Here is where 70% of Japan's mizuhiki is made: it grew out of hair ties that went out of fashion.
Today Iida alone produces 70% of Japan's mizuhiki, and the museum displays about 1,000 pieces: you watch live demonstrations and can book a place on a course to braid the cords with your own hands.
Museum and learning centre devoted to mizuhiki, the decorative cord of braided paper used on gift envelopes and ceremonial decorations, a traditional craft of the city of Iida. The industry began by chance: in the seventeenth century the domain encouraged the making of motoyui, cords for tying the hair, from local washi paper; when the Western short haircut emptied that market in the late nineteenth century, the same paper and skills moved on to decorative gift cords.
ℹ️ Open 8:30–17:00 all year round, free admission. A 5-minute drive from the Iida motorway toll gate.
🚉 Kawaji · 25 min walk
Holidays in Japan? Plan them with us.Over 2,000 real places, a day-by-day itinerary.FreeOpen the map →Sources: jalan.net · ja.wikipedia.org