A rare opportunity to see authentic knife making factories in the heart of the scenic Echizen area. Guests will also get to speak with real knife making craftsmen who dedicate their lives to making the world renown Echizen knives. For Japanese knife lovers, this is the perfect tour.
For the tour, guests will get to check out amazing knife handles made at Yamaken Woodworks and then see how the blades are made at Ryuzen Hamono. Within the tour guests will also get to experience a part of the knife making process.

Private Echizen Knife Making Factory and walking Tour 

Visit the authentic washi making factory of RYOZO Yanase Paper Mill and get a deeper look into the world of washi making. The owners, Mr. and Ms. Yanase have years of experience and will give you knowledgeable instructions.
Guests will get to tour the washi factory where they make paper fit for commercials products such as packaging for Japanese sweets. It is a rare opportunity to see such a factory.
Afterwards with the instructions of Ms. Yanase, a traditional craftsman, guests will make a washi piece that is perfect as a tapestry. It is made using traditional techniques so it is a chance to experience authentic washi making.

Experience Private Washi Paper Making at Ryozo Washi Paper Mill

The scenic rural Echizen area is famous for its rich history of traditional Japanese crafts. One of these crafts is washi, or traditional Japanese paper. Come get a rare hands on experience of visiting authentic washi factories and speaking with craftsmen. Guests also get to try their hand at making their very own washi paper. Also as part of the tour, guests get to visit beautiful Otaki Shrine which is dedicated to the god of paper. 

*Washi factory may change due to availability.

Private Echizen Washi Paper Making Experience and Walking Tour

Kubota Liquor Store is a long-established liquor store that was founded in 1914 (Taisho 3), and is the first place you should visit if you want to buy Fukui's local sake in Sabae. Here guests will get to taste locally made sakes in special lacquered glasses. 

Guests can try junmai sake, daiginjo sake, or both depending on the plan. Glasses for junmai sake have a wide opening so that you can enjoy the full flavor of junmai sake, whereas glasses for daiginjo sake have a slightly narrower opening to trap the aroma and has depth to its shape which is its characteristic.

This experience is perfect for those who love sake as they will get in try local sake in a unique way.

Experience Tasting Fukui's Local Sake in Lacquered Glasses

Kinkori Shikkiten is a lacquerware shop run by brothers in Kawada, the town of Echizen lacquerware. In this experience, you will receive direct instruction from Mr. Masataka Kinkori, a craftsman at Kinkori Shikkiten, and experience painting lacquer on a wooden tray. The tray, which can be used for serving meals or as a tray for snacks, will make your ordinary foods for appealing.
Guests will get to use the craftsman's tools for an authentic crafting experience. They will also get to learn about lacquerware from Mr. Kinkori who has years of lacquerware making experience.

Making of Echizen Lacquerware and Tray Lacquering Experience 

Tour Attractions:
Echizen Washi boasts 1,500 years of history and unparalleled quality. This experience combines traditional craftsmanship with modern creativity, offering a comprehensive programme of activities that will allow you to delve into the history, techniques, and culture of Echizen Washi in just a few hours. You will have the opportunity to make washi paper by hand and craft your own washi uchiwa (Japanese paper fans). The finished paper and fans will be yours to take home as unique and memorable keepsakes. This three-hour experience encapsulates all the charm and tradition of Echizen Washi Paper.

Outline of the Echizen Washi Experience Tour:
This immersive three-hour tour lets you explore the rich history and exceptional craftsmanship of washi paper. Set in Echizen, a region with 1,500 years of washi-making heritage, you’ll experience the living traditions of this remarkable craft by creating handmade washi in one of Japan’s most renowned production areas.

Craft Washi and Uchiwa Fan Making Echizen Washi Village Tour

Unleash your inner explorer on Tsuruga with a personalized journey, immersing yourself in its vibrant culture and serene hidden spots. Our custom tours provide a bespoke experience, tailored to your desires, ideal for adventure seekers, families with children, and culture enthusiasts alike. Discover local secrets, savor authentic moments, and create unforgettable memories on Tsuruga. Enjoy immersive cultural experiences, gain insider knowledge, and have memorable encounters with local traditions, ensuring a truly unique and enriching adventure.

Tsuruga Private Customizable Full Day Tour

Kawada is a town of Echizen lacquerware with a history of 1500 years. It is said that Echizen lacquerware began when lacquer painting was encouraged after Keitai Tenno successfully repaired his broken crown with lacquer coating.

