Handmade Knives in Yamagata
See how Shimada Cutlery Works carries on a blade-making tradition dating back to the year 1365.
The Ultimate Wedding Cake Knife
Swords have been forged in this Gifu Prefecture town since the late Kamakura Period. Now the same traditions are being applied to some of the best knives you can hope to find.
All About the Local Creators' Market
Handicrafts Local Creators' Market
Launched by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Local Creators’ Market focuses on five Japanese locales noted for producing exquisite traditional handicrafts.
Taking Denim Beyond the Jean Jacket
Local Creators' Market Hiroshima
Hiroshima is known for its denim. But the denim being made here may not be the kind of denim you know!
Rainy Season: Things to Know When You Go
Sure, rainy season comes with the occasional soaked pair of shoes, and it can feel hard to work up the motivation to leave the house. But here are a few tips to help you make the best of it!
Onitsuka Tiger: Shoes Running Around the World
Onitsuka Tiger is an iconic shoe brand produced by sporting goods company ASICS. Despite once disappearing from the market, it has been revived as a fashionable sneaker brand with global popularity.
Global Stars Shine Light on Tohoku-Made Goods
Yamagata casting is considered one of the national treasures among traditional Japanese crafts, as seen on the TV program 'Streets to Tohoku and Hokkaido, Japan.' But thanks to online shopping, you don't have to fly to Japan to own a piece of history.
Work-Life Balance Improves with Tiny Business
An increasing number of Japanese people are starting tiny businesses with small funds, and find that their work-life balance is improving without having to sacrifice their livelihoods.
The Organic Beauty of Kaga Lacquerware
Local Creators' Market Ishikawa
A mountainous land dotted with hot springs, Yamanaka in Ishikawa Prefecture is a major center of lacquerware production, thanks to woodturners who emigrated to this area 400 years ago.
Sumida Textiles: Hand-Dyed in Tokyo
Handicrafts Local Creators' Market
The Sumida Ward has long prospered as the center of Japan's fabric industry. Even today, it is capable of reproducing nearly any color on demand.
5 Japanese Activities to Do Indoors
Shake off the rainy season blues by taking up one or more of these 5 traditional Japanese activities!
For Custom Fabric Colors, Go to Sumida-ku
Handicrafts Local Creators' Market
Place an order with a swatch or color chip, and shops in this Tokyo district will delve into a formidable databank of colors amassed over the history of the craft to instantly dye your fabric to the exact color of the sample.
How Japanese Pearls Are Processed
Handicrafts Local Creators' Market
How are pearls processed? Prized Akoya pearls are sorted in front of a north-facing window, where the low-angled natural light reveals any scratches and irregularities, and practiced artisans recognize flaws as slight as a tenth of a millimeter.
5 Places to Buy Traditional Crafts in Tokyo
When shopping for traditional crafts in Tokyo, the options can be dizzying (if not absolutely exhausting) to sort through. So to help you find what you’re looking for, we’ve put together a list of our favorite stores!
Getting Out & About in Miyagi Prefecture
Located in Japan’s Tohoku Region just a couple hours north of Tokyo by shinkansen bullet train, Miyagi Prefecture is full of delights for travelers eager to venture off the beaten path. We went on a two-day journey to experience Miyagi's inland cities.
2 Modern Masters of Woodwork & Lacquer
Local Creators' Market Ishikawa
Working by hand at scales that can at times only be seen with a magnifying glass, these two artisans are heirs to a 400-year-old legacy of woodworking in Ishikawa Prefecture.
Untraveled Japan: Tokyo Day Trips & More
You don’t have to go far from Tokyo to experience Japan like no one has before!
The Hand-Dyeing Specialists of Sumida-ku
Handicrafts Local Creators' Market
If you're looking for custom, hand-dyed fabrics, these three specialists in Sumida-ku, Tokyo, are dyeing to set you up!
The Secrets of Pearl Harvesting in Japan
Handicrafts Local Creators' Market
Look closely through the translucent sheen of any Akoya pearl and you’ll see a rainbow of colors—a joint gift from the growers, the oysters, and the sea itself. But how are they produced?
Stay in 'Real Japan' at this Traditional Home
If you want to set foot in 'real Japan,' the ideal accommodation is waiting for you in Inami, a small rustic town in Toyama Prefecture where more than 200 active carvers chisel wood.
