Experience traditional craftsmanship at the "360° Yonezawa Open Factory"!

• Table of Contents
• 1. What is the 360° Yonezawa Open Factory?
• 2. Transportation and general information desk
• 3. Experience safflower dyeing at Yonezawa Nitta, a long-established dyeing and weaving store
• 4. Observe sake brewing at the traditional brewery "Toko Sake Brewery"
• 5. Hanazumi Miso Brewery: Enjoy miso and amazake
• 6. Visit to see domestic timber from "Aita Kogyo," a company that values the warmth of wood
• 7. Enjoy Yonezawa City, where Japan's beautiful history lives on!

1. What is the 360° Yonezawa Open Factory?

"Yonezawa is surrounded by beautiful mountains as far as the eye can see in all directions. I would like you to experience the beauty of this environment, as well as the world of Yonezawa craftsmanship, and experience it for yourself."

The "Yonezawa Open Factory" is held for three days every autumn with this concept in mind. It is an event where you can actually tour and experience workshops and stores. In 2024, it will be held in September, with a total of 33 companies and organizations participating, and 85 programs will be held over the three days.

Official website

2. Transportation and general information desk

Yonezawa Station is about two hours away from Tokyo Station on the Yamagata Shinkansen. Once you arrive at the station, you should first decide on your mode of transportation to get around the city.

■Transportation

We recommend renting a bicycle, which is easy to maneuver and allows you to get around without having to worry about bus schedules. Another attractive feature is the low price, starting from 1,000 yen for a four-hour use.

・Yonezawa City bicycle rental service "E-BIKE" https://e-bike.yamap.com/yonezawa/

If you are looking for public transportation, you can also use the bus. All the spots we visited this time have a "Citizen Bus" stop nearby, and you can get there within a 10-minute walk.

If you want to get around more freely and without worrying about luggage or distance, renting a car or taking a taxi is the best option! There are several rental car companies at Yonezawa Station. For information on how to get to Yonezawa, please refer to the article below!

[2024 Edition] A summary of how to access Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture!

■ General Information Desk

The general information desk for this event is located at the Yonezawa Hall. Here you can get information about the event, as well as tourist spots and restaurants in Yonezawa, so please feel free to ask any questions you may have.

There will also be a stamp rally where you can collect stamps and get prizes.

◆Open Factory Executive Committee (Yonezawa Textile Council)
Yamagata Prefecture Yonezawa City Montocho 1-1-87 Yonesen Kaikan
0238-23-3525
https://www.360yonezawa.com/

3. Experience safflower dyeing at Yonezawa Nitta, a long-established dyeing and weaving store

Founded in 1884, Yonezawa Nitta handles everything from dyeing to weaving, producing textiles for kimonos and obi. In particular, safflower-dyed silk textiles, made using safflower, a representative flower of Yamagata Prefecture, have long been loved by aristocrats and the imperial family.

Over the course of three days, you can experience safflower dyeing, make a Yonezawa-ori brooch, and observe the process of weaving.

On this tour, which included an explanation of the history of safflower dyeing and a tour of the factory, we heard about the safflower dyeing process that has been going on since the Edo period.

A white handkerchief is tied in several places with rubber bands and then immersed in a liquid containing dye. As soon as the vinegar is added, the handkerchief turns a vivid red, which elicits cheers.

This is what it looks like when finished. Handkerchiefs dyed in the same way are also sold at the shop on the premises.

Not only the dyeing but also the weaving is a highlight. A moment spent gazing at the hearth and beautiful clothing in a Japanese-style room with a Japanese garden is a truly special experience.

"We have an integrated production system, from dyeing to weaving, so you will be able to see the entire process until the product is completed. Dyeing with the pigment extracted from the safflower flower is a distinctive feature of Yamagata Prefecture's dyeing culture. I hope you will be able to experience this for yourself," says President Nitta.

◆ Nitta Co., Ltd. 2-3-36 Matsugasaki, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture
0238-23-7717
https://nitta-yonezawa.com/

4. Observe sake brewing at the traditional brewery "Toko Sake Brewery"

Kojima Sohonten is the company that produces the sake "Toko", which won the highest award in the Junmai Daiginjo category of the SAKE category at the IWC 2024. Since its founding in 1597, the company has been making Junmai sake brewed with pure meltwater from Yonezawa.

"Toko Sake Brewery" is one of the largest sake brewing museums in the Tohoku region. The space makes you feel like you've traveled back in time to an old sake brewery. This event included a tour of the brewery, free tastings, sake guessing, and glass painting.

Taking advantage of the region's abundant natural blessings and using an abundance of pure water, Toko is one of Japan's leading sakes, and is exported in large quantities overseas.