On this tour, we will visit two lacquer workshops in the Kawada area.
Kinkori Lacquerware Shop is a lacquer workshop with a history of over 100 years. Kinkori Lacquerware Store is a lacquerware workshop run by brothers in Kawada, the town of Echizen lacquerware. 

In this experience, you will receive direct instruction from your brother, Masataka Kinkori, a craftsman at Kinkori Lacquerware Store, and you will be able to try your hand at lacquering a bowl.

Next, we will visit Iwano Heizaburo Paper Mill, a Japanese paper-making workshop in the Imadate area. 

Lastly, there was a calligraphy experience with calligrapher Kason Nishiyama at an old folk house next to the workshop.

Echizen Lacquerware and Washi Paper Craft Tour

Echizen washi paper, which boasts a history of over 1500 years, is a traditional craft that Fukui is proud of, and is used for labels of sake and whiskey due to its beauty and strength. After learning about sake brewing at one of Fukui's leading sake breweries, Symphony Yoshida Sake Brewery, where you can experience the Eiheiji terroir, the source of sake brewing that makes use of Fukui's climate, you can experience making a washi label for sake using sake lees and rice husks at Igarashi Seishi, a long-established Echizen washi paper workshop famous for its food paper, which has been in business for over 100 years. Create a one-of-a-kind sake bottle with your own original washi label and experience the charm of sake even more deeply. Why not enjoy a special experience that can only be had here, where you can experience Fukui's culture and artisanal skills?

Sake Tasting and Making Your Own Washi Sake Label

The Echizen region of Fukui Prefecture has been designated as one of the "Six Ancient Kilns of Japan," and is well known for Echizen lacquerware, pottery, and cutlery. Come and try to make your own sake cup with the guidance of a craftsperson. Afterwards, go onto taste the region's traditional dishes at a soba restaurant and modern bar, try sake at a local sake brewery, and visit a chest-making workshop.

Echizen Pottery and Echizen Chest Tour with Japanese Sake Tasting

Experience traditional calligraphy in this beautiful building.
Enjoy a delicious local meal for lunch.
If you wish, we can frame your calligraphy work for an additional fee.
In the afternoon, you can visit the traditional Otaki Shrine and pray for improvement in your handwriting.

Echizen Washi Calligraphy Experience

An experience where you can learn the process of making Echizen lacquerware by visiting two workshops, Hacoa and Shitsurindo and making your very own original lacquer spoon. Guests will get to see the process of making authentic Echizen lacquerware. 
Hacoa is a woodworking workshop that makes the base for many of the lacquerware craftsman in the area. Here you will get to see craftsman transform wooden blocks into commercial products. After viewing the workshop you will polish your own spoon and head over to Shitsurindo.
Shitsurindo is a Echizen lacquerware workshop where craftsman paint lacquer. You will get to also see their workshop which is usually off limits. Here you will paint your spoon with lacquer.

Make your own Spoon: Private Woodworking and Lacquerware Session

We’ll travel by private car for comfort and convenience, allowing us to visit three unique locations without the stress of public transport in Katsuyama, Fukui.

We’ll begin at the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, Japan’s top destination for dinosaur lovers. With life-size reconstructions, real fossils, and hands-on exhibits, this is a fascinating start for adults and families alike.

Next, we’ll visit the awe-inspiring Echizen Daibutsu—a massive bronze Buddha sitting in silence among grand temple buildings. 

Finally, we’ll stroll along the stone paths of Heisenji Hakusan Shrine, a 1,300-year-old spiritual site covered in moss and surrounded by cedar trees. Feel the stillness. 

Japan is not only about Tokyo and Kyoto—let me show you another world, waiting quietly in the mountains of Fukui.

The car used for transportation is not very large, so it may feel full with four people. Please try to bring as little luggage as possible, or consider leaving your bags at Katsuyama Station. 

Discover the Hidden Wonders of Katsuyama Fukui

Explore the Enigma:
Experience the enigma by immersing yourself in the unique geographical environment of Lake Mikata.
Nature Immersion:
Delight in the picturesque landscapes of the nature-rich Lake Mikata with the guidance of experienced local guides, as it is designated under the Ramsar Convention.
Cultural Lifestyle:
Reflect on the sustainability of the local ecosystem and its cultural practices by witnessing the scenes of traditional fishing methods that have persisted for over 400 years.

