Nagano: Japanese Lacquerware Craft Tour in the Kiso Valley

This tour takes you beyond simple sightseeing and into the rich world of Kiso lacquerware, one of Nagano’s traditional crafts. Lacquerware is not only beautiful to look at; it is also a craft made for daily life, shaped by wood, refined through layers of urushi lacquer, and finished with techniques that create depth, shine, texture, and warmth. At the Kiso Lacquerware Museum, you will learn about the tools, materials, and traditional methods behind each piece, including how different techniques create different expressions. After this background, you will walk through Kiso-Hirasawa, a historic craft town where lacquerware is still part of local life. With your guide, you will visit local shops, compare bowls, trays, chopsticks, cups, and handcrafted items, and learn to appreciate subtle differences in finish, feel, and use. Ideal for travelers who want to understand Japanese craftsmanship not only as art, but as everyday beauty shaped by local history and skilled makers.

1. 1

   Stop 1

   50 min

   Kiso Lacquerware Museum introduces the history, techniques, tools, and finished works of Kiso lacquerware, a traditional craft that has developed in the Kiso Valley over generations. Inside the museum, guests can see a wide range of lacquerware, from elegant everyday items to works by master artisans, and learn how different urushi techniques create distinctive textures, colors, and finishes. The museum also displays tools and materials used in the production process, helping visitors understand the patience, precision, and craftsmanship behind each lacquered piece. This visit provides an essential foundation before walking through Kiso-Hirasawa and seeing lacquerware in local shops.

2. 2

   Stop 2

   1 hour

   Kiso-Hirasawa is a historic lacquerware town in Nagano’s Kiso Valley, known as one of the main centers of Kiso lacquerware. Located along the former Nakasendo route between Edo and Kyoto, the area developed as a craft town where woodwork and lacquerware became closely connected to the local landscape and way of life. Today, visitors can still walk through streets lined with traditional buildings and lacquerware shops, where a wide variety of bowls, trays, chopsticks, cups, and other handcrafted items are displayed. During the tour, guests will visit local shops, compare different styles and finishes, and learn how to appreciate lacquerware not only as a beautiful craft, but also as something designed for everyday use.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.