The resort town of Yamanaka Onsen, about 325 miles (523.03 km) west of Tokyo, claims a long history of tourism: Japanese have been drawn to its restorative hot springs ringed in misty mountains for some 1,300 years. While the springs are the main draw, there’s another attraction: a vibrant craft community that produces Yamanaka shikki, a distinctive lacquerware that shows off the wood grain of hand-hewn bowls, cups, and teaware.
The tradition goes back generations. Wood craftsmen settled in the region’s densely forested mountains in the 16th century so they could be near the source of their material. Gradually, they moved closer to the hot springs, where they could sell their wares as souvenirs.
The resort town of Yamanaka Onsen is known for Japanese lacquerware
Today you can barely walk a single block of the main street, Yuge Kaido, without passing a shop that sells lacquerware. (Even the liquor store has a selection of wooden bowls.) Among them, Bunpeido sells traditional examples, some decorated with ornate gold designs. Others, like Gato Mikio, showcase modern designs with matte finishes.
Shop the best travel experiences here
Both also sell a lesser-known product: wagatabon, ridged trays chiselled from a single piece of chestnut. Aside from shopping, travellers can gain insight into how these objects are made by visiting artisans’ workshops with the guide company Craftour or making their own bowls at Mokume.
Related Stories
For a different approach to lacquerware, try a kaiseki dinner arranged on Yamanaka shikki as part of a stay at one of the town’s ryokan, the Kayotei or Hanamurasaki. And at a little bar called Engawa, proprietor Yusuke Shimoki serves regional sakes in his exquisite collection of lacquerware cups, selecting the bottle best matched to the season and the weather.
Book your stay at Shirasagiyu Tawaraya via Booking.com
Book your stay at Shirasagiyu Tawaraya via Agoda.com
(Hero and feature image credit: Yuki Nishihana/Engawa)
This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com
Related: 25 Most Beautiful Places In Japan
Written By
