Hakone Maruyama (Wood Inlay Handicraft Store) — Local services in Hakone

Hakone is well known for its unique woodworking, marquetry or Yosegi-zaiku, a form of wood inlay, using different naturally coloured wood laid out in intricate geometric patterns, in order to make complex and beautiful designs.

The history of marquetry in Hakone goes back to the Edo Period (1600-1868). The best examples of marquetry can be found in the Japanese puzzle boxes or karakuri, which is an enclosed box, seemingly with no openings, and unless you follow the exact step by step procedure, such as pushing or pulling certain panels, specifically for that box you’ll never be able to get inside. The puzzle boxes can have anywhere from 4 moves to 125 moves to open.

If you are looking for local handmade examples of marquetry as a souvenir then you need to head down Sekisho-Dori Street, just around the corner from the Hakone-Machi Seibu Ferry Port, near the entrance to the historic Hakone checkpoint and check out the museum and giftshop. It is open between 10am and 4:00pm.

We picked out a beautiful wooden sake cup and a 12-move puzzle box – the craftmanship of both is exquisite, lightweight and a perfect memento from our...

Hakone wood working is known around the world - so we bought some japanese puzzle boxes since theyre known for their quality and precision. Beautiful inlay work.

Wish I could afford the larger works of art, such as the ones depicting Mt Fuji. I am a woodworker myself back in America so I have an appreciation for the amount of time it takes to create these treasures.

I hope to come back someday and buy that Mt Fuji picture if its...

Fulfilled a lifetime dream! My Father bought my Mom a puzzle box when he was stationed in Japan in the early 50's. I played with it as a young girl and so when I visited Japan last year I wanted to get one for myself only to find out you can only buy them in Hakone, I was very disappointed. With my son being placed in Yokosuka and his making an appointment to visit an Onsen in Hakone fate allowed me to check this want off my...