[Fukui/Echizen] Echizen manufacturing production area tour around the traditional craft production area of ​​Echizen Japanese paper

``Imadate, the town of Echizen washi with a history of 1,500 years.'' It is said that Echizen washi began when a beautiful woman came down from the mountains and taught the villagers how to make washi. On this tour, you will walk around Imadate and visit two Japanese paper making workshops, Ryozo Yanase Paper Mill and Nagata Paper Mill. The large torii gate at the entrance of Imadate is an eye-catching photo spot. Other than that, one of the pleasures of traveling is finding your own favorite points while walking around the city, such as the nostalgic townscapes with history and the mountains covered with clouds on rainy days. ▼▼▼ First of all, let me introduce you to the Japanese paper making studio, Ryozo Yanase Paper Mills. At the workshop, you can see the molds used in the technique of mold rakusui paper, and experience making Japanese paper using mold rakusui paper. (Depending on the day, we may not be able to tour the studio, and in that case we may use video to explain.) ▼▼▼ After the paper-making experience, visit the Echizen Washi specialty shop "RYOZO" attached to the studio. Let's take a peek. "In order to continue as a production area, I want people to know about the various washi papermaking workshops in this production area." With this in mind, RYOZO offers a variety of washi accessories from the washi papermaking workshops in the production area in addition to its own products. increase. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask Mr. Yanase what kind of workshop they are made in. ▼▼▼ After visiting Ryozo Yanase Paper Mill, we will walk to Nagata Paper Mill. The retro workshop where you can feel the times is the workshop of craftsmen who have been making Japanese paper for generations. At the workshop, you can hear directly from craftsmen about the raw materials of washi, the role of machines, and washi made by various methods. ▼▼▼ After the tour, go to the attached shop. In a complete turn from a workshop that makes large Japanese paper, cute Japanese paper accessories that tickle the hearts of women are lined up. There are also a wide variety of items such as business card holders, torinoko notebooks, and stamp books made from Japanese paper. You may be able to find unique items that catch your eye with unisex designs. After leaving Nagata Paper Mill, walk to your next destination. ▼▼▼ At the end of the trip, visit Otaki Shrine and Okamoto Shrine, which enshrine the god of paper. Kawakami Gozen, the only god of Japanese paper, is enshrined, and the precincts have a calm and soothing atmosphere. You will be overwhelmed by the shrine building with a cypress bark roof designated as an important cultural property of the country! ▼▼▼ And the tour ends here. Finally, we will take a commemorative photo etc. Travel to Imadate, the town watched over by the god of Japanese paper, and experience the techniques and thoughts of craftsmen. Why don't you visit the production area of ​​Echizen Washi?

Women craftsmen such as Ms. Kyoko Yanase, who is also a traditional craftsman and the third generation, are active. A Japanese paper making workshop that mainly produces wrapping paper and wrapping paper used in Japanese confectionery shops. At the Yanase Ryozo Paper Mill, in order to spread the word about Echizen washi, we accept visitors to experience making washi paper and visit the studio.

A Japanese paper making studio with a history of over 100 years. While specializing in making large-sized Japanese paper, they also create original products such as Japanese paper accessories and accessories that you want to use in your daily life. On the tour, in addition to the Japanese paper production site, you can also see Japanese paper accessories made at the Nagata Paper Mill at the quaint shop on the premises.

Kawakami Gozen, the only Japanese paper god in Japan, is enshrined here. The shrine building, which has a complex four-tiered cypress bark roof, has been designated as a national important cultural property and is an impressive building.