Private Walking Tour Through a Legendary Paper-making Town

Deep dive into traditional paper-making with a workshop and a visit to a washi-related shrine

The town of Imadate has a history of making washi (traditional Japanese paper) dating back to the fifth century. According to legend, Echizen washi originated with the visit of a goddess, who descended from the nearby mountains and taught the villagers how to make it. Now you can experience the charms of this historic town on a walking tour to a number of washi-related sites. (Imadate is now the city of Echizen due to a merger of communities.)

You’ll first make your way to the Yanase Ryozo Paper Mill, a Japanese paper-making workshop. Here, they produce hand-made paper called “kogami,” which is also used to wrap Japanese sweets. You’ll watch the production of paper using special molds, called the “rakusui” technique. You’ll want to drop into the specialty shop that sells Echizen washi products just next to the mill to browse the wide range of items for sale. A short walk away is the Osada Washi workshop, where artisans have made paper for generations. They will describe the types of raw materials used and the various methods that are applied in the production. The last stop on your walk through town is the Okamoto-Otaki Shrine, where Japan’s goddess of washi is enshrined under an impressive swooping cypress roof. 
 

Access: From Tokyo Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Fukui Station (three hours) and continue by train to Takefu Station (20 minutes). From there, take a bus to the washi village, Washi no Sato (30 minutes). The village is a short walk from the bus stop.
From Kyoto Station, take the Thunderbird Line to Tsuruga Station (one hour), followed by the Hapi Line Fukui from Tsuruga Station to Takefu Station (30 minutes).

Private Echizen Washi Paper-making Experience and Walking Tour（General Incorporated Association SOE）