Information for touring Hakuba Village.

When you think of Hakuba Village, you may think of winter sports, camping, and mountain climbing, but there are actually many other spots and activities that are less well known. That's why Sierra staff, who know Hakuba Village inside and out, will visit various spots and carefully select information that will be helpful for your trip!

This time, we will introduce "Sankayou Hakuba," where you can experience the rare "raden" craft. There is also a cafe attached, so we recommend you use it for meals as well.

In Hakuba, the mecca for outdoor activities, there is a handmade workshop like this, which is great for indoor types and people who like to make things. If you are looking for a place to enjoy even on a rainy day, this is the place for you!

First of all, what is Raden?

Raden work is one of the traditional Japanese crafts, and is a technique in which the iridescent, sparkling part (nacre) inside abalone shells is cut into thin sheets and then inlaid or painted onto lacquerware to decorate it. At the beginning of this workshop, the teacher showed us the shells that were the raw material and gave us an explanation.

Experience menu (example)

・Chopstick making (drink included)
・Small item making (drink included)


Event time: 10:00/14:00
Duration: 1-2 hours Experience fee: 4,000 yen (including one drink)
Age: 6 years and over Minimum number of participants: 3 people


You can take any one of them home with you on the same day, making it the perfect memento of your trip!

Actual mother-of-pearl craft experience

First, the teacher gave us a brief explanation about mother-of-pearl crafts. This time, we chose to make chopsticks. Chopsticks come in a variety of colors and thicknesses, and some are dishwasher safe.

While the teacher carefully applied glue to the chopsticks, we chose the parts while imagining the design we wanted to make. In addition to shapes such as stars, hearts, and flowers, there were also parts of local specialties of Shinshu such as apples and ptarmigans. Looking at the samples, it seems that although the area to paste is small, the possibilities for what can be made are limitless if you use your imagination.

Now, let's move on to the pasting process! Once pasted, there is a possibility that it may tear when peeling it off, but since you can move the parts on the adhesive, there is no need to worry too much, just keep pasting them down. Everyone was working very hard and concentrating!

Once you have completed one chopstick, the teacher will apply a finishing agent to it and let it dry. The fee for the experience includes a drink, so while the chopsticks were drying, I enjoyed a drink on the sofa seat next to me.

The one and only pair of chopsticks in the world is complete!

So, after about an hour of explanation, DIY, and finishing, I had a beautiful pair of mother-of-pearl chopsticks that were one of a kind in the world.

Enjoy a delicious burger at the attached cafe!

As you can see in the picture, this experience workshop, "Yamahanaha," is actually an experience workshop attached to a hidden cafe in the forest, "Cafe and bar jasmine." Both are located in a private lodging called Hakuba Inn Bloom. It was just lunchtime, so we decided to have lunch there.

In addition to delicious coffee, they also have a wide selection of homemade sweets, snacks like hot dogs, breakfast menus, and hearty meals like hamburgers with a choice of toppings!

The teacher for mother-of-pearl craft on this day was a staff member of the cafe. Even though she was working alone, she was happy to accommodate my sudden lunch order, and I was very satisfied with the appearance, volume, and taste. By the way, pets are allowed here! I missed taking a photo, but I also met the store's mascot dog.

Access to Sankayou Hakuba

A comment from the Sierra staff:

・Perfect for couples, girls' trips, and family trips to make memories! I would also recommend it to foreigners who are interested in traditional Japanese crafts.
・I think I was more focused than I was at work! It was a fun experience!
・The process of applying my favorite colors and patterns gave me the opportunity to confront my own sensibilities.
-In addition to delicious burgers, we also offer vegetable tortilla wraps for vegetarians.

summary

That's all for today's introduction. Why not experience traditional Japanese crafts and create a one-of-a-kind original piece during your sightseeing in Hakuba? This is a recommended spot for those looking for a place to have fun even on a rainy day!

[Hakuba Sankayou Raden Art Hakuba Kobo Yamakayou]
Phone: 080-4397-3951⁡⁡⁡
Address: 2557-1 Kitajo, Hakuba Village, Kitaazumi District, Nagano Prefecture, 399-9301
HP: https://hakuba-bloom.com/Hakuba Kobo%E3%80%80Yamahanaha/