3 must-visit shops while strolling around Nara’s world heritage sites to experience Nara’s traditional crafts

Nara prefecture is famous for Nara’s world heritage sites including Todaiji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine and Nara Park. In these days, ‘Experience-based Tour’ gathers attention from tourists for Nara: events that are held at the same time temples and shrines are specially opened, local traditional events and workshops to experience making traditional crafts. You can learn the technique of ancestors and charms of each area well through experience. This time, we’re going to introduce 3 recommended shops near Nara’s world heritage sites from among ones allowing us to make traditional crafts related to Nara prefecture.

All of the shops is within 15 minutes’ walking distance from Kintetsu Nara Station which is the nearest station of Todaiji Temple.

Open-work engraved on beautifully dyed Japanese paper catch your eyes -“Ikeda Gankodo” making Nara’s traditional paper fan

Japan’s first paper fan is “Nara Paper Fan (Nara Uchiwa, 奈良団扇).” It was born at Kasuga Taisha Shrine about 1,300 years ago, and new paper fans with open-work showing portraits of actor and Nara’s seasonal features appear in the 1700s. Even now, they retain their beauty like artworks and can be used for over 30 years if carefully used. Having more than 70 years of history, “Ikeda Gankodo (池田含香堂)” is the only Nara paper fan specialty shop in Japan. They create elegant paper fans by their hands with their traditional method and tools that have been handed down since the company was founded. Besides, they often hold workshops (the necessary time is about two hours). While listening to their kind explanation, let’s try making your original Nara paper fan! After the workshop finish, craftsmen put the finishing touches to it and send you.

Opening Hours	9:00AM – 7:00PM September to March Closed on Monday／April to August No Holidays *If you want to participate in workshop, you should make a reserve by a week before.
Address	16 Tsunofuri-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
Access	A 4-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station／A 4-minute walk from Hotel Fujita Nara
URL	https://www.narauchiwa.com/

Try to make nationally designated traditional craft, Nara Fude! -“Nara Fude Tanaka”

Do you know one of the nationally designated traditional crafts, “Nara Fude (Nara Brush, 奈良筆)? Brought from China 1,200 years ago, Nara Fude is made from more than 10 kinds of animal hairs such as goats and horses, rabbits and squirrels. At “Nara Fude Tanaka (奈良筆 田中),” a female craftsman tells you how to make the brush gently and politely. There are two courses: ‘Hokubi Shiage Course’ (the necessary time is 30 minutes) and ‘Fudejiku Kurikomi Kotei kara Hokubi Shiage Course’ (the necessary time is one hour). The former allows you to make brush while combining animal hairs, and the latter does you to make brush and handle. In addition, don’t forget to watch the traditional technique of craftsmen that has been passed down!

Opening Hours	11:00AM – 5:00PM　Irregular Holiday *If you want to participate in workshop, you should call them.
Address	6 Kunodo-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
Access	A 15-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station／A 18-minute walk from Hotel Fujita Nara
URL	http://www.narafude.jp/files/nara_fude.html

Melted wax creates unique patterns -“rooftop Naramachi Somekobo” giving us a chance to experience ‘ Roketsuzome’

Reference from rooftop Naramachi Somekobo Official Website

“Roketsuzome (ろうけつ染め)” is one of Japan’s traditional dyeing methods, and it was brought from China in the 700s when Nara was the capital of Japan. It uses the resistance of wax to prevent dye bleeds and create patterns in the fabric. Its feature is that the cracking of the wax creates irregular patterns. When visiting “rooftop Naramachi Somekobo (rooftopならまち染工房), you can experience Roketsuzome while seeing a relaxing view of the five-storied pagoda in Kofukuji Temple and Mt. Wakakusa. There are two kinds of workshops: ‘Handkerchief Workshop’ and ‘Panel Workshop’ that dyed cloth is attached to a wooden panel. The time required for both is about 2 hours. A female dyeing artist will teach you dyeing techniques, who creates artworks and clothing with dyed cloth and designs cloth used for clothing of a fashion brand.

Opening Hours	10:00AM – 5:00PM　Closed on Wednesday and Thursday *If you want to participate in workshop, you should call them.
Address	Shibata Building 3F, 35 Higashijodo-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture
Access	A 7-minute walk from Kintetsu Nara Station／A 8-minute walk from Hotel Fujita Nara
URL	https://www.rooftop-nara.net/