Culinary Journey with Traditional Fishing Method Tour

The Kawada district of Sabae City is a town of Echizen lacquerware with a history of 1500 years. Tour the roots of Echizen lacquerware on a lacquered bicycle, including the Lacquerware Shrine (Shikiyama Shrine), which enshrines the god of lacquerware, and a tour of a workshop led by a craftsman.


Private Echizen Lacquer Painting Experience and Cycling Tour

Echizen ware, which was born in the Heian period, is one of the six ancient kilns in Japan that still continues to produce pottery. Soil that contains a lot of iron has a distinctive red-black color on its surface.

This time we will take you to a workshop where Echizen ware is made. You can also view artworks by Taro Okamoto and others at the Echizen Ceramics Village, and learn about the history of Echizen ware at the Echizen Ancient Kiln Museum.

Echizen Old Kiln Museum
Echizen Ancient Kiln Museum is a museum that opened in 2017. In addition to the Echizen ware museum, there is also the ``Old Mizuno Family Residence,'' an old folk house from Fukui that was relocated, and a full-fledged tea room.

Echizen Pottery Village
A hands-on museum of Echizen ware. There are many works of art in the facility.

Sometimes it's simple pottery for everyday use, sometimes it's a surprising work of art. Why not enjoy Echizen ware, which has many different faces, with all five senses?

Private Art & Craft Pottery Activity in Echizen 

Experience the profound spirituality and craftsmanship of Echizen Washi on a guided tour through its historic village.

First, enjoy a hands-on paper-making experience under the guidance of skilled artisans. Next, visit a workshop specializing in large-format washi, highly sought after by artists. Finally, explore Otaki Shrine, renowned for its intricately crafted roof, considered one of the finest in Japan. Stroll along the riverside in this peaceful village and immerse yourself in the rich heritage of Echizen Washi, which has been passed down for over 1,500 years.

Spirit of Craftsmanship in Japanese Papermaking in Echizen

Guests will get to learn about the lens making process at Inui Lens which produces high quality lenses. You will get to see the rarely seen behind the scenes of a lens making factory.
You will then make your own sunglasses by fitting your favorite lenses into your own eyeglass frame (you'll need your own frame or you can purchase one at the store for an additional fee). There are more than 300 kinds of colors. You can make a one-of-a-kind sunglass that is suited to you. 
After the experience, take a break with a soft serve ice cream or a special coffee at the cafe in Lens Park!

 Private Making your Own Unique Sunglass in Sabae Fukui

Guests will get to learn about the glasses and the accessory making process at KISSO which produces high quality accessories using glasses materials. You will get to see the rarely seen behind the scenes of a accessory making factory.
You will then make your own ring by fitting your favorite glasses materials into machinery at the factory. There are many options for colors. You can make a one-of-a-kind ring that is suited to you. 

Craft a Unique and Colorful Ring Using Glasses Materials at KISSO

Visitors can learn about the history of Echizen tiles, which have been used for a long time in Japan, a country prone to natural disasters, for their durability and safety, and see the inside of a factory, which is usually rarely seen.

You can also make devil tiles, which have been attached to the edge of the roof to ward off evil spirits to protect the house and family since ancient times.

Onigawara and Echizen Tiles Activity

Explore the Enigma:
Visit the special topographical environment of Mikatagoko (the five lakes of Mikata) on-site and understand what a miraculous lake Suigetsu is. 
Nature Immersion:
Our guided tour at the Varve Museum and a visit to the shores of Lake Mikata Goko will teach you of the 70,000 years of history that the varves reveal. 
Cultural Lifestyle:
Witness the local fishermen using traditional methods of fishing that have a history of over 400 years. With your knowledgeable local guide, learn the insight of the region and the lives of the locals around the five Mikata Lakes. 

Guided Kayak Tour Unveiling the History of the Lake Suigetsuko

Visit the historic Komego Miso factory and deepen your understanding of miso, an essential seasoning in Japanese cuisine. The knowledgeable staff at Komego Miso will guide you in English.
Why don't you experience Japanese food culture and satisfy your intellectual curiosity through the program?
The menu is vegan-friendly, ensuring that guests with dietary restrictions can fully enjoy the experience.
This tour is perfect for anyone interested in Japanese food culture!

Experiences in Fukui, Japan