With direct flights to Komatsu Airport and the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, visiting Ishikawa and Fukui is now easier than ever. And yet still few travelers venture beyond the region’s popular destinations like Kanazawa to explore more rural areas where local traditions and values still thrive.

Located just a short drive south from central Komatsu, the small town of Takigahara is one such special place, where local people have lived in harmony with nature on farms amidst forested hills for countless generations. For guests reserving their stay at Takigahara Craft & Stay through Wabunka, an exclusive private transfer service is available, ensuring a seamless and comfortable journey into this tranquil countryside.

Just an hour south of Komatsu is the city of Echizen, which was long the main political and cultural center of the region. Throughout the centuries, artisans in Echizen developed sophisticated techniques to produce items of practical utility and exquisite beauty. In addition to Echizen washi paper and wooden chests of drawers, blacksmiths in the region have forged fine steel blades for over seven centuries.

The legacy of Echizen Forged Blades (Echizen Uchihamono) began about 700 years ago when a master swordsmith from Kyoto traveled to this region in search of high-quality water. The unique fire-forging technique, originally developed for swords, has evolved through the centuries into the exquisite kitchen knives that continue to captivate top chefs across the globe today.

Dedicated to keeping this flame of tradition alive, Takefu Knife Village serves as the living heart of this craft, where the artisans' relentless pursuit of excellence and masterful skills are passed down to the present day.

Takefu Knife Village was founded in 1973 by a group of 10 local artisans who were desperate to preserve cherished local artisanal traditions. Through collaboration with designer Kazuo Kawasaki, they were able to combine traditional techniques with stylish modern designs to produce beautiful items that were sold in shops and galleries around the world. You can view some of these beautiful pieces of work in the on-site gallery and shop.

Upon arriving at Takefu Knife Village, you will meet the local blacksmiths who will guide you through your day. To witness the beginnings of this process, you can tour the workshop to observe the forging of the steel as it is heated and hammered using special equipment operated by the blacksmiths. This is where the magic begins, where metal is reshaped and reworked into blades that will stand the test of time, not only as useful daily items but as artisanal works of art.

You can take a much more active role in the next part of the process, which involves tempering the steel to make the metal harder and more durable as well as sharpening it into a keen blade. Follow the instructions of your master guide as you learn how to handle the item safely and deftly as it continues its transformation into a finished knife.

Forging and sharpening a knife is hungry work, making this 1.5-hour break the perfect time to recharge and reflect on what you have experienced so far and perhaps discuss among yourselves what you found interesting or surprising. We recommend trying echizen soba at Moriroku, a local restaurant located about a 5-minute drive from Takefu Knife Village (complimentary shuttle service is available).

*Guests are free to choose their preferred lunch spot. Please note that lunch is not included in the experience and payment should be made on-site at the restaurant.

After lunch, you can move on to the final stages of creating your Japanese knife, which involve engraving your name and attaching the handle. These touches will transform your knife into a uniquely personalized memento of your time in Hokuriku that you can take with you to use at home. Following the experience, an exclusive private transfer service is available to ensure a seamless and comfortable journey to Takigahara Craft & Stay.

*You can take your finished knife home with you on the same day. Shipping is also available upon request.

*You can choose the material of the blade from either Shirogami (white carbon steel) with iron or Shirogami (white carbon steel) with stainless steel.

*The handle material is rounded cherry tree.

*You cannot change the shape of the knife and handle.

*The experience lasts approximately 4 hours in total, with a lunch break in between the morning and afternoon sessions. The provided schedule is an estimate and should be used for reference only.

You will be staying at Takigahara Craft & Stay in Komatsu, a former farmhouse built over a century ago. In recent years, the property has been renovated to provide visitors with an ideal spot to relax and recharge away from the rigors of city life. At the same time, Takigahara Craft & Stay also offers opportunities to experience local culture by arranging workshops with local artisans and farmers. Working in collaboration with neighboring Takigahara Farm, the accommodation strives to provide meals that follow a sustainable farm-to-table ethos with an emphasis on ingredients that showcase the best of each season.

For your stay, we recommend that you choose Takigahara House. Built over 80 years ago, this stone storehouse is typical of rural Hokuriku architecture but quite rare elsewhere in Japan. The building has been thoughtfully renovated to preserve a sense of history and provide unforgettable private stays for guests. The ground floor has a kitchen, dining area, and living space, as well as a large bathroom where you can relax as long as you want in the tub, while the upper floor is a bedroom that can sleep up to four people.

Access to the facility is convenient, with Wabunka providing special private car service to and from Komatsu Airport, JR Echizen-Takefu Station, JR Kagaonsen Station, or JR Komatsu Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen) as well as to and from Takefu Knife Village.

