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Echizen Crafts & Workshops - Fukui, Day Trip From Kyoto or Kanazawa

Making a big sized washi paper

Artisan making handmade patterns on washi paper without a draft.

Tapestry created with handmade washi paper.

Washi paper tapestry and lampshades

Craftsmen making handmade knives.

Echizen tansu chest with decorative steel fittings.

Making a decorative steel fitting.

Lacquered soup caps

Echizen Crafts & Workshops - Fukui, Day Trip From Kyoto or Kanazawa

Art, Culture, & Historical

Joined 2019

Yoshie K.

4.98 / 5

(58 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

Fukui

English, Japanese (Native)

7 hours

Private tour (only you and Yoshie K.)

Up to 6 people

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 major 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 enter their factories and closely view how craftsmen produce and also experience in making crafts.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

09:30 AM

Meeting Point

Echizen-Takefu Station

- meet at Echizen-Takefu JR station at 9:30.

10:00 AM

Washi Paper Factory Tour / Experience (60-75 min)

Explore a workshop to learn how washi paper is made from fibers taken out of bark of trees and/or experience in making washi using their tools if you wish. Workshop(s) we visit are basically making various sizes of paper.

11:30 AM

Udatsu Paper & Crafts Museum (25min)

You will learn a basic knowledge of traditional washi paper making by viewing a craftsman producing it.

12:00 PM

Washi Paper Museum (15 min)

Many samples of washi paper with different patterns and textures are displayed which is very unique to any other areas in Japan. It will be awesome to take a look at those. Woodblock prints created by artists are also exhibited at the museum (an event will differ depending on a season).

12:30 PM

Washi Paper Shop (20 min)

Various handmade Washi paper products from over 40 makers are available at relatively lower price to the market. It is so much fun to explore the shop to see different styles of paper works such as decorative paper, envelopes, letters, memos, trays, dolls, ampshades, and etc.

01:00 PM

Lunch (60 min)

Enjoy eating traditional dishes using locally harvested vegetables, fishes and meat.

02:00 PM

Takefu Knife Village (50 min)

Learn how a handmade knife is made by viewing craftsmen making it from the 2nd fl of a factory as well as a small museum. 14 different companies with over 40 artisans/craftsmen are producing beautiful knives and selling them at a shop in this village.

03:10 PM

Oyanagi Tansu Chest Shop (60 min)

Learn how a traditional tansu chest is made from viewing a craftsman produces. Every part of the tansu chest including decorative metal fittings and Hozo Tsugi (mortise and tenon technique without using nails) are handmade and you can closely look at how those small pieces are made by a craftsman.

04:30 PM

Finish at Echizen-Takefu JR station

Ending Point

Echizen-Takefu Station

Want to personalize this tour?

This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.

Inclusions & Exclusions

What‘s included

Tour fee

What‘s not included

-Taxi for this tour as buses/trains are not available in Echizen. Taxi costs are not included in the tour fee. It is approx. 10,000 yen but depends on the locations you choose.

-factory tour & hands-on-experience for washi making at a private workshop: 5,250 yen pp at RYOZO OR 14,300 yen pp, 17,600 for two people at Yanase paper mill.

-factory tour only for washi making: 1,000 yen (limited availability)

-hands-on-experiene for washi making at a museum: from 750 yen to 2,500 yen pp depending on the item.

-workshop tour for Tansu chest: 5,500 yen pp

-lunch for you and a guide.

Tour Important Information

- Visiting places (traditional washi paper, handmade knife, pottery, tansu chest and lacquerware) are at your choice and time is flexible.

- This tour requires taxis. The taxi will cost approximately 10,000 yen for this tour but it depends on where you visit.

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

Joined 2019

Yoshie K.

4.98 / 5

(58 reviews)

Identity Verified

Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Yoshie K.

Hi, I am Yoshie. I am a national government licensed English speaking Guide. I used to work for multinational companies and served as an interpreter for several years and travelled around Japan with coworkers. I love plants, nature, travelling as well as finding good places to eat! I am also a communicative person.

