Loading
Search
▼ Butsudan Handicraft Workshop Class
- Category:Experience

JAPAN TRAVEL
Embrace the elegance of traditional Japanese crafts
The battering rain does not obscure the deep serenity of INOUE - one of the very few handcraft Butsudan (Buddhist altar) shops in Japan. This is a quiet, peaceful space in Hikone that offers a comprehensive workshop tour, for everyone to experience the essence of traditional Japanese craftsmanship. Shichi Inoue, the owner of INOUE Butsudan, takes us into the heart of the shop as he introduces the history of butsudan-making and the area. Nanamagari has been a rendezvous for skilled artisans from all around Japan, for well over 350 years, making it the perfect place for butsudan - one that requires meticulous and skilled craftsmanships.
The dying traditions
As we enter the back of the shop where the butsudans are displayed, for a brief moment, we are lost for words. From the intricacy of its nail-less structure and exquisiteness of the sculptures, the butsudans manifest the cultural aesthetics in a tangible form. This is the reason why Mr. Inoue, as the 4th generation owner of the shop, is very, very eager to revive the dying industry. Like his forebears, Mr. Inoue has been dedicated to safeguarding the country’s traditional craftsmanships practices. He tells us that none of the artisans is below 50 years old, but they are all delighted to leverage their expertise, to promote the fading practices to the world through the form of workshops.
Meeting the artisan
The trembling hands of the chaser in his late 50s have no effect on the quality of his work. Being part of the 7 stages of butsudan making, the chaser is responsible for the beautiful decorative metal plates on the butsudan. He demonstrates to us what 40 years of experience really meant by swiftly crafting a complex pattern on the copper plate without much effort. As we get a go with his chisel and hammer, he explains that it takes at least 10 years for anyone to master the techniques. You can see the sadness through his eyes at this point. He sighs that no one is interested to put the effort and time for crafting, and the tools he currently uses, bequeathed from his parents, are the only ones left. The precision and quality of these handmade tools are above par, and there is only one shop left in Japan that could repair his worn-out ones.
Hands-on experience
Out of the three, I chose the Gold Leafing Workshop because it seemed to be very manageable, but I was wrong. Coating a thin layer of lacquer glue is simple enough, but the 0.0001 millimetres thin gold leaf makes it almost impossible to pick even it up without tearing it, not to say pasting it onto the ornament’s surface. The effort and patience do pay off as the end result is phenomenal. Making a reservation
The workshop tour must be reserved a week in advance via the official site. English interpretation service is available, but the tour is limited to 13:30 - 16:00 from Monday to Sunday, except Tuesday and public holidays.
Getting there
The Butsudan Workshop is 20 minutes walk away from Hikone station.By Avery Choi
- September 7, 2018
- Comment (934)
- Trackback(0)
Comment(s) Write comment
online pharmacies canada [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]viagra india pharmacy[/url] buy cheap viagra online uk
viagra without prescription <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">cialis on canadian pharmacy</a> generic viagra buy
viagra without prescription <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">cialis on canadian pharmacy</a> generic viagra buy
-
canadian pharmacy - viagra Web Site
- September 4, 2022
cialis canada pharmacy [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canada online pharmacies[/url] generic viagra canadian
cialis of canada <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">canadian viagra online pharmacy reviews</a> best canadian pharmacies shipping to usa
cialis of canada <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">canadian viagra online pharmacy reviews</a> best canadian pharmacies shipping to usa
-
canadian pharmaceuticals Web Site
- September 4, 2022
walmart viagra price [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]viagra from canadian pharmacy[/url] new viagra
natural alternative to viagra <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">canadian pharmacy viagra online</a> viamedic.com
natural alternative to viagra <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">canadian pharmacy viagra online</a> viamedic.com
-
viagra from canadian pharmacy Web Site
- September 4, 2022
new viagra [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]viagra online canadian pharmacy[/url] cheap medications
viagra.canada <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">cialis canada online pharmacy</a> best place to buy viagra
viagra.canada <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">cialis canada online pharmacy</a> best place to buy viagra
-
brand viagra online canada pharmacy Web Site
- September 4, 2022
pharmacy viagra [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canadian rx pharmacy[/url] viagra online cheap
real cialis <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">cialis online pharmacy</a> lowest price on cialis
real cialis <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">cialis online pharmacy</a> lowest price on cialis
-
canadian overnight pharmacy Web Site
- September 4, 2022
by pills from canada [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canada pharmacies[/url] canadian online pharmacy viagra
viagra canada online <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">pharmacy viagra</a> viagra online sales
viagra canada online <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">pharmacy viagra</a> viagra online sales
-
best canadian online pharmacy reviews Web Site
- September 4, 2022
canadian-drugs [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canadian pharcharmy online without prescription[/url] onlinepharmacy.com
cheap viagra from india <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">universal pharmacy</a> safe generic viagra
cheap viagra from india <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">universal pharmacy</a> safe generic viagra
-
online pharmacy cialis Web Site
- September 4, 2022
cialis low price [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]viagra from a pharmacy in canada[/url] cialis.com coupon
canadian pharmacies shipping to usa <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">best canadian pharmacies shipping to usa</a> 5 mg cialis canada
canadian pharmacies shipping to usa <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">best canadian pharmacies shipping to usa</a> 5 mg cialis canada
-
generic cialis canada pharmacy online Web Site
- September 4, 2022
medicine from canada [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]online pharmacy canada[/url] best price viagra
natural viagra <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">cialis coupon for pharmacy</a> canadian pharmacy without prescription
natural viagra <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">cialis coupon for pharmacy</a> canadian pharmacy without prescription
-
cialis canadian pharmacy's Web Site
- September 4, 2022
shopping online canada [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canadian rx pharmacy[/url] cialis at canadian pharmacy
how long does viagra last <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">canadian pharmaceutical</a> buy brand cialis online canada
how long does viagra last <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">canadian pharmaceutical</a> buy brand cialis online canada
-
canadian pharmacies shipping to usa Web Site
- September 4, 2022
buy discount viagra [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canadian online pharmacy for viagra[/url] viagra expiration date
price for cialis in canada <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">canadian-pharcharmy-</a> viagra tablets
price for cialis in canada <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">canadian-pharcharmy-</a> viagra tablets
-
best canadian pharmacies shipping to usa Web Site
- September 4, 2022
canadian pill store [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]cheap viagra online canada pharmacy[/url] canadian cialis
cialis without prescription <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">canadian pharmacies without prescription</a> low price viagra
cialis without prescription <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">canadian pharmacies without prescription</a> low price viagra
-
canadian online pharmacy cialis Web Site
- September 4, 2022
online drug [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]pharmacy rx one 60 mg cialis[/url] buy online viagra
online viagra canada <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">cheap cialis online canada pharmacy</a> online drugstore
online viagra canada <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">cheap cialis online canada pharmacy</a> online drugstore
-
canadian pharmacy - cialis Web Site
- September 4, 2022
free viagra samples [url=http://canadotcphar.com/]canadian pharmacy store[/url] canadian generic cialis
canadian pharmacies for viagra <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">wwwcanadianpharmacy.com</a> cialis without prescription canada
canadian pharmacies for viagra <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">wwwcanadianpharmacy.com</a> cialis without prescription canada
-
canadian online pharmacy for viagra Web Site
- September 4, 2022
overnight viagra <a href="http://canadotcphar.com/">canadian pharmacy online for viagra</a> canadian pharmacies viagra
canadianpharmacymeds.com Web Site- September 4, 2022