Kumamoto Prefectural Traditional Crafts Center

At the Kumamoto Prefectural Traditional Crafts Center, a variety of traditional crafts of Kumamoto Prefecture and items used in daily life are on display and for sale. Among them, one particular craft well worth seeing is the higozogan. Higozogan refers to adding ornamental decorations to gun barrels or katana swords in the delicate and refined style that is characteristic of samurai culture. There are also 80 other types of products that have received prefectural designation as traditional crafts, such as woodwork, bamboo ware, ceramics and porcelain, traditional toys, and blades. In the permanent collection exhibition room, there are products on display that can be touched directly, and there are also three rental exhibition rooms where weekly events are held. Visitors can also feel the experience the crafts firsthand by participating in workshops, lectures, and events such as knife polishing with a blacksmith.

*Knife polishing workshops are held on the third sunday of every month (subject to change), and there is a fee is 500 JPY.
*Each workshop can only accomodate a certain number of people. Once the spots have been filled, registration will be closed. Please apply by phone (096-324-5133). If you wish to cancel a reservation, please make sure to contact the center directly.
*When participating in the workshops, please make sure to bring an apron and wear clothes that can get dirty.