Yame Fukushima: Meet the Craftspeople Keeping Traditions Alive (2hr)
This is the Yame Walking Tour designed with heat in mind. Through a 1km route, the course still takes guests to all the major spots of the tour. Descriptions will be given mainly in the shade and indoors. Yame Fukushima is an area filled with tradition and home to many craftspeople who still make their livelihoods here. This course offers a unique introduction to the living history of Yame through a handpicked itinerary that takes you through streets filled with traditional architecture, inside hard-to-access Buddhist altar and paper lantern-making artisans workshops, and more. Looking for a bit to eat or souvenirs to take back home? Ask our guide for personalized recommendations
- ● Visit workshops of artisans crafting Buddhist altars, paper lanterns, and more — places not easily accessible on one’s own
- ● Enjoy Yame tea and matcha sweets at Yabeya Konomi Honke, the oldest tea shop in Yame
- ● Explore historical sites such as the Fukushima Castle Ruins and Hachimangu Shrine
- ● Learn about the historical roots of Yame
- ● A portion of the participation fee will go towards funding shrine renovation expenses and running costs of the workshops visited during the tour

- Rei WatanabeGuide
- Yame Fukushima has prospered as a town of merchants and craftspeople since the 1600s. Stroll streets filled with traditional architecture and take a peak into the daily life of Yame, where various trades have coexisted for centuries amidst this serene landscape.
Creating Buddhist Altars with the Traditional Methods of Yame Fukushima: Ogata Butsudan Honten
In Yame, the craft of making Buddhist altars (known as butsudan in Japanese) is divided amongst different craftspeople, each specializing in their own process. At Ogata Butsudan Honten, they perform the “finishing” part of production; after collecting all the different parts of the butsudan, the workshop performs applies lacquer and gold leaf before putting it all together. Amidst declining numbers of craftspeople who work in the butsudan production process, Ogata Butsudan Honten is a workshop filled with craftspeople both young and old who continue to pass down butsudan-making traditions.

A Lantern Shop Established in 1836: Ito Gonjiro Shoten
Yame is known across Japan as the largest producer of Bon lanterns, used for guiding ancestral spirits during the summer holiday of the same name. Paper lanterns made in Yame are unique, in that they are made by spiraling a long string of bamboo to form the lantern’s main body.
Ito Gonjiro Shoten crafts a wide range of lanterns for shrines, temples, festivals, and other events. With a simple design that suits a variety of environments, their lanterns not only adorn shrines and temples, but are also used in non-traditional settings such as hotel interiors, department buildings, and movie sets.

The Namesake of Yame Tea: Yabeya Konomi Honke
A tea merchant in Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Yabeya Konomi Honke is the oldest tea wholesaler in Kyushu. Founded between 1704 – 1710, the wholesaler took various teas of the region, all differing in name and quality, and branded them together as “Yame Tea.” Today, Yame Tea is a high-end strand known for its rich and sweet flavors. After taking a tea and snack break in the shop’s inner parlor, explore the inside architecture of an igura, a traditional late-Edo period townhouse.

\Testimonials of Past Participants
/
- ‧It was incredible to have this experience to retrace the history of Yame and gain a deeper understanding of its traditional craft culture and architecture — all while having fun!
- ‧I had a lot of fun on this tour, which was filled with visits to places that are usually tough to get access to. I learned so much and also got a sense of the area’s history.
- ‧It was nice to be walk around the town in a small group and friendly atmosphere.
Tour Code | GFYM03 |
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Dates | Saturdays 15:00〜 ※The tour will not be held on dates marked with (-) on the reservation form. |
Duration | 2 hours |
Schedule |
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Languages | Japanese/English |
Participants | Minimum 2 / Maximum 6 |
Meeting Location |
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Reservation Deadline | Up to three days before the tour. For tours that have reached the minimum number of participants and are scheduled to take place, 30 minutes before the start of the tour. |
PaymentMethod | Advance payment at the time of reservation (VISA, Mastercard, Amex) |
Attire | Please wear comfortable clothing and accessories to stay cool, such as a sun parasol/hat, etc. |
Tour Conductor (Assistant) | None |
Supplementary Tour Conductor | The tour guide will accompany guests throughout the trip |
Please Note | |
Cancellation Policyポリシー | 3 to 1 day(s) preceding the tour start date: 50% of the tour fee |
Travel Planning: Implementation
- UNA Laboratories Inc. (Fukuoka Prefectural Governor Registration #2-951)
- 3-12-22-302 Yakuin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture 810-0022
- TEL: 092-982-7956E-MAIL: tour@unalabs.jp
- Domestic Certified Travel Supervisors:
Aya Tamura, Noriko Yahata, Rei Watanabe - Business Hours:
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday (Closed Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays) - *Requests received outside of business hours will be processed the following business day.
- *Domestic Certified Travel Supervisors are responsible for transactions held at the sales office that processes customers’ travel. Please do not hesitate to contact the aforementioned Domestic Certified Travel Supervisors with any questions or concerns regarding the travel contract.
ツアー情報
- Dates
- Saturdays 13:30~*※The tour will not be held on dates marked with (-) on the reservation form.
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Recommended Age
- Suitable for All Ages
- Price
- 3,500yen (tax included)
- Remarks
- Children under 6 years old: free
Children between 6 and 12 years old: ¥1,500 (tax included)