Kiso Woodcraft and Lacquerware: Shinshu Traditional Craft Born from Forest's Bounty

Kiso Forest and Traditional Crafts

The Kiso region (southwestern Nagano Prefecture) is known as a production area for abundant timber (hinoki, sawara, nezuko, asunaro, koyamaki) called "Kiso Five Trees." Since the Edo era, woodworking and lacquerware industries utilizing timber developed, producing traditional crafts including "Kiso lacquerware" and "Kiso hinoki hats."

Characteristics of Kiso Lacquerware

Kiso lacquerware is lacquerware produced centered on Narai, Hirasawa, and Shiojiri City, characterized by lightness and durability. High-quality lacquerware with lacquer coated repeatedly on wood bases made from Kiso hinoki, widely used from everyday use to gifts.

Hirasawa Post Town's Lacquerware Street

Hirasawa in Shiojiri City is the largest production area of Kiso lacquerware, known as the "lacquerware street" with 70+ lacquerware shops lined up along the national highway. Shops displaying and selling seasonal lacquerware products line up, with workshops allowing viewing craftsmen's work also available.