Value Village
Kilns, weavers, breweries, blacksmiths, small local workshops — we have gathered the makers of each region. Large mass-production factories, power plants and dams, public research institutes and museums are not shown here (you can find them in the full list of entries).
2,805 craft and industry entries. Industries other than traditional crafts are included. This is not a list of hands-on programs; whether visitors are accepted, fees and booking contacts have not been confirmed.
73 entries / Page 1 of 4
Writing brushes & nationally designated craft
The brushes of Nara. Kukai is said to have brought the method from Tang China. The technique is nerimaze, in which animal hairs are blended to form the tip.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Solid ink sticks & nationally designated craft
The ink of Nara. Glue is kneaded into soot from rapeseed oil. Almost all of Japan's solid ink is made in this place.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Bamboo crafts & nationally designated craft
The tea whisks of Takayama, Ikoma. Bamboo is split finely and the tines are raised. The area produces most of Japan's tea whisks.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Tea scoops, ladles & bamboo crafts
The tea ceremony utensils of Takayama, Ikoma. Tea scoops and ladles are made of bamboo.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Ceramics & local crafts
Akahada ware of Nara. A white glaze is applied to reddish clay and Nara-e pictures are painted on it.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Openwork carving & paper and bamboo crafts
The fans of Nara. Paper cut in openwork is pasted on. They are said to have begun with fans made by the priests of Kasuga Taisha.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Hemp textiles & bleaching
The bleached cloth of Nara. Hemp cloth is boiled in lye and bleached in the sun until white. In the Edo period it was prized as the cloth for the kamishimo worn by samurai.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Antler working & personal ornaments
The deer antler craft of Nara. Deer antlers are carved into personal ornaments.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Wood carving & coloring
The ittobori carving of Nara. Figures are carved with the chisel marks left visible and painted in rich colors. It began with the dolls of the festivals of Kasuga Taisha.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Lacquerwork & mother-of-pearl inlay
The lacquerware of Nara. It is decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay. The technique goes back to the treasures of the Shosoin.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Masks & colored wood carving
The kogaku masks of Nara. Masks for gigaku and bugaku are carved from wood and painted.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Wood carving & traditional dolls
The dolls of Nara. They are carved from wood.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Washi paper & hand papermaking
The handmade washi of Yoshino. It is made with the water of the Yoshino River and paper mulberry.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Washi paper for cultural property restoration
Uda paper of Yoshino. It is made by mixing white clay into paper mulberry. Used for backing hanging scrolls, it is indispensable to the restoration of cultural properties.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Yoshino timber & bentwood ware
Sanbo stands and Shinto ritual implements made of Yoshino timber. The stands on which offerings are placed before the gods are assembled here.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Woodwork & use of offcuts
Chopsticks of Yoshino cedar. They began with the use of offcuts left from making sake casks.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Woodwork & sake casks
Tubs and barrels of Yoshino cedar. Cedar with tight growth rings is split and bound with bamboo hoops. The area is a producer of sake casks.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Woodwork & lighting design
The openwork carving of Yoshino cedar. Patterns are carved into thinly sawn cedar, which is used for lighting.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Woodwork & household tools
The tsubo-shakushi ladles of Oto. Everyday utensils carved from wood.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Woodwork & festival implements
Mikinokuchi. A ritual ornament set in the mouth of a sake flask, made by shaving wood thin and assembling it.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Clay dolls & folk toys
The Izumo dolls of Yamato. Folk toys made of clay.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Noh masks & wood carving
The Noh masks of Yuzaki, Kawanishi Town. Masks are carved in the place where the legend of the Menzuka mask mound survives.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Woodwork & joinery
The joinery of Yamato. Wood is joined without nails.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
Roof tiles & ceramic industry
The roof tiles of Yamato. Clay is fired hard. The area has produced tiles since ancient times.
Hands-on visits and tours: not confirmed
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