When staying at Takigahara Craft & Stay, visitors can choose from two different types of accommodation. One of these two facilities, Takigahara House, is a whole building that you can book for the ultimate private stay. The other option, simply called Craft & Stay, is a combined hostel and guest house that offers dormitories as well as private guest rooms.

English-speaking staff are available on site to assist guests.

Many visitors enjoy Takigahara Craft & Stay so much that they end up eager to extend their stay. For a truly relaxing stay and a more meaningful experience, we highly recommend booking multiple nights.

*Through Wabunka, you can reserve either the Takigahara House or a private room at Craft & Stay.

*Please note that room assignments may be subject to change based on availability. If a change is necessary, the rate may vary, and we will notify you of the details beforehand.

When you arrive at Takigahara Craft & Stay, you will feel less like you have come to a hotel or ryokan and more like you have stepped into a tiny, picturesque village. While the exteriors of the buildings retain a rustic air that speaks to the history and tradition of the area, the interiors have been fitted with stylish modern furniture and decorated with contemporary art, creating the sense that this community is also ever-evolving. The Takigahara Cafe is located in a separate building alongside the two main accommodation facilities.

One of the most unique features of Takigahara Craft & Stay is a free-standing sauna that was constructed using local wood and stone. Gaze out on soothing views of the surrounding fields and forested hills as your body warms and your mind clears itself of distractions. The building also possesses an outdoor stone bath and cold plunge pool on a terrace that faces Mount Kurakake. In the warmer months, you can even cool down in the stream that runs through the property, immersing yourself in fresh spring water that flows down from the surrounding mountains.

All meals at Takigahara Craft & Stay are served at the stylish on-site Takigahara Cafe, which welcomes guests into seats at a long shared wooden table.* Dinner is a French-style multi-course meal featuring local seasonal ingredients prepared using culinary techniques and flavors from Japan and other parts of the world.

*When you check in, you can inform the accommodation whether you want to share the table with other guests or dine privately.

There is a special emphasis on fresh seafood, as well as wild game meat such as boar and venison. If you wish, you can also order dessert and natural wine. Food is served on exquisite Kutani ware ceramics and Echizen lacquerware.

*Dinner menus change seasonally.

*Drinks are not included in the experience fee. Please pay directly at the venue.

Moss Bar is the facility’s on-site bar and lounge, perfect for enjoying a quiet drink or two after dinner. Located inside an old storehouse that has been renovated into a warm, welcoming space, the bar has a broad selection composed of natural wines from around the world as well Hokuriku sake and Japanese whiskey. You can drink at the counter or head up to the lounge on the second floor to relax and listen to a collection of vinyl records.

*Moss Bar can be pre-booked through Wabunka when making your reservation. There is no cover charge; please simply pay for your drinks on site.

After waking from a pleasant night’s sleep, you can choose to head out to nearby Takigahara Farm to pick some fresh vegetables that you can bring to Takigahara Cafe to be used as part of your breakfast. Savor the morning air of the countryside as you experience the joy of selecting the choicest items from the farmers’ fields.

*Vegetables can usually be picked from spring to autumn. Eggs can be collected year-round.

Breakfast at Takigahara Craft & Stay is a balanced and nutritious meal, featuring homegrown vegetables from Takigahara Farm (including those you have just picked) and eggs from their free-range chickens. Some items on the menu may include fresh-baked bread, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and eggs from Takigahara Farm’s free-range chickens, as well as orange juice and coffee. Japanese-style breakfasts may include such dishes as clay pot rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and seasonal vegetables.

*Breakfast menus change seasonally.

*Please note that you may be seated with other guests during meals at the accommodation.

After breakfast, you will have some time before checkout at 11:00 AM* to explore the surrounding countryside. While you can simply head out on foot for a stroll, renting a bicycle from Takigahara Craft & Stay will allow you to cover a bit more ground for a broader sense of the area’s natural beauty. Please note that rental bicycles may not always be available.

*Wabunka customers can enjoy a special late checkout time of 11:00 AM.

Many travelers choose to visit Hokuriku in late spring when the cherry blossoms bloom or fall when the leaves blaze red, orange, and yellow. But the truth of the matter is that places like Takigahara are beautiful all-year round, including in the winter months when deep snow covers the land in a soft white blanket.

Whenever you visit, we hope that this Wabunka plan gives you the chance to slow down and experience more of what this unique part of Japan has to offer. With a night at Takigahara Craft & Stay amidst the serenity of the countryside in Komatsu and a day making your own knife with the blacksmiths at Takefu Knife Village in Echizen, you can begin to appreciate the deep connections that people in this rural region have formed to the land that has sustained them for centuries.