Private Echizen Washi Paper Making Experience and Walking Tour

Imadate—The Echizen washi paper town with a 1,500-year history. It is said that many years ago, one beautiful woman came down from the mountains and taught the locals in the village how to make washi paper, and that was how Echizen paper came to be. Join this tour for a walk around town in Imadate and stop by two Japanese paper-making workshops, Ryozo’s Paper Mill and Oda Washi. Ryozo’s Paper Mill is home to Kyoko Yanase, a designated traditional draftsperson and the third head of the paper mill and several other women artisans. They are a paper mill that mainly makes kakegami used by traditional sweet shops and wrapping paper. Ryozo’s Paper Mill continues to welcome visitors for its paper-making experiences and workshop tours to spread the word about Echizen paper. Oda Washi is a paper-making workshop with a history that goes back more than a century. While they specialize in making oversized Washi paper, they also create original products such as trinkets and accessories you may find yourself wanting to use in your daily life. Not only will you get to see the actual sites where Washi paper is made, this tour will also take you to a charming shop on the premises where you can see trinkets made by Oda Washi using Washi paper.