13‏/01‏/2014

Nikko Woodcarving Center

Japanese traditional woodcraft

By C. Rio

Community writer

On display are a number of traditional wooden crafts used for shoes and clothing

Pre-electricity lathe used to make bowls and other turned goods

Japanese hand planes (used by pulling rather than pushing)

If you have visited the temples in Nikko or any others in Japan, then you have an idea of what the traditional woodcraft look like. What's different about the Nikko Woodcarving center is that you get the chance to make some. For under 1000 yen, you can make your own hand mirrors, plates and other crafts. The second floor houses a wide variety of contemporary and utilitarian wooden pieces in the local woodcarving tradition as well as traditional Japanese tools. From Nikko Station, head north on route 169 till you see museum sign indicating a left turn then continue on that road for about 300 meters. It takes about 25 minutes to walk.