Kiso Lacquer

What to know

Lacquerware is a distinctive Japanese craft, and the Kiso Valley is especially renowned for it. The glossy, smooth bowls and dishes are prized for their beauty and enhance the flavors of a Japanese meal. The most familiar lacquer item is the bowl used for miso soup.

Kiso-Hirasawa (木曽平沢) is a village that grew up outside the post town of Narai during the Edo Period. Over time, it gained prestige as its lacquer products became famous across Japan. Today, Kiso-Hirasawa continues to thrive as a center for lacquerware production.

Many lacquer shops line the streets of Kiso-Hirasawa, along with a lacquer museum called Kiso Shikkikan. Although most exhibits are in Japanese, the museum displays an impressive collection of lacquered items. It also showcases the tools and techniques used in the lacquering process. The shops sell all kinds of lacquerware, often expensive, but reasonably priced items can also be found.

Kiso-Hirasawa Station is just two kilometers (a two-minute train ride) north of Narai. Limited express trains between Nagoya and Nagano do not stop here; instead, change to a local train at Shiojiri or Kiso-Fukushima.

The compact town center of Kiso-Hirasawa is easy to explore on foot.

How to get to and around the Kiso Valley