Mino

Welcome to Mino, a city where the very essence of Japanese tradition is folded into its streets and woven into its paper. Located in Gifu Prefecture along the pristine Nagara River, Mino is world-renowned for two things: 'Mino…

We begin our journey in the heart of the Udatsu Wall Historical District. As you walk down this wide, preserved street, pay close attention to the 'Udatsu' themselves. …

We now enter the Former Imai Family Residence, which also houses a museum dedicated to Mino Washi. This was once the home of a wealthy paper merchant, and it remains one of the finest examples of the district's architecture. …

As we move to the narrower side streets, we encounter the workshops where the art of washi is still practiced and evolved. Here, you might see the process of dyeing paper using natural pigments or the intricate work of creating…

Ascending slightly toward the edge of the district, we find Hachiman Shrine, the spiritual guardian of the merchant town. The shrine is nestled at the base of a forested hill, and the transition from the paved streets to the…

We conclude our walk at the banks of the Nagara River. Without this river, there would be no Mino. …

Finally, we visit the Mino Washi Akari Art Gallery, located in a renovated historic warehouse. This gallery is dedicated to the 'Akari' art—the use of washi to create illuminated sculptures. …

Our journey through Mino has taken us from the top of the 'Udatsu' firewalls to the depths of the Nagara River, and into the soul of a single sheet of washi paper. We have explored a city that refused to choose between utility…