Why Sabae is Japan’s Eyewear Epicenter

Japan is known for its master craftsmen who blend age-old traditions with innovative techniques, embracing new materials and methods to perfect their creations.

Across Japan, different regions have earned fame for their specialty crafts, from elegantly crafted kimonos to razor-sharp knives. Among them is Sabae, a small city in Fukui Prefecture, roughly a -hour train ride from Tokyo.

Sabae is famously dubbed Japan’s eyeglass capital, and for good reason. The city produces more than 90% of Japan’s eyeglass frames, according to local authorities. Eyewear-themed decorations and landmarks can be spotted throughout the streets, and there’s even a dedicated museum and festival celebrating glasses.

The Craft of Eyewear Making

Sabae, located on Japan’s Honshu island near Fukui City, has been a hub for high-quality eyewear production for over 100 years.

The journey began in 1905 when a local government official invited expert eyewear craftsmen to Sabae to pass on their knowledge, aiming to provide new opportunities for local farmers.

The effort proved successful. Today, Sabae is home to over 100 companies working together to produce eyeglasses.

While state-of-the-art machinery is used to craft new frames from metal and acetate, many steps still depend on the skilled hands and trained eyes of Sabae's expert artisans.

One such artisan is Takeshi Yamae, a frame designer for the Japanese brand Boston Club, who has called Sabae home for 17 years. He shares with Dinogo that crafting a single pair of glasses can involve more than 200 individual steps.

“I start by designing it, sketching it out, then transfer it to my computer,” Yamae explains. “From the moment I begin the design process to the moment I have the perfect pair, it takes over a year.”

The designer enjoys experimenting with new materials like carbon fiber but doesn’t follow trends due to the lengthy production time for new frames. Instead, he looks ahead to the future.

“I begin by thinking about the person who will wear the glasses,” he says. “My inspiration often comes from traditional Japanese elements, such as architecture, gardens, and tableware.”

While Sabae-made frames are widely available throughout Japan, there’s something uniquely rewarding about visiting the city and witnessing the craftsmanship firsthand.

Some of the artisans involved in the frame-making process devote their entire careers to mastering a single skill, whether it’s machine cutting, polishing, or affixing the nose pads.

“Everyone working in Sabae’s factories is committed to creating beautiful, high-quality products that can be used globally, and that you can immediately recognize as Sabae glasses,” says Takeshi.

Sabae’s Megane Museum, located on Megane Street, showcases the intricate steps involved in crafting the perfect pair of eyeglasses and hosts a variety of events celebrating eyewear culture. Renowned eyewear brands, such as Boston Club, often feature their designs in pop-up exhibitions.

The museum also offers hands-on workshops for those interested in creating their own eyeglass frames—a memorable souvenir. (Advance reservations are required.) For those pressed for time, the museum’s shop features thousands of frames from around 50 different manufacturers in Fukui Prefecture.

Beyond the Eyewear

Fukui is one of the four prefectures in Japan's Hokuriku region, alongside Toyama, Niigata, and Ishikawa.

Visiting this less-explored part of Japan is now easier than ever, thanks to a recent extension of the Shinkansen (bullet train) line that connects more of the region to Tokyo.

The 2024 extension, which reaches Tsuruga Station in Fukui, adds 125 kilometers (78 miles) of new track, opening up a wealth of travel opportunities for international visitors looking to escape the tourist-heavy spots like Tokyo and Kyoto.

Fukui Prefecture is served by four stations on the expanded Shinkansen line: Awara Onsen Station, Fukui Station, Echizen-Takefu Station, and Tsuruga Station. From Fukui Station, travelers can catch a short 15-minute ride to Sabae.

In addition to being home to Japan’s eyeglass capital, Fukui Prefecture is rich in ancient architecture, historic landmarks, and temples. It also boasts modern attractions like Nishiyama Zoo, famous for its red pandas.

One of the must-visit spots is the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, which recently expanded and now holds one of Asia's largest collections of dinosaur fossils. Among its treasures are 50 complete dinosaur skeletons, including the rare Brachylophosaurus mummy.

For cherry blossom enthusiasts, Asuwa River in Fukui city offers a scenic two-kilometer stretch of sakura trees that bloom beautifully every spring.

The city is also a great base for exploring Maruoka Castle Park, home to one of Japan’s remaining 12 original castle towers, as well as Eihei-ji, one of the two head temples of Soto Zen Buddhism.

When exploring natural attractions outside the cities, don’t forget your glasses—there’s a lot to take in.

Fukui Prefecture offers stunning sights such as the rugged cliffs of Tojinbo, the picturesque Mikata Goko (Five Lakes of Mikata), and the scenic Rainbow Line—an 11-kilometer (seven-mile) road that provides breathtaking views of the lakes, located in Wakasa Bay Quasi-National Park near Tsuruga Station.

Food is another highlight during a visit to Fukui. As a major rice producer and seafood hub, the prefecture is a paradise for sushi enthusiasts. Its renowned Echizen Gani crabs—male snow crabs that can reach up to 80 centimeters (31 inches)—are a major draw. These crabs are in season from November to March and are named after the Echizen coastline, famous for them.

For visitors eager to learn about the region’s crab fishing heritage, the seaside Echizen Crab Museum is a must-see.