This tour is based at a 5-star hotel in Fukui City and offers a variety of cultural experiences in the surrounding areas,
mainly in the “Urushi no Sato” and Kawada area of Sabae City by hired car.
The main concept of the tour is “to experience the beauty and technique of lacquerware.
The main concept of the tour is “to experience the beauty and techniques of lacquerware,
and to become familiar with the delicate techniques of lacquerware.
Visitors will experience kintsugi (metal-joining) and Echizen pottery under the guidance of traditional craftsmen,
and feel the depth of traditional crafts.
From beginners to experienced craftspeople, we promise a fulfilling time that anyone can enjoy.
The experience includes a kintsugi demonstration and hands-on kintsugi making at the Urushi no Sato Kaikan
and a hands-on experience of making vessels at the Echizen Pottery studio,
allowing visitors to experience the Japanese spirit of valuing things through pottery and kintsugi making.
The finale of the tour is a completion ceremony with the traditional craftsman who taught the kintsugi skills to the participants,
and a sake ceremony with limited sake made from rice produced
in the Kawada area of Urushi no Sato, providing an even more luxurious and special experience.
This plan allows visitors to fully experience the traditions and charms of the Fukui Sabae area
through a luxurious experience of traditional crafts in the great outdoors,
in-depth exchanges with traditional craftspeople, and luxurious accommodations.
First, depart by car to Urushi-no-Sato Kaikan.
Transportation will be provided by a comfortable hired car, so you can enjoy a pleasant time without feeling tired from the trip.
We will first board a hired car and head for the Kawada area in the mountains of Sabae City. This area is said to be the birthplace of Japan's lacquer culture, and many master lacquer craftsmen still have their studios in the area. Here, you will visit the Urushi-no-Sato Kaikan, where you can learn about lacquer culture and lacquerware, and also visit the maki-e workshop of traditional craftsman Naganobu Komamoto, where you can enjoy the smooth beauty of lacquerware and the delicate maki-e process.
Echizen is a treasure house of traditional crafts such as cutlery, Japanese paper, and pottery, in addition to lacquer. The tour will stop at an Echizen pottery studio, where you can experience authentic pottery making using a potter's wheel.
Echizen Pottery is said to have a history of over 850 years and is characterized by its simple taste.
You will be deeply moved by the Echizen Pottery you have created with your own hands while feeling the traditional techniques. We will deliver the baked items to your home after they have been created.
Overnight stay will be at the 5-star Courtyard by Marriott Fukui hotel in Fukui City. Located in the center of Fukui City, which is becoming even more bustling with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, the hotel is conveniently accessible. You will stay in a room and authentic cuisine for high-end guests.
Kintsugi is a technique unique to Japan. The technique of repairing cracked or chipped vessels by taking advantage of the cracks and chips, rather than restoring them to their original state, is attracting much attention overseas.
Since ancient times, exchanging sake cups has been a symbol of a strong relationship in Japan.
After the kintsugi experience, the traditional craftsman who taught the kintsugi technique hands out a “certificate of master and apprentice” to the guests, who then exchange sake cups to seal the bond between master and apprentice. Each guest who has been certified as a kintsugi apprentice will receive a kintsugi set, allowing them to enjoy kintsugi even after they return home.
The kintsugi process involves repairing broken or chipped Echizen ware.
Under the guidance of a master, the kintsugi vessel will be given as a gift after the experience!
Your own, one-of-a-kind kintsugi vessel will surely be a treasure for a lifetime.
For sightseeing in the area, a walk around Eiheiji Temple and Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum are recommended.
There are two recommended spots to visit during your free time. The first is Eiheiji Temple. Opened by Zen master Dogen in 1244, this Zen training center is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Fukui Prefecture. Visitors can experience zazen, or the quietness of the temple, so that they can face themselves and feel the world of Zen close at hand.
The Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum will reopen in 2023, with dinosaurs as its main theme. In the atrium of the exhibition hall, dinosaur fossil specimens are displayed in a crowded row, and a life-size Tyrannosaurus robot is in the center of the room. Visitors will feel as if they have stepped back in time to the Cretaceous Period.
Visiting a hammered cutlery workshop in Fukui
Visitors can tour the Saji Uchihamono workshop, which has a special presence among Echizen Uchihamono cutlery with a 700-year history, and the Takefu Knife Village, which features a large workshop. A variety of knives and cutlery polished by master craftsmen are recommended as souvenirs.
| Tour Name | Echizen Craft Treasure “Hon-urushi Kintsugi” Experience Tour in Sabae |
|---|---|
| Length | 3 days and 2 nights |
| Area | Fukui Prefecture (Sabae City, Fukui City) |
| eat | Breakfast on Day 2 and Day 3 (hotel meals) Lunch on Day 2 (near the experience location) is included. |
| Guide | Available (Japanese, English, Turkish) |
| Price | From 375,000 yen/person |
The hotel is conveniently located in a key location for major transportation in downtown Fukui. The comfortable atmosphere blends sophistication and style with a touch of glamour to provide guests with a special hotel experience.
| Lodging | 3 days and 2 nights |
|---|---|
| Dinner | Breakfast on the 2nd day, breakfast on the 3rd day |
| Check in | 3:00 p.m. - 24:00 p.m., Check-out: ~12:00 p.m. |
| Room | superior |