"CRAFT TOURISM ECHIZEN"　A Trip to Enjoy the Entire Charm of Echizen with Parents and Children

Koyanagi chest "kicoru"

The first place I visited was "kicoru" on Tansu Machi Street. Koyanagi Tansu, a long-established Echizen chest of drawers that has been in business for over 100 years, opened its atelier in 2014. In addition to exhibiting custom-made furniture using traditional chest techniques and collaborative works with designers, workshops are also held. going. This time, you will experience "making a wooden clock". While combining trees and decorating, we will make only one watch in the world.

Since small children can participate in the workshop, Manon took on the challenge. While learning from Mr. Norikazu Koyanagi, the fourth-generation owner of the Koyanagi chest of drawers, we put together wooden parts.

After assembling the wood that will be the base of the clock, we will decorate it with patterns and animal-shaped parts. It seems that many people spend more than an hour wondering where to put what parts. Manon also has a serious expression like a craftsman.

Finally finished in about an hour! Manon looks a little embarrassed, but she seems very satisfied with the finished product. It seems that the clock that I made will be displayed in my room.

After the workshop was over, I was shown how to make a chest of drawers. Echizen chests of drawers are made by combining three techniques of Echizen, such as the unique joinery technique of joining wood together, the processing of metal fittings that make use of the cutting technique, and the lacquer coating that protects the wood and makes the chests durable. It is a traditional craft that was born precisely because of this land where various manufacturing areas are gathered within a radius of 10 km. Koyanagi Tansu also offers workshop tours, so listening to the behind-the-scenes details of the craftsmanship process will deepen your understanding.

Planing is essential to make Echizen chests that are perfect. The thinly planed wood looks like paper. The cypress shavings had an indescribable fragrance, and Manon-chan was holding them with both hands.

https://oyanagi-tansu.jp/

Misaki chest of drawers

After finishing the workshop at Koyanagi Tansu, we will walk through a place called “Tansumachi Street”. About 200 meters long, there are more than 10 Japanese and Western furniture manufacturers and fittings dealers. As you walk around, there are shops that retain their old-fashioned charm.

On the way, we stopped by Misaki Tansu store, a long-established store with a history of over 160 years. Founded around 1865, from the Edo period to the Meiji period, it produced "Echizen chests" that were used as safes for merchants and custom-made cabinets for temples and shrines. Currently, we are making a variety of products that make use of our chests of drawers, from wooden chests of drawers and wood furniture using joinery techniques to wooden toys.

“Echizen tansu is very durable and is said to last for over 300 years,” said the eighth-generation owner, Toshiyuki Misaki. The chest of drawers in the back of the store was made by Misaki's ancestors 150 years ago. However, the metal fittings are not rusted, and the beautiful zelkova wood grain stands out.

Looking at the chest of drawers, Lauren noticed that there was a heart mark on the metal fittings. However, this is not a heart mark, but a pattern called "Inome" shaped like a boar's eye. Since the beast's eyes have the power to ward off evil, they are often seen in Echizen chests of drawers.

https://misakitansu.com/

Menbo Iseya

Lunch time in response to Manon's request, "I'm hungry!" I came to "Menbo Iseya" founded in the Edo period in Echizen city. Soba made with buckwheat flour from Echizen City is popular, and many fans come from inside and outside the prefecture.

Here, you can enjoy Echizen City's specialties, "Echizen Oroshi Soba," "Volga Rice," and "Chuka Soba," all at once with the "Himitsu no Gochiso Set." "Echizen Oroshi Soba" is famous as a specialty of Fukui Prefecture, but it actually originated in Echizen City. It is said that in 1601, Tomimasa Honda, who became the lord of the castle in Fuchu (now Echizen City), was transferred from Fushimi, Kyoto, along with a soba maker. "Bolga rice" is an omelet rice topped with tonkatsu (pork cutlet) and topped with the restaurant's special sauce. It is said to have originated in Echizen City more than 30 years ago, and is a soul food loved by locals. And don't forget "Chinese soba". With the post-war instant ramen boom, the name ramen spread, and the traditional name “chuka soba” continued to be used in Echizen City, especially in the area around the station in the former Takefu City. This is also a very popular Echizen gourmet that is loved by the locals.

