Meeting the kijishi artisans, who have lived with wood for 1,000 years
Wood has long been a part of the lives and culture of people in Japan in the form of everyday and industrial tools, building materials, furniture/furnishings, and more. Beginning with the first imperial prince in the mid-9th century, vassals were ordered to explore and acquire the technique of woodturning. In this craft, a plane is used to smooth and shape wood pieces into various types of serving dishes. These skillful wood lathe craftspersons went on to become known as “kijishi”.
The group of kijishi that has comprised their descendants moved to the Urushibata district in the town of Nagiso, located in the southern Kiso Valley, during the 1800s. Utilizing their master techniques, they follow the wood grain of the trees found deep in the Kiso forests, including horse chestnut, zelkova, chestnut and cherry, to craft exquisite works such as bowls and plates. Such Nagiso lathed woodcraft grew in popularity, reaching areas such as Nagoya and Osaka via the Nakasendo and Sanshu kaido routes. In 1980, the art was designated by the government as a Special Traditional Craft.
Through this program, your will be able to craft your own plate utilizing the art of lathed woodcraft under the guidance of a working kijishi in the Urushibata district in the town of Nagiso, which is the only hamlet in all of Japan where the art has been passed down through the generations until the present day.
This is a magnificent opportunity to pay respect to the life of a tree while spending time with these seasoned kijishi masters.
Culture
・Special program guided by a kijishi (master craftsperson who shapes wood using a spinning lathe)
・Visit the guide’s studio to learn about the wood-shaping craft from both the historical and present-day perspectives
・Use the wheel to try your hand at this longstanding artisanal technique by shaping our own wooden plate.
・Take home your own Kiso hinoki cypress chopsticks as a souvenir
17,000 JPY~
Nagiso Town Tourism Association
Between 09:00 ~ 17:00
(The time can be arranged according to your request. The activity duration is approx. 90 min, depending on the total number of participants.)
Between 09:00 ~ 17:00
(Your itinerary can be arranged according to your request.)
Kijishi no Sato
Kijishi no Sato
(Onsite parking available.)
20 min. by car from Nagiso Station (JR Chuo Main Line), 15 min. by car from Tsumago-juku.
Year-round
5 yrs and above
30 days prior
Minimum 4 Maximum 12
(Please contact us re. requests for 1 to 3 persons.)
Wood sawing fragments may adhere to clothing, so please feel free to bring an apron.
1
Because this takes place indoors, even those with limited physical fitness abilities will have no problem participating.
2
The spinning lathe requires a certain level of manual dexterity to produce a wooden plate, but the guide will be on hand to offer careful instruction, so beginners may participate with no problem.
English guide fee, woodturing experience fee.
Transportation to/from the meeting point, insurance (please purchase travel insurance in your own country), anything else not specified in “what is included” above.
(The bank transfer fees are responsibility of the participants)
N/A
[Cancellation at customer’s convenience]
-7 days to 2 days prior to the reserved date: 25%
-One day prior to the reserved date: 50%
-On the day of the reserved date & No-show: 100%
[Cancellation at the discretion of the organizer]
-In case of inclement weather, we will make a decision the previous day and notify you only if the program has been cancelled.
-If the tour is cancelled on the day of the tour prior to the start of the program, no cancellation fee will be charged.
-Depending on the weather conditions once the tour begins, the route may be changed or the tour may be cancelled. No refunds will be given in this case.