Fukuju Shikkiten — Hida Shunkei Lacquerware

Fukuju Shikkiten operates as "Hida Shunkei Lacquerware Main Shop Fukuju Shikkiten" in Sakura-machi, Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture. Store information provided on the official site lists the address, telephone and fax numbers, business hours and regular holidays, and notes that the shop has long been engaged mainly in the production of Hida Shunkei lacquerware. Located in a historic castle town area within walking distance of Takayama Station, the shop is a familiar presence for both visitors and local residents.

External introductions such as regional online notes describe Fukuju Shikkiten as a specialty shop of Hida Shunkei founded in the Ansei era. These sources mention that the shop handles a wide variety of items, from chopsticks and bento boxes to tea utensils, highlighting its position as a long-established business that has supported the world of Hida Shunkei lacquerware over many years.

On the top page of the official site, it is explained that the shop manufactures, wholesales and sells tableware, tea utensils and other products finished in Hida Shunkei lacquer. The introduction emphasizes that the beautiful wood grain of the lacquerware enhances the appearance of dishes and that the pieces are suitable both as daily-use items and as gifts for occasions such as housewarmings and weddings.

The "Traditional Craft Techniques" page describes Hida Shunkei as a traditional craft designated under the Traditional Craft Industries Promotion Act, with specific designation criteria including use in daily life, hand-made production, the use of natural materials and a history dating back to the Edo period. It also explains that production is divided between artisans who make the wooden base and those who apply the lacquer, and that Hida Shunkei is characterized by the use of transparent lacquer that allows the natural wood grain to show through.

Category pages on the site allow users to browse products by type, including tableware, tea utensils, display shelves, small boxes and other interior items, as well as a section for "imperfect" items that have minor scratches or unevenness found by strict artisan checks but remain fully functional. In this way, Fukuju Shikkiten offers a variety of price ranges and uses for Hida Shunkei lacquerware, from everyday dining to special gifts.

Business hours are listed as 8:30-17:00 (9:00-16:00 on Sundays), with regular holidays on 1 January and 15 August. Customers can contact the shop by phone, fax or via the inquiry form on the website. Through these channels, Fukuju Shikkiten shares the techniques and pieces of Hida Shunkei lacquerware with people visiting Takayama as well as those shopping online.

A specialty shop of Hida Shunkei with roots in the Ansei era

According to regional introductions, Fukuju Shikkiten is introduced as a specialty shop of Hida Shunkei founded in the Ansei era (mid-19th century). The shop name is listed as "Hida Shunkei Lacquerware Main Shop Fukuju Shikkiten," and it manufactures, wholesales and retails Hida Shunkei lacquerware in Takayama. The store is located in Sakura-machi, within walking distance of JR Takayama Station, in an area often visited by tourists and locals alike.

Tableware, tea utensils and interior items in Hida Shunkei

The top page explains that the shop offers items such as tableware and tea utensils finished in Hida Shunkei lacquer: chopsticks, bento boxes, bowls, free cups and serving plates, as well as tea utensils including natsume (tea caddies) and mizusashi (fresh water containers). It also introduces display shelves and small chests finished in Shunkei lacquer, described as items that can be used for a long time both as works of art and as practical household goods.

Traditional craft designated as a "Dento Tekki Kougeihin"

On the "Traditional Craft Techniques" page, Hida Shunkei is described as a traditional craft designated by the former Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now METI) on 17 February 1975 under the Traditional Craft Industries Promotion Act. The page outlines the conditions for designation, such as being used in daily life, being mainly hand-made, and using natural materials, and explains how Hida Shunkei combines practicality with beauty. It also introduces the production process, from white wood bases and undercoating to the repeated rubbing of raw lacquer and the final coating with refined transparent lacquer.