Stay in Sakai, a City Built on History and Craftsmanship

Located in southern Osaka Prefecture, Sakai has prospered as an overseas-trade port since ancient times. As a city, it cultivated a unique artisan culture and played a significant role in shaping Japanese culture, producing figures such as Sen no Rikyu, a leading figure in the world of the tea ceremony. The city is directly accessible from Kansai International Airport and can also be easily reached by streetcar from Tennoji Station, the main terminal of Osaka’s southern district. Along the way, you can enjoy charming townscapes that unfold just outside the window, making the journey itself a highlight of the experience.

One of Sakai’s most famous traditions is Sakai forged blades, a craft with a history spanning more than 600 years. Their exceptional quality is the result of a division of labor involving master craftsmen specializing in one crucial step of the production process, from blacksmithing to sharpening and handle fitting. Sakai knives aren’t decorative art pieces meant to be displayed. They’re practical tools used daily in professional kitchens, spreading the craftsmanship and spirit of Sakai around the world.

Clear Your Mind in a Historical Setting

This plan includes a stay at a former knife merchant’s shop turned luxury accommodation, offering travelers a deeper encounter with Sakai’s craftsmanship. Nearby, visitors will additionally find long-established establishments such as Tsuboichi Seicha Honpo, a tea merchant, and Kojiya Amekaze, which preserves Japan’s fermentation traditions. Exploring the neighborhood on foot is highly recommended to get firsthand experiences with everyday Japanese culture.

Also within walking distance of the accommodation is the Sakai Knife Museum CUT where you can learn about the history of the city’s signature craft, its manufacturing process, and its specialized division of labor. Through the acquisition of practical knowledge like the differences between kinds of steel, blade composition, sharpening, or maintenance, travelers gain a deeper understanding of the philosophy and technique embedded in each Sakai forged knife. Visit the museum during your stay to experience Sakai’s centuries-old blade culture up close and personal.

A Stay with a Sense of Place

Sakainoma Hotel Yanagi: A Townhouse Engulfed in History and Culture

Sakainoma Hotel Yanagi is located within the grounds of Sakainoma Plaza Yanagi, a multi-purpose complex renovated from the former estate of a Sakai forged knife merchant built in the late Edo Period. The 200-year-old machiya townhouse that was once a shop has been revitalized to carry the legacy of Sakai into the future. The space also serves as a modern cultural hub while preserving the city’s historical character.

“Sakainoma” means “the space of Sakai.” It’s a concept of experiencing the finest things Sakai has to offer through themes of place, time, and the intervals between them where the past and present intersect. Within the complex grounds guests will find a popular fruit parlor, a flower atelier trained in France, and a Sakai knife workshop led by Eric, a French bladesmith. By visiting these locales and interacting with the artisans, visitors will get a chance to explore Sakai’s cultural landscape.

A Stay in the Heart of Sakai

Beyond the main building housing the shops, past the courtyard, lies a detached building reserved exclusively for guest accommodations

The detached hotel features an elegant veranda as well as a cypress bath overlooking the inner courtyard. The ultimate Sakai experience is getting to sit in silence on the veranda and listening to the distant sounds of the city streetcar passing by, or soaking in the bath while enjoying the gentle drips coming from the water basin. As the entire residence is reserved exclusively for one group per stay, you can expect complete privacy where you’ll be able to forget the hustle and bustle of modern life.

Moments at the Table

At Dinner, Appreciate Sakai’s Skillful Knifework with All Five Senses (Additional Option） 

An additional option includes an authentic kaiseki multi-dish dinner at Ajishomo, a restaurant long cherished by Sakai’s local community. The establishment is led by a chef who refined their craft at a historic traditional restaurant, working alongside their son to perfect the combination of cuisine and hospitality delivered with genuine care.

With the Wabunka plan, guests can expect a quiet seat at the counter, allowing them to observe precise knife techniques up close. The chef personally explains the composition of the course and the characteristics of Sakai knives used in the kitchen, mixing fine dining with deeper insights into local traditions. Experience a singular moment of cultural immersion when the heritage of Sakai’s renowned knives, the chef’s skills, and lively conversation all come together to create one perfect Sakai moment.

*Drinks are not included in the experience fee. Please make the payment separately on the day at the venue.

Deepen Your Connection to the Region

Learn the Art of Gold-Leafing from a Certified Traditional Craftsman (Additional Option)

An optional experience available with this plan is a gold-leafing workshop led by a craftsman specializing in Osaka Buddhist altars, an integral part of local culture. Distinguished by the harmony between the deep luster of black lacquer and the gold leaf that softly reflects light, the altars are refined works of precision craftsmanship that create an atmosphere of solemn, quiet elegance. During this experience, you will learn directly from certified traditional craftsman Tetsuya Kurosawa, gaining the rare opportunity to handle gold leaf firsthand while exploring the techniques behind the material’s creation.

Gold leaf is created by hammering real gold until it becomes extremely thin. But within this miniscule thickness resides a brilliance and durability you would not expect. In Japan, gold leaf has long been used for Buddhist ritual objects, folding screens, and architectural ornamentation because of how long the material lasts and how distinguished it can make something look. During this experience, you’ll learn the techniques and precise movements required to perfectly apply gold leaf, acquiring deeper insight into this traditional craft.

During this experience, you’ll be working with Sakai forged blade handle wood, a traditional craft of the city. These materials were originally meant to be used by chefs and help in the creation of everyday meals. With the use of gold leaf techniques developed during the production of Buddhist altars, you’ll be able to transform the wood and give it new meaning. The gold-leafing experience combines two Sakai traditions into a one-of-a-kind single-stem flower vase that goes beyond simple craftmaking. As the vase gets infused with a part of yourself, it becomes a connection between the many cultures of these lands. The finished piece is yours to keep, allowing you to take a piece of Sakai back home with you.

Experiencing the Culture of Sakai with All Five Senses

The purpose of this journey isn’t sightseeing or visiting famous landmarks but instead engaging directly with the artisan keepers of Sakai culture. You’ll stay in a historic building, speak with the people who continue to carry on Sakai crafts into the future, and even get to work alongside them. By encountering the dedication and pride behind their work, you’ll begin to see that “craft” is not merely objects that you admire. It’s a living tradition that has been passed from person to person over generations.

The hands that forge blades, the hands that adorn prayer spaces, the hands that support the local food culture. Every one of them connect people to one another and preserve Sakai’s traditions. Through them, the encounters with the culture of Sakai become more than just a memory of your travels. They become a moment to reflect on your own worldview and the values that shape it.