Okawa, Furniture Town

Okawa is Japan’s leading furniture production town, with a history dating back 480 years. Kumenosuke Enotsu, fleeing from the Ōnin War in Kyoto, commissioned the local ship carpenters to make furniture, marking the beginning of this renowned furniture town. In Okawa, you can also enjoy the fish *Etsu, associated with a local legend. The town is well known for *Kumiko, intricate wooden craftwork.

Chikugo River Lift Bridge

This 507-meter-long bridge connects Okawa City and Saga City. Its 24-meter center section is vertically movable, allowing boats to pass underneath. Originally a railroad bridge, it was repurposed after the railroad line was abolished and is now a pedestrian bridge and a symbol of Okawa City. There is a park on the Okawa City side of the bridge.

Japanese Official Site (No Japanese Page):Okawa River Lift Bridge https://www.shoukaikyou.com

Furo Shrine

Known locally as “Ofuro-san,” Furo Shrine is believed to have been founded around 1800 years ago. Legend has it that Empress Jingu visited this place after her campaign in Korea.

More about Shinto Shrine , Click here.

Okawa Kumiko Wood Joinery

It is a craft of creating wood patterns by assembling thinly cut wood pieces without using nails. The patterns include “hemp leaf,” “sesame shell,” and “double flowered cherry blossom,” with a total of over two hundred designs. Craftsmen use some of these to create their own beautiful patterns. Okawa Kumiko has been used to adorn the guest rooms of the tourist train “Nanatsu Boshi in Kyushu.”

Japanese Official Site (No English Page): Okawa Traditional Crafts https://okawa-dentou.jp/dentou/kumiko/