[Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture] Traditional Yamagata castings are also recommended for sightseeing! Introducing the attractions and sights to visit!

Do you know about Yamagata Casting, a traditional industry in Yamagata Prefecture? Cast metals, which are made using techniques that have been passed down through generations, are extremely attractive and captivating just by looking at them.

This time, we will introduce the charm and history of Yamagata Casting, as well as recommended spots for sightseeing.

What is Yamagata Casting? Introducing the charm and features!

First, I will explain in an easy-to-understand manner what Yamagata casting is.

What is Yamagata Casting? Introducing the charm and features!

Yamagata casting is a traditional craft made mainly in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, and has a history of about 900 years. Originally, it was a technology for manufacturing Buddhist statues, daily necessities, metal fittings, etc., but in recent years it has been divided into mechanical castings and craft castings, and the most famous products for the general public are tea kettles and teapots.

The characteristics of Yamagata castings are expressed in the coexistence of ``heaviness, thinness, and beauty.'' Because delicate processing is possible, small items such as chopstick rests and cups can be manufactured while retaining the unique texture of cast iron.

History of Yamagata castings

It is said that Yamagata casting flourished in Yamagata City because, in the late Heian period, it was discovered that the sand of the Umamigasaki River that flows through Yamagata City and the soil near Chitose Park were suitable for casting. Then, in the Edo period, the castle town was reorganized and Kaji-cho and Doppan-cho were created to train foundry craftsmen.

Doppancho, which was a temple town for the Dewa Sanzan pilgrimage, was filled with many worshipers, and daily necessities and Buddhist statues made of cast metal became popular as souvenirs and spread throughout the country, which is why Yamagata castings remain to this day. This is the reason why I am here.

4 recommended spots to visit Yamagata Castings

From here, we will introduce four recommended spots where you can actually see and touch Yamagata castings.

Yamagata City Industrial History Museum

The Yamagata City Industrial History Museum is a place where a large number of traditional crafts and industrial historical materials of Yamagata City are exhibited. You can see tea kettles and iron kettles made by Yamagata castings, as well as tools that were once used for manufacturing castings.

Additionally, every fall, we hold a ``tea party'' using Yamagata castings in a tea kettle, and a ``factory tour'' where you can see the casting manufacturing process up close. Admission is free, so you can easily stop by.

Cityscape of Kasumi-cho, Yamagata City

In Kasumi Town, which is located right next to Yamagata Station, Yamagata castings are used for information boards, bronze statues, and street lights, in keeping with the image of ``a town steeped in history and culture, and a town filled with moisture and peace.'' If you don't know about it, you'll miss it, so it's a hidden spot to visit.

You can actually touch and feel the texture of cast metal, so it's a good idea to take a walk around the town while sightseeing.

Kikuchi Hojudo

Kikuchi Hojudo is a long-established Yamagata foundry founded in 1604. We have received numerous awards, including the highest award at the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition and the Japan Arts Foundation Award, and our traditional tea utensils, the Japanese iron kettle and iron kettle, are particularly recognized around the world.

Each one is handmade by a craftsman, so although the production numbers are small, they are also attractive in that they are exquisitely crafted. Modern tools such as the stylish ``Watetsu pot'' and the ``Watetsu kama-nabe'', which allow you to cook rice deliciously, are also on sale.

Tendosou Garden Cafe

Tendoso Garden Cafe is a shop in the Tendo Onsen town where you can enjoy coffee brewed in Yamagata casting iron. The recommended menu item, ``Tetsukettle Coffee,'' comes with two cups of coffee in a Yamagata cast iron kettle, a collaboration between Kikuchi Hojudo and world-renowned designer Kiyoyuki Okuyama.

Lunch time is from 11:00 to 14:00, and cafe time is from 14:00 to 16:00, so if you want to order iron kettle coffee, we recommend going during cafe time.

Experience the charm of Yamagata City's traditional crafts through "Yamagata Casting"

This time, we have introduced the charm and history of Yamagata City's traditional craft, ``Yamagata Casting'', as well as recommended spots for sightseeing. Yamagata castings have a wonderful sense of solidity and delicacy, and are fun to look at. There are some places you can easily visit, so please come and experience it at least once.