it from you. Now I understand that your family loves eating Japanese food while traveling. Of course, you are so keen about the history and culture of each country too. I would be more than happy to find good food next time you come to see me! Thank you again.
Laura W.
“ Great tour ”
We had a fantastic day with Yoshie, we never could have seen as much in our short time in Kanazawa without her. She was knowledgeable, friendly, and flexible—my husband, my 16 year old son and I all had a great time exploring, learning, and sampling all the delicious treats around town. Thanks again!
Yoshie K.
Hi Laura, thank you so much for your kind review on my tour. It was a beautiful sunny day to walk in Kanazawa. Everybody was so energetic walking, eating, seeing and talking. I liked seeing your family's big curiosity about everything! Thank you again. Yoshie
Nancy G.
“ A beautiful day learning about Echizen crafts ”
Yoshie was the perfect guide for us. Her knowledge and translation skills helped make our visits to washi, tansu and knife-making studios so interesting. She was willing to answer any questions we asked. Lunch was delicious and our conversation was broad-ranging. Highly recommend.
Yoshie K.
Hi Nancy, thank you so much for visiting the 'crafts town', Echizen and for your kind review. I am truly happy that you liked the time spent in Echizen and I enjoyed talking with you too. We have a large annual open workshops event in October in the widely ranged area. Hope you can come back some day! Thank you again. Yoshie