About Samurai Kaido Hazenoki-kan

Hello, this is Asukarando, a writer for [SaruKuma].

Today I’m introducing a wonderful spot in Tsukinoura, Minamata City:
[Samurai Kaido Hazenoki-kan]

Did you know that Minamata City is Japan’s #1 producer of haze berries, the traditional raw material for Japanese candles?
This amazing facility lets visitors experience authentic candle-making, and I tried it out myself — here’s my full report! (^o^)/

Have you ever seen a haze tree, the namesake of ‘Hazenoki-kan’?

This is the haze tree!

And those small round berries that look almost like grapes? Those are the famous haze berries!

The parking lot is located directly across from Hazenoki-kan.

And here is the entrance to Hazenoki-kan!

Right at the entrance, you’ll find a fascinating display of antique wax-pressing equipment from days gone by (^-^)

Inside Hazenoki-kan, you’ll discover an incredible variety of candles on display! (*^^*)

There are even different varieties of haze berries on display (^-^)

Candles made from haze berries are called ‘wa-rosoku’ — traditional Japanese candles.
Unlike the standard white candle, they have a beautiful, subtle natural tint (^-^)

Some wa-rosoku come decorated with elegant patterns (^-^)
Each pattern is hand-painted, making every candle a unique work of art!

There are also charming floating candles in playful shapes.
As the name suggests, these are designed to float on water (^-^)

Children especially love these eye-catching candles!

Paraffin wax candles in fun, colorful designs!

There’s a wide variety, including seasonal designs (^-^)

Highlights of Samurai Kaido Hazenoki-kan

Now let’s try the candle-making experience! (^o^)/

For small groups, there are comfortable table seats.

For larger groups or families with small children, there’s a spacious tatami room available too (^-^)

Time to make those fun paraffin wax candles we saw earlier in the display! (*^^*)

First, choose your base candle.
Prices range from 170 yen to 320 yen.

Take as many wax sheets as you need (20 yen per sheet).
You pay at the end based on how many you used.

The sheets soften with the warmth of your hands and become moldable, just like clay!

Just shape the wax however you like and stick it onto the base candle — it really is that simple! \(^^)/
There’s no time limit, so you can take your time and enjoy crafting at your own pace (^-^)

We started off chatting while we worked, but soon enough we were completely absorbed in our candles in silent concentration (^^)v

Once finished, the staff coats your creation with a final layer of wax to seal it.

And finally, you even get to wrap your finished candle yourself (^^)v
Here’s my finished masterpiece! (*^^*)

It takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour to make one candle, with material costs typically running between 300 and 500 yen.
You can craft seasonal designs for any time of year!
Making your very own original candle for Christmas would create a truly unforgettable memory (*^^*)

Children old enough to play with clay can fully enjoy this experience (^-^)
Samurai Kaido Hazenoki-kan has a warm, welcoming atmosphere where you can relax and enjoy authentic candle-making — why not visit and create your own one-of-a-kind original candle? (*^^*)

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Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is current as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before visiting.