Discover Shikokuchuo’s Paper Tradition and Culture
Accommodation in Shikokuchuo
Paper shapes the cultural character of Shikokuchuo. At the 紙のまち資料館, you can learn about the history of the paper town and the traditional industries of handmade washi and mizuhiki. Paper production and technology are also among the topics covered. This lets you discover paper not only as a finished product, but also the craftsmanship and techniques involved in making it. The museum offers a hands-on introduction to the destination’s paper tradition.
Discover and try making washi
At the 紙のまち資料館, visitors can try making handmade washi. Along with learning about its history and techniques, you can take a hands-on approach: explore the tradition and try making the paper yourself. Check the visitor program before your trip. Paper-related products are also sold there; the selection may change. So if trying the craft yourself is especially important to you, take the program into account when planning. Shopping is another aspect of a museum visit, but the products available may vary.
More cultural topics across the municipality
There are other cultural attractions in the municipality of Shikokuchūō. 川之江城 is also known as 仏殿城. The 暁雨館 displays exhibits about local figures 近藤篤山, 永隆院（お作さん） and 安藤正楽, as well as rock and mineral specimens from the 赤石山系 and Sekigawa. You can explore both biographical topics and the study of rocks and minerals there. These subjects offer a different focus from the history of paper at the 紙のまち資料館.
Another hands-on experience in the municipality is offered at the 霧の森茶フェミュージアム. At a 手もみ茶道場, you can roll tea leaves by hand and learn about Shingū tea. This is a different topic from washi-making: here, you explore tea; there, paper. If you are planning a trip together, these two activities can prompt a conversation about which subjects interest you most.
Pilgrimage traditions and literary heritage
The history of 由霊山 三角寺 is also part of the religious and literary heritage of the municipality of Shikokuchūō. The temple is the 65th temple on Shikoku’s 88-temple pilgrimage route and is considered an ancient temple with a history of more than 1,000 years. 小林一茶 also visited 由霊山 三角寺 and left the poem “これでこそ 登りがいあり 山桜” about the mountain cherry blossoms. The pilgrimage route and the poem give the temple different historical associations: one places it within a religious tradition, while the other records a literary encounter. The municipality’s cultural attractions thus range from crafts and tea to temple history and poetry.
Which topics suit your trip?
These topics can help you decide what kind of trip you want when choosing a vacation rental in Shikokuchuo. Consider whether you are most interested in the history of paper, trying your hand at making washi, tea, local figures and minerals, or temple history and literature. If you are planning a trip with children, the different hands-on activities can give you something concrete to talk about: making washi and rolling tea leaves by hand are distinct activities, and you can compare which one appeals to everyone. First decide which experiences matter most for your trip; you can then use that to guide your vacation rental search and consider your other needs afterward.
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