Handmade paper Mino-Washi and traditional swords of SEKI
Joined 2015
You enjoy two distinctive fields of Japanese culture by visiting two small towns in one day trip. The one is Mino which is famous for Japanese hand-made paper Washi. Another one is Seki famous for Japanese-swordsmith. Strolling around two towns, you will learn some of secrets of cool Japan.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At JR Gifu Station
- in front of the ticket gate at 7:50AM
JR Gifu station
leave Gifu by 8:11-train
Mino old town district
Mino city was established as a castle town and prospered through production of Washi-paper. The center district of the city is well preserved as one of the important traditional building areas in Japan. You could take a leisurely stroll through the historic townscape Which dates back to the Edo period
Former Imaike Residence
This building was constructed in the end of the 19th century and used as a Washi-paper wholesale merchant's house. The chief of a family also served as the a headman of this town. You could get detailed information about a typical townhouse of the Edo period.
Mino-Washi Akari Art Gallery
This gallery provides you a fantastic atmosphere made by collaboration with paper-art and lights. Many competition masterpieces are on display telling the possibility of paper in daily lives.
Lunch
Seki Traditional Sword Smith MUseum
In this museum, you could learn about the history and the process of Japanese swordsmith.
Feather Museum (The world's First Comprehensive Museum)
This museum was established by the biggest safety razor company in Japan and provide you an eye-opening experience and knowledge of cutlery
Knife Factory
You visit one of the workshops manufacturing high-quality knives. The company prospered business handing down traditional concept of swordsmith production.
JR JR Minota station
JR Gifu station
Ending Point
At JR Gifu 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
guide fee
transportation fee about 4000yen/person
entrance fee for guests (Mino-Washi Akari Art Gallery 200yen/person, Former Imaike Residence 300yen/person, Seki Traditional Sword Smith Museum 300yen/person)
lunch and beverages about 3000-5000yen/person
Tour Important Information
Mino is a small castle-town surrounded by mountains. Mino is, however, also one of the hometowns of the traditional Japanese hand-made paper“WASHI”. It was registered as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2014. You can not only see goods and works of art made from WASHI but stroll around the traditional housing area which includes some excellent souvenir shops. I promise you will find and experience traditional Japan by exploring this cozy old town.
Seki is famous for being one of five samurai-swordsmith manufacturing towns in Japan since 14th century. You can see an authentic sword-hammering performance in the Seki Traditional Sword Smith Museum on the first Sunday of every months. Now, since Seki is known for high-quality knives and cutlery production, In the end, you visit a factory to see and learn how those high-quality products are made. You can also buy products at reasonable prices compared to other stores around Japan.
Important message from the supplier
I can guide in Kyoto in case you support transportation fee.
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 2015
About Tour Guide Tetsuji Y.
Hello everyone. I am Tetsuji. I worked as a public servant in the local government for 35 years. I belonged to the department of Redevelopment, Town-Landscaping, Preserving historical areas and Architectural Guidance. (I have a national 1st-class architect license.) I devoted myself to revitalizing the city by making plans and improving infrastructure for citizens.
Gifu is located in central Japan near Nagoya. As just being the crossroads of the West and the East, there are many unique attractions that are hard to discover in hectic big cities like Tokyo or Kyoto. I had a hand in restoring and preserving some of them throughout my career and want to introduce them to tourists from abroad. That’s why I became a guide-interpreter in Gifu.
I also enjoyed traveling around the world. My favorite part of each trip was walking around the city and talking with local residents. Traveling has taught me lots of things during my lifetime. Now, I would like to help others have similar experience in Japan. Shall we enjoy fantastic journey in Gifu?
Reviews
Kelioniu A.
“Great time in Tsumago & Magome”
We liked our Nakasendo hike very much. With help of excellent guide, we were even able to visit local museum. Great time and really recommend our guide Mr Tetsuji.
Tetsuji Y.
I am grateful to hear that you are satisfied with my tour, including some praise for me. I hope to accept new requests of guiding from you.
Michelle B.
“Beautiful tour!”
We thoroughly enjoyed our day on the Nakaswndo trail with Tetsuji! He added to our experience with explaining history of the trail and stories of edo era Japan. The walk was beautiful scenery and we loved the tea house we stopped at halfway between Magome and Tsumago. He also did his research prior to the tour to find a Gluten free place to have lunch and helped explain my allergy to the staff of the restaurant. Tetsuji was great and I highly recommend! I will add, the bus system was different from everywhere else we went so it was super helpful to have him there to guide us through it. We added money to our IC card the day prior and found out the day of that the bus system only used yen so keep that in mind. Thankfully we had enough yen on us, but just keep that in mind...you cannot use your IC card for transportation.
Tetsuji Y.
I appreciate lots of praise for my guiding with useful information on transportation in Japan for others. Your explanation is persuasive for others to travel around Japan. I hope to see you without difficulties near future.
Alfonso B.
“Takayama and Shirakawago with Tetsuji”
Tetsuji was an excellent tourist guide. He was our guide first in Takayama and the next day in Shirakawago. He was very cordial and helpful. I recommend him!
Tetsuji Y.
I appreciate your kind words for me. I really had a very happy time with you for two days. I hope that you will come back Japan and spend some time with me again.
$118/ per group
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