OVERVIEW

Watch master craftsmen cast tin products such as chopstick rests using a centuries-old process and see how single-malt whiskies are distilled in atypical copper pots. During the winter, the Wakatsuru Sake Brewery produces sake but each summer the owners turn their attention to whiskey-making in the region’s only distillery. As you will discover during a tasting, the still pots impart a unique character to the whiskies. Zen Buddhism architecture representing the early Edo period is the draw of Zuiryu-ji, a temple complex with numerous buildings and gates that are recognized as official national treasures. The Nousaku foundry in Takaoka is special as well, as it has been casting tin products using age-old techniques for more than a century. The factory started by making Buddhist ritual objects and has branched out into producing contemporary items that include tableware, flexible tin baskets, artwork and even medical instruments. Many items are displayed in the gift shop.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sample a selection of single malt whiskies that are produced in unusual still pots.
• Visit a Buddhist temple so culturally important that it was declared a national treasure.
• See how chopstick rests and other items are cast using a centuries-old process.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.