A Journey to Learn the Traditional Culture of Yamaga
Yamaga is a city located in the northern part of Kumamoto Prefecture famous for its hot springs and the Yamaga Lantern Festival. The Yamaga lanterns, designated as a national traditional craft, have a long history with traditional techniques passed down for hundreds of years. The tradition is carried on by master lantern craftspeople who create the lanterns. In this tour, you will be guided by a lantern master through the Yamaga Lantern Folk Craft Museum, where Yamaga lantern masterpieces are displayed. After, you will join a lantern making workshoip. At Yachiyoza Theater, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property, a staff member will guide you through the theater's interior. After the tour, you will have a special bento lunch at a box seat in the theater and a Yamaga Lantern Dance will be performed for you while you eat. Kutami Shibu fans are a type of traditional fan made in the neighborhood of Kutami, Kamoto-machi in Yamaga. Tour participants can see how fans are made at Kurikawa Shoten, the only workshop that still produces these fans.
Yamaga Lantern Folk Craft Museum tour
This building was constructed in 1925 as the Yamaga branch of Yasuda Bank, and was subsequently used as the Yamaga branch of Higo Bank until 1973.
Yamaga Lantern Folk Craft Museum tour
It currently serves as a museum with numerous Yamaga lantern masterpieces on display. The tour is led by one of Yamaga's master lantern makers.
Yamanote tour
This is a visit to the shop of a master lantern maker. At Yamanote, you can find locally made crafts as well as captivating handcrafted goods found abroad.
Explanation & workshop with lantern master
Yamaga lanterns, which have been passed down for centuries, are traditional crafts made using only glue and handmade Japanese paper, without any wood or nails. Participants will visit the Yamaga Lantern Folk Craft Museum and learn the techniques of Yamaga lantern making by making your own paper lantern.
Explanation & workshop with lantern master
The Yamaga lanterns, which have been passed down for centuries, are traditional crafts made using only glue and handmade Japanese paper, without any wood or nails.
Guided tour to learn about Yachiyoza, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property
A member of the theater staff will guide you through Yachiyoza.
A Yamaga Lantern Dance will be performed for participants while they eat lunch.
Guided tour to learn about Yachiyoza, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property
During lunchtime at Yachiyoza, participants will receive a special bento to eat in the theater's box seats. A Yamaga Lantern Dance will be performed during the meal.
Kurikawa Shoten
Kutami Shibu fans can only be made in Kutami, Kumamoto. They make great good luck gifts as they supposedly bring prosperity in business.
Kurikawa Shoten
Kurikawa Shoten is the only workshop that carries on the traditions of Kutami, which was one of the three major producers of uchiwa fans (along with Kyoto and Marugame). At this workshop, participants will learn from staff how these fans are made and observe the uchiwa-making process.
- Tour Capacity:
- 15-20 Participants
- Meals Included:
- Includes lunch (0 nights, 1 day)
- Meeting Place:
- Example: JR Kumamoto Station Shinkansen Entrance (West Entrance) in front of the Shinkansen ticket gate
3-15 Kasuga, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto City - Note:
- ・This tour is a custom-designed tour. After receiving your application for the tour, we will discuss the itinerary and other details with you to create the tour content. (This is not a regularly scheduled tour)
・In cases of severe weather or unavailable experience dates, the course content may be altered.
・Tour stops can be changed. Please consult with us for more details.
- Related Links:
- Yamaga Lantern Folk Art Museum
- Yamanote
- Yamaga Civic Exchange Center
- Yachiyoza - Nationally Designated Important Cultural Property
- Kurikawa Shoten Co., Ltd. (Kutami Shibu Uchiwa)
- Contact:
- Kumamoto International Convention & Tourism Bureau
Phone: 096-359-1788
E-mail: mice★kumamoto-icb.or.jp (Please change the ★ to an @ when emailing us)
Around 8:45AM
1. Yamaga Lantern Folk Craft Museum
2. Yamanote
3. Yamaga Civic Exchange Center (lantern making workshop)
4. Yachiyoza (lunch)
5. Kurikawa Shoten
Arrival: Example - JR Kumamoto Station Shinkansen Exit (West Exit)
Around 4PM