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Echizen Crafts & Workshops - Fukui, Day Trip From Kyoto or Kanazawa
Joined 2019
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.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
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
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
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
Tour 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
Joined 2019
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
“Great Tour”
Yoshie really hit all the high points of her tour of Kanazawa. Very well organized and she had excellent knowledge of the places and sites we visited. Highly recommended!
Yoshie K.
Hi Alan, thank you so much for the review! I am very pleased that you enjoyed the tour in Kanazawa. Your warm words encourage me to continue my work. Thank you again. Yoshie
“Amazing guided tour with Yoshie ”
Yoshie is an outstanding guide, with a wide knowledge and very well organized, patient, flexible and extremely kind! Among the many guides we met Yoshie is among the best we met!
Yoshie K.
Hi Avi, I appreciate your excellent words given to me. We had a very good walk on a beautiful day while talking about many different subjects. I am pleased that you enjoyed the traditional Japanese culture as well as lunch in the Market. I hope to see you again! Yoshie
“See all the beauty of Kanazawa”
Yoshie is an absolute treat! Yes, you can see major sites but my partner and myself also like finding hidden gems that make a city. We also knew we would be tired and Yoshie made sure that Buses were available if we needed the extra help. With her mastery of the city, we never burned out our leg muscles and saw a variety of what Kanazawa is; from the Geisha area to smaller samurai house to the sprawling garden. Yoshi is very knowledgeable and an absolute delight!
Yoshie K.
Hi James, thank you so much for the review. I very much appreciate it. I am pleased to know that you liked the tour including the hidden gems in a peaceful atmosphere. I hope you two have recovered full energy by now! Thank you again. Yoshie
$234/ per group
More tours by Yoshie K.
Kanazawa One Day Tour
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Half Day Meditation Tour - Eiheiji Zen Head Temple, Fukui
Zazen is silent meditation of Zen Buddhism and it is performed in sitting. This tour is to have an experience of Zazen at Eiheiji Zen Head Temple where it was founded by Zen Master Dogen who first taught Zen in Japan. The Temple has been filled with the bracing and serene atmosphere of Zen practitioners. Let’s try Zazen to see inside yourself and/or relax in the deep mountains during busy travelling.
Magnificent Cherry Blossom Scenery & Picnic, Fukui - Day Trip
Gorgeous cherry blossom sceneries can be seen along with a long quiet river bank with much less crowds. You feel like the entire cherry blossom is only yours. It is amazingly beautiful! Enjoy walking under a full of cherry blossom. A picnic under the cherry blossom can be provided in the park. After lunch, you have a choice to enjoy 1) the tour of traditional Washi Paper Village and see the artisan creates washi or 2) visiting the Knife Village to view how Echizen Knives are handmade.
Other Popular Art, Culture, & Historical Tours in Fukui
Kanazawa -Loop Bus Tour
This tour is the best for first-time travelers to Kanazawa.A one day pass (JPY 500) for city loop bus can cover MUST-SEE sites in the city.We start from and end at JR Kanazawa station, basically visiting 4 places such as Omicho Market, Nagamachi Samurai District, Kenroku-en Garden and Higashichaya-gai (Tea House Street ).
Touch the Craftsmanship: Washi Paper making in Echizen
We will begin with a hands-on paper-making experience lectured by craftmen. Then let's visit to a studio specializing in large-format washi used by painters. Finally, we will visit Otaki Shrine, known for having one of the most intricate roofs in Japan. As we stroll along the river through the peaceful village, you'll discover the rich atmosphere of Echizen Washi village, where papermaking has thrived for over 1,500 years. Discover the deep spirituality and craftsmanship lies in paker making.
Eiheiji temple & Fukui Dinosaur museum one-day tour
Tour itinerary 9:03 Kanazawa station 11:11 Fukui Dinosaur Museum, see Dinosaur exhibition, and have a lunch 14:02 leave the museum 15:09 Eiheiji temple, visit the temple 17:15 leave the temple 18:47 arrive at Kanazawa station
