Kiso Hirasawa

Kiso Hirasawa is a historic lacquerware village located in the Kiso Valley of Nagano Prefecture, nestled along the former Nakasendo trade route that once connected Kyoto and Edo. The village has been producing high-quality Kiso lacquerware for over 400 years, with its craft traditions dating back to the early 17th century during the Edo period. The abundant Japanese horse chestnut trees in the surrounding mountains provided ideal wood for lacquerware production, establishing Kiso Hirasawa as one of Japan's premier centers for this traditional craft.

The village preserves its historical character through well-maintained Edo-period architecture, with traditional wooden buildings lining the main street that once served traveling merchants and daimyo processions. Many of these structures now house lacquerware workshops, galleries, and shops where visitors can observe artisans practicing time-honored techniques such as kijiro-nuri (wood grain lacquering) and shunkei-nuri (amber lacquer finish). The district has been designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, recognizing its architectural and cultural significance.

Visitors can explore numerous lacquerware shops and studios, many offering demonstrations of the intricate lacquering process that requires multiple coating and polishing stages over several weeks. The Kiso Lacquerware Museum provides comprehensive exhibits on the history, production techniques, and artistic evolution of local craftsmanship. Several workshops offer hands-on experiences where visitors can try basic lacquering or decoration techniques under expert guidance. The village maintains a walkable scale, with most attractions concentrated along a 1-kilometer stretch of the main road.

Kiso Hirasawa is accessible via Kiso-Hirasawa Station on the JR Chuo Main Line, located approximately 30 minutes by local train from Matsumoto and 45 minutes from Nakatsugawa. The station sits directly adjacent to the historic district, requiring no additional transport. Most lacquerware shops and galleries are free to enter, though workshop participation fees typically range from ¥1,500 to ¥3,000 depending on the activity. The Kiso Lacquerware Museum charges an admission fee of ¥300 for adults.