Washi Paper Experience & Sake Brewing Tour

Explore the timeless charm of Ogawa, a town steeped in history. Wander through its well-preserved streets adorned with antique townhouses, retro Western-style buildings, and old warehouses. Take a leisurely stroll and soak in this authentic Japanese atmosphere that has captivated visitors for centuries.

To make traditional Japanese washi paper, you need icy cold and clear water. Ogawamachi, in northwest Saitama Prefecture, is a region that has both of these conditions. The Hosokawa paper made here is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, and is highly regarded worldwide, having even been used to restore the Louvre and the British Museum.

The Ogawa Washi Learning Center is a historical building constructed in 1936 for the study of washi paper, and is a place where craftspeople can learn and practice papermaking. Papermaking experiences are available for visitors with an advance reservation.

*Brochures in English and Chinese are available, but staff explanations are in Japanese only, so if you need an interpreter, please contact the Saitama Tourism Support Desk.

There are different varieties of Japanese sake, and the taste of each depends on many different factors. The Mikadomatsu sake brewed at Matsuoka Brewery relies on the mineral-rich natural water of Ogawa-machi, perfectly suited for sake brewing, and rice carefully selected from all over Japan, which together with superior techniques handed down over generations of brewers, result in this exquisite sake. On this brewery tour, you can observe the meticulous sake-making process and taste the aromatic and delicious brews of Matsuoka Brewery. *Children may enjoy the high-quality mineral-rich water used to brew sake, drawn from 130 meters underground.

Shofuan is a restaurant with a menu centered around the land and culture of Ogawa, using ingredients like high-quality underground natural brewing water, sake, koji (fermented culture), and sake kasu (lees). The restaurant building was constructed by renovating and extending a storehouse that was relocated from Niigata Prefecture, another famous sake brewing area of Japan, in the Meiji era. The terrace facing the garden allows diners to admire seasonal Japanese nature while they dine.

The Ogawa-machi Tourist Information Center is named “Musubime,” which comes from a combination of the Japanese words for "connect" and "bud." The center acts as a bridge between tourists and the heart of Ogawa, harmonizing the town's past, present, and future, and embodies the hope that these connections flourish into something significant. Here, visitors can access local information, stay updated on events, and purchase souvenirs and locally grown organic vegetables. It also supports those who have moved into town, hosts workshops, and serves as a promotional hub for the town. The building itself, constructed roughly 90 years ago, exudes a nostalgic charm infused with the town's rich history.