Zuisenji Temple Night Museum
Inami, located in the city of Nanto, Toyama Prefecture, is Japan's foremost woodcarving town and a designated piece of Japan Heritage. The town is home to some 200 woodcarvers who practice traditional carving techniques passed down since the 18th century. At its center is Inami Betsuin Zuisenji, a historic temple whose every beam and column is furnished with elaborate carved decorations—a practical museum of woodcarvings. This special nighttime tour allows you to explore this one-of-a-kind space with a master woodcarver as your guide. Lights placed throughout the temple create shadows and contrast on the carvings, allowing you to appreciate their intricacy at a level impossible during the day. Your woodcarver guide, meanwhile, will offer explanations and background so that you can gain a deeper understanding of Inami woodcarving. Tours are accompanied by a dedicated guide-interpreter who will translate the carver's remarks. Inquire about an experience today.
Groups of 10 or fewer: JPY 30,000 per group (tax included); groups of 11 or more: JPY 30,000 per group plus JPY 2,000 for each person over 10 people (JPY 32,000 for 11 people; JPY 34,000 for 12 people, etc.; tax included)
Daily
1 person (maximum 20 people)
― The Birthplace of Inami Woodcarving ―
Historic Zuisenji Temple is the birthplace of Inami woodcarving: After a fire destroyed the temple in the 18th century, a master carver arrived from Kyoto to assist with reconstruction. Artisans working on the project learned carving techniques from the master and applied them to the temple, laying the foundations of Inami woodcarving in the process. This tour offers ample opportunities to appreciate the carvers' works in all their boldness and painstaking detail.
― A Museum of Woodcarvings ―
A stroll through richly decorated Zuisenji is like browsing a gallery of wooden sculptures. This plan offers special, nighttime access to the temple's Main Hall and Taishido Hall, where you can enjoy the temple's most magnificent carvings under lights. The resulting contrast of light and dark accentuates the intricacy of the works for a viewing experience that you simply can't get during the day.
― Hear from a Local Woodcarver! ―
A highly knowledgeable local woodcarver will accompany you on an hour-long tour of the temple's Main Hall, Taishido Hall, Main Gate, and Gate for Imperial Messengers (also known as the Shikidai Gate), all of which are bursting with countless carvings. Your guide will offer a carver's perspective on the works you view, allowing you to deepen your understanding of the temple's history and the carvers' craft.
Tour information
Tour Itinerary
| 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. (flexible) | Tour meets in front of Zuisenji Temple Main Gate |
| Tour of the temple with woodcarver guide (Main Hall, Taishido Hall, Gate for Imperial Messengers, and more) | |
| ※ Your guide will explain the techniques behind the carvings! | |
| 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (1 hour after tour start) | Tour concludes |
Notice
Nanto area sunset times (for reference):
April: 6:15–6:40 p.m.; May: 6:40–7:05 p.m.
June: 7:05–7:15 p.m.; September: 5:40–6:20 p.m.
October: 4:55–5:35 p.m.; November: 4:35–4:55 p.m.
＊Your group may be combined with others, including groups arriving by bus, for the same tour.
＊Children must be 6 years of age or older, and children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
＊The tour route contains stairs and uneven surfaces. Visitors must remove their shoes when entering the main hall.
＊The temple is cold from November to March. Please dress accordingly.
Cancellation policy
*If you cancel your tour, you will be charged a cancellation fee for the total cost of the tour as follows:
| 1 day in advance |
50％ |
|
Day of the tour |
100％ |
*If inclement weather impacts the availability of public transportation on the day of your tour, your tour may be cancelled at no cost to you. We will notify you if we cancel your tour. However, if you cancel your tour due to inclement weather when public transportation is still available, you will be charged a cancellation fee (see table above).
Planning and implementation
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