When all three popular items are served together, this volume! Everyone enjoys sharing while sharing. Echizen grated soba has the aroma of buckwheat with each bite, and the volga rice tonkatsu, which uses fillet meat, is easy to eat for children and the elderly, and goes well with omelet rice. Manon-chan seemed to like the light flavored Chinese noodles made with urume and kombu dashi.

https://www.echizen-tourism.jp/travel_echizen/food_detail/14?page=2

Kako Satoshi Picture Book Museum “Raku”

Take a short break when your stomach is full. Next, we visited “Kako Satoshi Picture Book Museum Raku”. Satoshi Kako, a picture book author who is the pride of Echizen City, is familiar with the picture books "Karasu no Panyasan" and "Daruma-chan". The picture book museum has about 5,000 books, including picture books and picture-story shows created by Satoshi Kako, and is visited by fans of Satoshi Kako from all over the country.

Manon was very excited about the many picture books, and brought many to Lauren, saying, "Mom, read this!" Reading time has started. In addition to the picture book room, children and adults alike can experience the world of Kako Satoshi in the play room, where you can enjoy old-fashioned games and handicrafts, as well as the room where you can enjoy old-fashioned games and crafts. You can enjoy it.

There is also an original playground equipment outside, and Manon-chan is even more energetic. It was a comfortable space where not only children but also adults could relax.

https://kakosatoshi.jp/museum/

Tourist Farm Donguriyama

After playing a lot, it's time for a snack. The next place I visited was “Tourist Farm Donguriyama” on the west side of Echizen City. Here you can enjoy picking cherries in June and grape picking from early August. As you enter the vineyard, you will be greeted with a faint sweet scent. The grapes include the familiar Kyoho grapes, as well as rare varieties that are not on the market, such as Aki Queen and Black Olympia. Among them, Shine Muscat is so popular that reservations fill up quickly every year.

Manon also tried grape picking. The bunches of grapes are full of juice and are heavy, and with Mr. Guillaume's support in the high places, we pick the grapes together with scissors.

Being able to eat the grapes you picked on the spot is the most luxurious experience. It's seedless, so it's easy to eat, and the juicy sweetness spreads throughout your mouth. The grapes picked in the garden are all-you-can-eat, but the rule is to eat all the grapes. There will be a charge if you take the leftovers home. Manon was very satisfied with the taste of various varieties.

http://www.donguriyama.jp/

Gotanjoji Temple

The last place I visited was "Gotanjoji" located about 5 minutes from Hokuriku Expressway Takefu IC. Built in 2009, this is a temple related to Keizan Zenji of the Soto sect. It came to be known as "Nekodera" after the chief priest took care of a cat that had been abandoned in the precincts, and it is now a popular spot where many people from all over the country come to worship.

At one point, the number of cats raised at the temple increased to about 80. However, after giving each one a name and a collar and taking care of them, and through steady activities such as a transfer meeting to find foster parents, the number has been reduced to less than 30 at present.

The appearance of cute cats, such as taking a leisurely nap or eating rice, will heal you and warm you up. Thus ended the trip to Echizen.

https://www.echizen-tourism.jp/travel_echizen/experience_detail/104?

“I learned about Echizen City that I hadn't known before, and it gave me new inspiration,” says Guillaume. “There are so many places that I can enjoy with my children, so I want to go there again,” said Lauren happily. It was impressive to see Manon-chan enjoying himself so energetically that he forgot to take a nap all day long. It seems that both children and adults were very satisfied with the trip filled with the charm of Echizen, such as craftsmanship, food, nature, and history.