After having lived in Tokyo for some decades, now I live in my hometown, Fukui where you can have a great experience of Zen buddhism in the head temple of the Zen sect, Eiheiji which was founded in 1244. Fukui Dinosaur Museum is very popular regardless of age. It is one of the world's three largest dinosaurs. Echizen is also well known for Japan's handmade crafts including kitchen knives, washi paper, lacquer wares, Tansu chests and pottery. Seeing craftsmen's work right in front of you makes you excited and impressed.

I have been travelling Kanazawa since my high school age so I know well about the town to show you around as well as Shirakawago, a day trip from Kanazawa.

I am excited to meet you and coordinate what you are really interested in to make you the happiest memories in Japan.

I look forward to guiding you soon!

Reviews

Andrea A.

5 / 5

Jan 10, 2026

Echizen Crafts & Workshops - Fukui, Day Trip From Kyoto or Kanazawa

Jan 10, 2026

Fukui

7 hours

“My favorite day of my whole trip!”

If you're looking for something different other than sightseeing and want to experience more Japanese culture, you need to book this tour with Yoshie. She was an outstanding guide even before I booked it. I had questions in regards to luggage storage at the station and she offered to store my bag in her car. She also provided an estimation of how much things would cost, as well as an itinerary. We did a lot in 7 hours and never did I feel rushed. From the knife village, washi paper and Tansu chest artisans, everyone was so nice to share what they did, answered all my questions and even allowed me to do some of the process. I even got to make my own washi paper to take home. Also, the place we went to for lunch was delicious. It was like your grandmother cooking for you. I will definitely recommend this to everyone I know that is going to Japan, as well as come back myself.

Yoshie K.

Hi Andrea, thank you so much for your thoughtful and pleasant review. I am very pleased to hear that you really enjoyed the whole crafts tour in Echizen. Although It was your first time making a washi paper, you looked so skillful and in fact you made a beautiful large paper. Thank you for coming to Echizen and I look forward to seeing you again! Yoshie

Elizabeth P.

5 / 5

Jan 4, 2026

Echizen Crafts & Workshops - Fukui, Day Trip From Kyoto or Kanazawa

Jan 4, 2026

Fukui

5 hours 30 mins

“Major Yoshie fans”

We couldn’t have been more impressed with Yoshie. From the moment we contacted her she was extremely generous with her time and her local expertise, communicating clearly and precisely as we planned a customised tour of the Fukui region together. She was adaptable when our circumstances changed and bent over backwards to make our tour enjoyable and interesting. We recommend Yoshie without reservation to anyone looking for a professional guide in the Fukui region.

Yoshie K.

Hi Elizabeth, thank you so much for your tremendously kind words. We had a very challenging time together. I was happy to see all of you enjoying (I believe) making mochi and crafts such as washi paper and Chinkin decorative lacquerware and in particular, all of us experienced Zazen meditation at the Eiheiji, Zen head temple. It was all memorable to me too. Thank you for coming to Fukui and take care! Yoshie

Kim I.

5 / 5

Nov 26, 2025

Echizen Crafts & Workshops - Fukui, Day Trip From Kyoto or Kanazawa

Nov 26, 2025

Fukui

3 hours 30 mins

“The Heart of Echizen Art and Crafts”

Thanks to Yoshie and her exceptional planning skills I was able to meet a broad range of local artisans, take part in workshops and learn so much about the local history and culture. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute with Yoshie, from my attempt at laquerware carving, to the memorable tour of a washi factory, soba noodle making and the incredible craft of tansu chest making. Yoshie was well organised, good humoured and a joy to be with. I wish I could have her as my guide for longer! She certainly made me want to return to such a beautiful and fascinating area. Thank you Yoshie !

Yoshie K.

Hi Kim, thank you so much for all those thoughtful words. I am grateful to hear that you enjoyed the time in Echizen, the town of craftsmanship. The soba (buckwheat noodle) you made was incredibly delicious! I enjoyed it a lot. There are many more great artisans' studios that you can view and experience with so I am hoping you come back to Echizen. See you again in Echizen! Yoshie