🗺️ Echizen Washi Village越前和紙の里

The Imadate area is a renowned production site for Echizen washi (Japanese paper). Along the 230-meter-long "Washi Village," there are several facilities related to Echizen washi, including the PAPYRUS Museum, the Udat Craft Museum, and the Paper Culture Museum. Visitors can engage with the history and culture of washi from various perspectives through experiences like paper-making, as well as viewing and reading displayed materials. At the PAPYRUS Museum, visitors can take on the challenge of paper-making experiences. You can try creating pressed flowers, colored paper with added dyes, placemats, and embroidered curtains. In the paid experiences (some of which require reservations), you can also attempt techniques like "dropping water," which involves painting three-dimensional patterns. Additionally, you can make handprints, round fans, and lamps that project soft light through washi. The Udat Craft Museum, reconstructed from a paper-making house from the mid-Edo period, offers a unique opportunity to observe traditional craftsmen at work. It is said to be the only place of its kind in the country. Here, you can closely observe scenes of washi paper-making using ancient traditional tools. In the Paper Culture Museum, the history of the origins of Echizen washi and the daily lives of washi workers are conveyed in a simple and easy-to-understand manner through materials, screens, and videos. A variety of Echizen washi and numerous works created with washi are also on display.

On the approximately 230-meter street, there are many facilities and shops related to washi (和紙). The street is paved with stone slabs and has benches. On both sides of the street, there are dining establishments and cafes.