The entrance to the building exudes a sense of history. On the second and third floors, there are sake brewing facilities that you would never imagine being there.

During the tour of the sake brewery, you will be shown around each room where each process takes place, and you will learn how sake is made after going through a great deal of effort.

You can even see what's going on inside the fermentation and storage tanks. Sake lovers will love the sight of bubbles bubbling away.

At the sake brewing museum "Toko no Sake Brewery," you can also sample sake (for a fee).
There are several types of "Toko" brand. Please enjoy the delicate, finely textured, clear taste. Also, amazake, a healthy drink also known as "drinkable IV drip," is recommended as it comes in a variety of flavors.

◆Kojima Sohonten Co., Ltd. 2-2-3 Omachi, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture
0238-23-4848
https://www.sake-toko.co.jp/

5. Hanazumi Miso Brewery: Enjoy miso and amazake

Miso is an essential seasoning for the Japanese and a traditional fermented food. Hanazumi Miso Brewery is a long-established company that has been making miso for over 160 years. The traditional miso-making method in cedar barrels, which has remained unchanged since the company's founding, creates a unique and deep flavor.

"Miso is a culture that is deeply rooted in the land. Yonezawa City has a unique food culture, and miso is one of the seasonings that supports it. Our company uses domestically grown rice, locally grown soybeans, and water as ingredients. We continue to operate our business with the belief that miso is a supporting role that brings out the best in the ingredients," says Hanazumi, the sixth-generation president of the company.

He also explained that there are many different types of soybeans, the raw material for miso.

Comparison of four types of miso

Miso made from soybeans and rice koji becomes darker in color and develops a deeper flavor as it ages. The difference is obvious at a glance, but you can also see the difference by dipping it in cucumber or dissolving it in hot water and drinking it. You can really taste the depth of miso.

The shop's signature dish is amazake made with Yamagata Prefecture's Tsuyahime rice. You can enjoy six different flavors, including milk and matcha. Drinking amazake while savoring the grainy texture of the rice gives it a refreshing yet deep flavor. You can only taste "raw amazake," which contains live enzymes, here.

The shop offers a wide variety of miso, salt koji sangohachi, freeze-dried miso soup, and amazake for takeout. There is also an eat-in space, so it is also recommended as a place to rest while touring Yonezawa.

◆Hanazumi Miso Brewery Co., Ltd. 1-2-23 Omachi, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture
0238-23-0641
https://kakurikimiso.com/

6. Visit to see domestic timber from "Aita Kogyo," a company that values the warmth of wood

AITA Kogyo is a sawmill that produces solid wood from domestically grown hardwoods. There are many different types of hardwoods grown in Japan, including chestnut, cherry, and katsura, and each cut timber has its own unique look and characteristics. Here, participants were able to observe the process of making flooring and participate in programs such as crafts using wood.

They showed us all the steps from cutting the logs from the mountain to making the flooring. They carefully explained to us that, unlike conifers, hardwoods have smaller and more complex annual rings, which gives them the advantage of being stronger wood.

The cutting of the logs into flooring boards is a powerful experience, with a loud noise. You will be amazed by the smooth movement of the sharp blades as they cut the logs.

Drying is one of the important processes for making strong wood. Humidity and temperature are controlled to ensure the wood has just the right hardness. It is precisely because of this meticulous process that wood can be of such high quality.

There is a showroom on the premises that specializes in hardwoods, where you can actually experience the differences between each type of wood. By being barefoot, you can feel the warmth, softness, and comfort directly through your feet. This is a showroom where you can experience the difference in not only appearance but also feel depending on the material.

Here you can also purchase products such as plates and utensils made from solid wood.

"Using locally produced wood is an environmentally friendly initiative from the standpoint of energy as well. We use hardwood from Yamagata Prefecture, and we think you can feel the warmth of the wood. We hope people of all ages will experience it."

◆ AITA KOGYO CO., LTD. 2845 Hanazawa-cho, Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture
0238-23-1847
https://www.aita-kouyouju.com/

7. Enjoy Yonezawa City, where Japan's beautiful history lives on!

Yonezawa City in Yamagata Prefecture has a rich history and traditional culture that dates back to the time of the Uesugi clan, who valued the lives of their citizens. In particular, crafts and food culture are loved by locals as they are part of long-established businesses that have been passed down for generations.

You can get a glimpse of this charm at the "360° Yonezawa Open Factory," which is held every September. Details of the third event have not yet been announced, but we will update this article as new news emerges.

Why not come and experience the quiet passion that has been passed down in the peaceful streets of Yonezawa? Interacting with the craftsmen of Yonezawa and the people who support them is sure to become an unforgettable memory of your trip.