What Is the Gyokusendo Forging Shop?
The Gyokusendo Forging Shop (玉川堂鍛金場, Gyokusendō Tankinjō) is a single-storey wooden workshop of the Taisho period in Tsubame Aza Nishigo, Tsubame City, Niigata Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on July 8, 2008.
A tankinjo is the room where artisans hammer sheet copper into vessels. Gyokusendo simply calls it the factory and offers tours of its registered workshop, where craftsmen are still making tsuiki copperware. The national database dates the main structure to the Taisho period (1912 to 1925), with an extension on the west side added in the early Showa period. At 319 square meters, the Gyokusendo Forging Shop is the largest of the four registered Gyokusendo buildings.
Gyokusendo's own history mentions that the workshop was enlarged in 1890 as the number of artisans grew. The Agency for Cultural Affairs, however, dates the present building to the Taisho period, and published sources do not explain how it relates to that Meiji-era workshop.
Why the Gyokusendo Forging Shop Was Registered
The Gyokusendo Forging Shop is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property listed for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that it preserves the working space of a traditional industry unusually well.
The key is that the workflow is written into the floor plan. Work with fire, seated hammering and finishing each have their own zone, and copper is still being shaped under the same roof today.
Inside the Gyokusendo Forging Shop
The Gyokusendo Forging Shop is a Kirizuma-zukuri gabled building under a Sangawara-buki tile roof, 12 meters long and 7.3 meters deep. Large glass windows run along the walls to pull in daylight. Artisans read the hammer marks on the copper surface as they go, so good light helps.
The interior divides north and south. The northern half is an earth-floored Doma fitted with hearths. Copper stiffens as it is struck and has to be annealed, heated until it softens, before hammering can continue. Gyokusendo's history even credits one generation with using a burner to anneal small areas and coax out gentler curves.
The southern half is laid with tatami, and this is where the craftsmen sit to hammer. Seeing metalwork done on straw mats rather than a workbench tends to stay with visitors. The western extension is used for finishing.
Gyokusendo's history credits the fourth generation with kuchi-uchidashi, a technique that raises a kettle's body and spout from one sheet with no seam. If a kettle is on the bench during your visit, look closely at the base of the spout.
Visiting the Gyokusendo Forging Shop
You can enter the Gyokusendo Forging Shop on the company's workshop tour. A staff member leads the way, and the visit takes about 15 to 20 minutes. It is free for parties of 1 to 5, and visitors with reservations get priority.
Because this is a working factory, do not touch machines, tools or the building itself, and stay close to your guide. Check with staff before taking photos; flash and video are not permitted. Fewer artisans work on Saturdays, so choose a weekday to see the hammering in full swing.
Wheelchair users and anyone who has difficulty walking are asked to contact Gyokusendo in advance by form or phone. Tour start times and directions are on the Gyokusendo page.
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Q&A
- Can I see inside the Gyokusendo Forging Shop?
- Yes. Gyokusendo's workshop tour takes visitors into the Gyokusendo Forging Shop with a staff guide to watch artisans hammering copper. It lasts about 15 to 20 minutes.
- Do I need a reservation for the Gyokusendo Forging Shop tour, and is there a fee?
- Booking ahead is recommended because reserved visitors get priority. The Gyokusendo Forging Shop tour is free for 1 to 5 people; groups of 6 or more and visits arranged through travel agencies, companies or organizations are charged.
- Can I take photos or video in the Gyokusendo Forging Shop?
- Ask staff before taking photos. Flash photography and video recording are not allowed on the Gyokusendo Forging Shop tour.
- When was the Gyokusendo Forging Shop built?
- According to the national database, the main body of the Gyokusendo Forging Shop was built in the Taisho period (1912 to 1925), and the western extension was added in the early Showa period.
- What is the tatami area of the Gyokusendo Forging Shop used for?
- The southern half of the Gyokusendo Forging Shop is a tatami-floored workspace where craftsmen sit to hammer copper. The northern half is an earth floor with hearths, and the western extension handles finishing.
Basic Information
| Name | Gyokusendo Forging Shop |
|---|---|
| Location | 3064-1 and others, Tsubame Aza Nishigo, Tsubame City, Niigata Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2008 (Heisei 20) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Wooden, single storey, tiled roof; building area 319 square meters (12 meters by 7.3 meters) |
| Owner | Gyokusendo |
| Public Access | Interior open on the workshop tour (reservations get priority; free for 1 to 5 people) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Gyokusendo Forging Shop (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007204
- Cultural Heritage Online: Gyokusendo Forging Shop (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/183416
- Cultural Properties of Tsubame City (Tsubame City, Japanese)
- https://www.city.tsubame.niigata.jp/soshiki/kyoiku/3/10564/15/966.html
- Gyokusendo, 4 Properties: Summary (Tsubame City, Japanese PDF)
- https://www.city.tsubame.niigata.jp/material/files/group/29/100890585.pdf
- Open Factory (Gyokusendo)
- https://www.gyokusendo.com/en/openfactory
- Factory Tour Guide, Tsubame Main Store (Gyokusendo, Japanese)
- https://www.gyokusendo.com/openfactory
- History of Gyokusendo (Gyokusendo, Japanese)
- https://www.gyokusendo.com/about/history
Last verified: 2026.09.17
