Traditional craftmanship

• Craftsmanship that brings history alive

  The many types of materials that artisans work and communicate with every day are gifts of nature unique to each locale.
  Yamagata has numerous traditional crafts that make the most of the local resources and characteristics, and the artisans’ skills and techniques have been passed down since long ago. They are all historical crafts that have been handed down through the generations in each area, such as Tendo shogi (Japanese chess) pieces, Yamagata metal casting, and Okitama tsumugi (silk fabric). When you take each one in your hand, you can sense its long history and the expert skills of the artisans.

• Commemorate your travels in Yamagata

  Instead of just buying a souvenir, create an original one with your own hands to make a great memory of your trip. You can try safflower dyeing in the towns of Kahoku and Shirataka where it is grown, or make your own shogi piece in Tendo City. There are many more hands-on activities available, including making handmade washi paper or pottery. Don’t miss out on taking home your own handmade craft to commemorate your enjoyable travels in Yamagata.

• Experience the full essence of benibana up close, right in its hometown

  The Kahoku Benibana Museum provides insight into the traditional local industry of benibana cultivation, as well as the culture behind its processing, from multiple perspectives. At this valuable facility, visitors can fully experience the flow of goods and cultural exchange that centered around benibana since the Edo period, as well as the insights of everyday life in the region.
  At the museum, detailed exhibits illustrate cultivation, harvesting methods, and the drying and pigment extraction processes. Many dyed fabrics, cosmetics, and handcrafts made with benibana are also on display, allowing visitors to learn about both its historical significance and its connection to modern life.
  Dyeing experiences and workshops are also held regularly, offering visitors the chance to try their hand at dyeing with benibana themselves!