In the forests of northern Japan, where the Shirakami Sanchi World Heritage site stretches across the border of Aomori and Akita, an unlikely story is unfolding. It starts with the buna tree, or Japanese beech. Once considered too soft, too unstable, and too damp to be useful, it was often chopped down for firewood or railroad ties. After the war, entire forests were cleared. The wood was labeled useless.
That changed in 1956. A lacquer craftsman and a research director asked a simple question: what if the wood could be reshaped before it dried?
What followed became BUNACO, using a technique that turns beech into long, tape-like strips. This made the wood workable, sustainable, and unexpectedly elegant. Today, those same strips are spun and shaped into bowls, lamps, and trays. The method uses fewer materials than traditional carving and shows how smart design can reduce waste.
Photos courtesy of: 青森県 観光国際戦略局 誘客交流課 国内誘客グループ
Today, travelers can visit the BUNACO factory to see craftspeople shape and make the material into objects that are both practical and beautiful. For groups looking for something meaningful, whether curious students or visitors, this factory visit can also be combined with a hand-on crafting experience. See how local materials can be reimagined.
One especially compelling part of the experience is the company’s second factory, located inside a renovated elementary school. The building has been repurposed into a clean, bright workshop, where the original floors and chalkboards remain. It's a perfect example of community reuse that ties back to BUNACO's core values: make the most of what already exists.
Combined with time in the surrounding national park, the visit offers an opportunity to connect forest ecology with thoughtful design and local creativity. Shirakami Sanchi is one of Japan’s first UNESCO World Heritage sites. Its ecosystems have remained mostly undisturbed since the last Ice Age, providing a refuge for rare species such as the Japanese black bear and black woodpecker. For visitors, it’s a place to experience ancient forests and quiet trails that feel far removed from the everyday.
Inspired to take a trip to Japan? Whether you need a guide, transportation, and accommodations, or want to experience this yourself, get in touch! We can make it happen.