Echizen — Crafts and Nature
LAND OF NATURE AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

Echizen — crafts and nature

Visit the artisan centers of ceramics, washi paper, and knives, and enjoy views of the five lakes.

  • Duration: 9 hours (starting at 8:30)
  • Price: On request
  • Departure: Departure and return at hotels in Kanazawa

Overview

Echizen, nestled between the Sea of Japan and the surrounding mountains of the Hokuriku region, has cultivated a culture of craftsmanship for over a thousand years. Echizen ceramics, born from iron-rich clay; Echizen washi paper, created thanks to the purest water; and Echizen forged goods, a tradition spanning more than 700 years. Each of these crafts relies on the gifts of nature, continually refining both the natural beauty of the materials and their practical value.

 

On this journey, you will visit three renowned Echizen craft centers—ceramics, washi, and the forging center—to discover their artistry and history. In the afternoon, ascend to a hilltop overlooking the Five Lakes of Mikata. As you gaze at the mountains and waters that nourish these crafts, you will feel the unique connection between nature and culture that defines this region.

 

Travel from Kanazawa to Tsuruga in comfort aboard the Green Car of the Hokuriku Shinkansen. From there, a private car will guide you through the craft villages and scenic sites of Fukui at a leisurely pace.

 

Itinerary: Hotel in Kanazawa → Kanazawa (Hokuriku Shinkansen) → Tsuruga → Echizen Ceramics Village → Echizen Washi Paper Village → Takefu Knife Village → seasonal lunch → Rainbow Line observation deck with views of the Five Lakes of Mikata → Tsuruga (Hokuriku Shinkansen) → Kanazawa → hotel.

Key Features

  1. Echizen Ceramics Village — Echizen ceramics emerged as a center of pottery production at the end of the Heian period, about 850 years ago. It is one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan, along with Seto, Tokoname, Shigaraki, Tamba, and Bizen, and was recognized as a cultural heritage site of Japan in 2017.
  2. Echizen Washi Village — A village that has preserved the tradition of handmade papermaking for 1,500 years. Echizen paper was presented to the imperial family and is considered one of the most prestigious washi in Japan. The village is still home to the Okata shrine, dedicated to the goddess of paper.
  3. Echizen ceramics — At Echizen-no-Sato, you can observe every stage of pottery making—from clay preparation to firing in wood-burning kilns. More than 200 pottery kilns have been discovered in this area, and many of them are still in operation today.
  4. Mikata Goko — The five lakes Mikata, Suigetsu, Suga, Kugushi, and Hiruga differ in salinity and depth, giving each lake's surface its own unique shade of blue. A Ramsar Convention site, they are a symbol of Wakasa Bay Quasi-National Park.
  5. Rainbow Line — At the summit of Mount Baijodake, at an altitude of about 400 meters, lies an observation park. Here, the blue hues of the Five Lakes merge with the colors of the Sea of Japan and the sky, creating the so-called "Seven Shades of Blue." This is the only place offering a panoramic view of all five lakes.
  6. Takefu Knife Village — Visit Takefu Knife Village—the center of the renowned Echizen blade craft, where masters of different generations work under one roof. Discover the art of Japanese blacksmithing and the traditions that have been carefully preserved here for over 700 years.

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