HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Joboji Lacquerware Showroom and Workshop
Experience authentic lacquerware and the skills of master artisans up close in Japan’s premier lacquerware region
Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization
Iwate Prefecture’s Ninohe is an area that is rich in lacquer trees and boasts Japan’s largest domestic production area, accounting for approximately 80% of the nation’s domestic lacquer. The history of Joboji lacquer is ancient, originating in the Heian period (794–1185), yet after being cherished for centuries, it faced difficult times due to changing eras, lifestyles, and the influx of cheaper imported lacquer.
However, Joboji lacquerware was revived locally. In 2020, the region’s lacquer culture was given Japan Heritage status under the title Joboji Lacquerware and the Appi River Basin, and the “lacquer-tapping technique” was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
At the core of this revival is Tekiseisha, a workshop in Ninohe City that exhibits and sells lacquerware as well as crafts made using Joboji lacquer. Tekiseisha features a showroom and workshop where visitors can handle lacquerware while observing artisans applying multiple layers of lacquer. Witnessing the meticulous brushwork reveals the tradition of crafting lacquerware that embodies functional beauty and durability.
Visitors can even take part in the guided lacquer tag polishing experience. Here, participants learn about lacquer’s properties and take home a souvenir in the form of a small tag with a strap that they polished themselves. Tekiseisha is a hub where you can enjoy authentic traditional techniques and casual hands-on experiences all in one place.
How to get there
From Tokyo Station, take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Ninohe Station (about 2 hours and 40 minutes). From Ninohe Station, it takes about 35 minutes by bus and on foot to reach Tekiseisha.
23-6 Onyama Nakamaeta Joboji-machi, Ninohe-shi, Iwate-ken
