Glasses made in Sabae

Sabae's eyeglass-making industry began in 1905, when a pair of glasses craftsman from Osaka was invited to Sabae to improve the lives of the local people, who lived in deep snow and had no industry but farming, and to promote the industry as a side job for farmers.

Today, Sabae City has become the land of 96% share of domestic production of eyeglass frames. Many eyeglass factories line the streets of Sabae, making the city a major regional industry.