Private Echizen Knife Smithing Experience and Walking Tour
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Visit 2 workshops on this tour: Yamaken Woodworks specializes in making products with patterns that are rare even in Japan. Ryusen Hamono forges kitchen knives known for their uniquely beautiful ripple patterns. Despite the use of the term “kitchen knife,” you will encounter the pride in the differing beliefs behind them, and you may start viewing kitchen knives differently. Echizen cutlery: A traditional craft of Fukui. Echizen cutlery has been drawing attention in Japan and from overseas. One reason for this is the keen edges forged by their artisans. Join this tour to visit 2 workshops involved in Echizen cutlery: Yamaken Woodworks, which makes the patterns, and Ryusen Hamono, which makes the cutlery. The first stop is Yamaken Woodworks, which specializes in producing patterns for traditional cutlery. As part of the tour, you will visit both their workshop and etoe, a gallery that has been built next to it. etoe is the only specialty store in Japan that sells patterns for traditional knives. At this stop, you can see the lineup offered by the shop managed by Yamaken Woodworks. The other workshop you will visit is Ryusen Hamono, which is known overseas for the high quality of its designs and its excellent techniques. One of the unique traits of their cutlery is the beautiful Ryusen pattern that you can find adorning its surfaces. This is thanks to a unique technique passed on by the artisans at Ryusen Hamono by forging the knives using a technique in which layers of hard and soft materials are folded over one another. Be sure to keep an eye out for the Ryusen pattern during the tour.
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Information
- Minimum Number of Passengers
- 2 participants
- Maximum Capacity
- 4 participants
- Participation Restrictions
- Children 10 years old or over can participate (middle school students and younger children need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian).
- Meeting and Exchange Areas
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Udatsu Craft Center, Echizen Washi Village
9-21-2 Shinzaike-cho, Echizen-shi, Fukui Prefecture - Open Period
- Year-round
- Meeting Times and Business Hours
- Tour Schedule
- 9:30 a.m./2:00 p.m. Echizen Chiyozuru Museum (Meet at the designated time and location) Tour orientation (time required: about 10 minutes) > 9:40 a.m./2:10 p.m. Walk to Yamaken Woodworks (time required: about 10 minutes) > 9:50 a.m./2:20 p.m. Visit Yamaken Woodworks’ workshop (time required: about 40 minutes) > 10:30 a.m./3:00 p.m. Visit Yamaken Woodworks’ shop (time required: about 20 minutes) > 10:50 a.m./3:20 p.m. Walk to Ryusen Hamono (time required: about 10 minutes) > 11:00 a.m./3:30 p.m. Visit Ryusen Hamono’s workshop (time required: about 40 minutes) > 11:40 a.m./4:10 p.m. Visit Ryusen Hamono’ shop (time required: about 20 minutes) > 12:00 p.m./4:30 p.m. Tour ends and participants are free to go
- Required Time
- Around 2.5 hours
- Provision of Meals
- Meals are not provided
- Universal accessibility
- Not accessible (due to unpaved roads)
- Parking
- Yes
- Notes
- The tour may be canceled if the minimum number of participants is not reached or if weather conditions prevent the tour from taking place. If either occurs, our company will contact you the day before the event. In such instances, no refunds will be provided.
- Related websites
- https://craftinvitation.jp/en/workshop/cit1001/
This basic information is current at the time of publication and is subject to change.
Please check the official website for the latest information.
