Back in 2001, I had attended an NOA and a JOAS convention. After the JOAS convention, Yamaguchi-san had organized a bus trip to tour the country side. The first stop was a village where they made handmade paper. The Japan Times had a story about such a site getting UNESCO Heritage designation. I do not know if it is same site.
Mark Kennedy 'Washi' paper-making village hopes UNESCO designation will bring tailwind Japan Times Nov 25, 2014 by Tomohiro Osaki http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/11/25/national/washi-paper-making-village-hopes-unesco-designation-will-bring-tailwind/#.VHSrIsLwuic