🗺️ Fukui Glasses Museumめがねミュージアム

Fukui Prefecture holds a 95% market share in Japan's eyeglass frame industry. Among them, Sabae City is renowned worldwide for its exquisite craftsmanship and high quality. In the museum, visitors can not only learn about the evolution of eyeglasses over more than a century of history but also experience making their own custom eyeglasses in the workshop. Additionally, the attached eyeglass shop offers the latest models produced in Fukui Prefecture. The eyeglass manufacturing industry in Sabae, Fukui, was initiated by Masunaga Gozaemon, known as the "founder of domestic eyeglasses," who gathered eyeglass craftsmen from Osaka to promote it as a side business for farmers. Later, as specialized manufacturers divided labor for various components, the entire Sabae area transformed into a large factory for eyeglass production. The museum showcases various exhibits that illustrate the changes in eyeglasses from the Edo period to the Showa period, allowing visitors to personally experience the history and evolution of eyeglass manufacturing techniques. In the experience workshop, challenge yourself to create your own unique eyeglass frame. After selecting the material for the plastic frame, your preferred colors, and shapes, you will proceed with shaping, cutting, and polishing to craft a one-of-a-kind frame. Additionally, you can freely choose from a variety of colorful acetate frame materials to create your own original keychain.

The "Experience Workshop" requires 1 to 7 hours for the experience (reservation is required in advance). It also features a shop and café that gathers famous sweets from Sabae City.