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Gokayama Washi Making Experience Hall

Try your hand at papermaking, a tradition dating back to the Edo period!

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Located in the Ainokura Gassho-Style Village, which is registered as a World Heritage site, this facility offers a hands-on paper-making experience.
Visitors can make their own original washi by making paper the size of a place mat and placing pressed flowers or leaves on it.

Gokayama washi, known as "Ecchu washi" along with Yatsuo washi and Birudan washi, is a traditional craft representing Toyama.
Surrounded by deep mountains, it was difficult to grow rice in Gokayama, so washi was delivered to the Kaga Clan as tribute instead.
Washi is made from kouzo, a low-growing tree in the mulberry family, and its fibers are thick and long, making it a strong and durable paper.
It is widely used for shoji paper, paintings, and prints, and is now also used for interior goods and accessories with designs on it.

In Shimonashi, about 2 km down Route 304, there is the Gokayama Washi Workshop (5-minute walk from the Shimonashi stop on the World Heritage Bus), where you can also experience washi making (reservation required).
The workshop is larger in scale than the Gokayama Washi Making Experience Hall, and visitors can observe the process of making washi from raw materials up close to the final papermaking process.
The museum also provides a guided tour of the facility and an explanation of the production process, and is recommended for those who want to learn more about papermaking.
There is also a direct sales shop selling a variety of washi paper and washi goods.

Highlights

  • Visitors can learn about the process of Gokayama washi.
  • Visitors can try their hand at papermaking.

Photos

  • Experience Hall in a gassho-zukuri style house

    Experience Hall in a gassho-zukuri style house

  • Beginners can easily experience the program.

    Beginners can easily experience the program.

  • Washi paper and Japanese paper goods can also be purchased.

    Washi paper and Japanese paper goods can also be purchased.

  • Gokayama Washi is popular for its beautiful design

    Gokayama Washi is popular for its beautiful design

  • Papermaking Village, where you can observe craftsmen at work

    Papermaking Village, where you can observe craftsmen at work

Reviews

Details

Name in Japanese
五箇山和紙漉き体験館
Postal Code
939-1915
Address
Ainokura, Nanto City, Toyama
Telephone
0763-66-2016 (Gokayama Washi)
Closed
Tuesdays and during winter (Gokayama Washi is open during winter, closed on Sundays and holidays from December to April)
Admission
Free of charge (from 700 yen for Washi making experience)
Directions
From JR Shin-Takaoka Station (JR Hokuriku Shinkansen or Johana Line), take the World Heritage Bus to "Ainokura-guchi" and walk 6 minutes.
Credit Cards
Not accepted
Official Website
Official Website (English)