8 Places to Experience Kanazawa’s Traditional Culture, Including Wagashi, Gold Leaf, and Kaga Yuzen
Kanazawa, the ancient capital of Japan, has nurtured a variety of cultures throughout its long history. From crafts such as Kutani ware, Kaga Yuzen and gold leaf to traditional gourmet foods such as wagashi (Japanese confectionery) and Noh plays, here are some of the places where you can experience and enjoy the castle town of Kaga Hyakumangoku.
<Recommended Traditional Culture Experience Spots in Kanazawa>.
- 1 Kanazawa Saryo “Kanazawa-nuri”
- 2 Experience making wagashi at Koshiyama Kanseido (Japanese confectionery for all seasons)
- 3Kaga Yuzen Maida Senga Kogei "Coloring Experience
- 4 Nakajima Menya "Hachiman Okiagari" Painting Experience
- 5 Kutani Kosen Kiln "Painting Experience
- 6 Sakuda Gold Leaf Shop: Experience applying gold leaf at the main store.
- 7 Kanazawa Nohgaku Museum: Experience dressing up
- 8 Ame no Tawaraya: Candy Stuffing Experience
<Recommended Traditional Culture Experience Spots in Kanazawa>.
1Kanazawa Saryo “Kanazawa-nuri”
Experience Creating Your Own Original Tableware Decorated with Kutani Ware and Kanazawa Lacquer
An art café where you can experience “Kanazawa-nuri,” inspired by the techniques of Kutaniyaki—a traditional craft representative of Ishikawa Prefecture—and lacquer art. Choose your favorite vessel from teacups or sake cups (choko), then combine three colors from a palette of about 20 to create your own unique design by layering the colors.The process of selecting colors while imagining the finished product is enjoyable, and it’s fascinating how your individuality shines through depending on the color combinations you choose. A characteristic of Kanazawa-nuri is the process of sanding the piece with sandpaper after repeating the lacquering and drying steps multiple times, which reveals unexpected nuances in the colors.
An experience-based café in Kanazawa where you can enjoy pottery-making and Japanese tea
The experience lasts two hours, and you can take your finished piece home on the same day. After creating your piece, you can enjoy a blend of tea from the Japanese tea brand “shu ha ri” in the attached café, served in the cup you crafted yourself. The café also offers Japanese tea, lattes, and sweets made with tea leaves, allowing you to relax and unwind while experiencing traditional culture.
Local Guide
Supporters
It’s the perfect spot for travelers looking to enjoy a quintessentially Kanazawa experience during their trip. Located halfway up Mt. Utsuyama, it offers the added charm of being able to savor tea in a quiet setting overlooking the city of Kanazawa.
- Kanazawa Saryo
-
16-17 Chi, Utsutsu-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
Approx. 15 minutes by taxi from Kanazawa Station
Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at “Hashiba-cho,” and walk about 15 minutes
10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. (last order 5:00 p.m.); January–February: 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (last order 3:00 p.m.)
Experience Times: Experiences are held three times daily, starting at 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 4:00 PM (each session lasts 2 hours); in January and February, experiences are held twice daily, starting at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM
Year-end and New Year holidays. Irregular closures may occur
Experience fee: 7,700 yen (includes pottery, paint, and tea)
076-254-6647
Free (6 spaces)
Experience operates on a reservation-only basis
2Seasonal Wagashi: Koshiyama Kanseido “Kanazawa Wagashi Hands-On Experience”
Learn how to make authentic Japanese sweets directly from a craftsman. Making authentic Japanese sweets
A Japanese confectionery that opened in 1888 and has several stores in Kanazawa.
Three days a week, the shop offers a "Kanazawa Wagashi Handmade Experience," where you can learn directly from a wagashi craftsman. The program is popular among tourists because they can learn authentic wagashi at a long-established shop in Kanazawa, the ancient capital of Japan. You can learn how to wrap sweet bean paste in kneaded dough, how to make a tie-dye pattern, and how to make flower petals using special tools, making you feel like a professional. Wagashi motifs include cherry blossoms in spring, hydrangeas in summer, and maple trees in fall. The beauty of the colors is also well received.
After the Experience, enjoy shopping and Japanese sweets
The shop offers a selection of Japanese sweets inspired by Kanazawa’s culture and customs.A specialty is the “Kinjo Maki,” inspired by the main keep of Kanazawa Castle and a samurai helmet (kabuto). It features a light, fluffy dough wrapped around sweet bean paste and comes in flavors such as “brown sugar paste” and “Iyokan citrus paste.”We also recommend our creative confections made with local and Western ingredients, such as “Habutae Mochi” made with “Kaga lotus root” kneaded into the dough, and “Monaka” with a cute bell-shaped design.
Local Guide
Supporters
At the attached café, “CAFE Kan,” you can enjoy creative Japanese sweets—it’s the perfect spot to relax after your Experience.
- Seasonal Japanese Sweets Koshiyama Kanseido
-
- 2-11-28 Owari-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- From the East Exit of JR Kanazawa Station, take the Hokutetsu Bus "Left Turn Route" around Kanazawa Castle Town. 5 min. ride, 1 min. walk from Owari-machi Bus Stop.
- 9:00-17:30, Experience handmade wagashi (Japanese confectionery): Mon, Thu, Sat, 13:30-15:00
- Wednesdays (open if Wednesday is a national holiday)
- Handmade wagashi Experience: 1,800 yen for junior high school students and older, 1,700 yen for 10-12 year olds
- 076-221-0336
- Free of charge
- Reservations required at least 2 days in advance for the Handmade Japanese Confectionery Experience; if there are 5 or more people, the experience is available on other days of the week.
3Kaga Yuzen Maida Senga Kogei "Coloring Experience
Modern Japanese accessories made with Kaga yuzen
Kaga yuzen has a 400-year tradition and is characterized by elegant patterns based on nature and classical motifs. At this workshop, which has been in operation for three generations, visitors can observe the production process and experience coloring. Experiences include coloring a small furoshiki (wrapping cloth) and a one-stroke experience for those who just want to experience the feeling of coloring. Earrings and earrings are popular among women, who can choose from three different designs and color in the outline of the glue. The secret to a good finish is to start with a light color and gradually add more colors. The trick is to start with a light color and gradually build up to a lighter color, and to add blurring to make it look more like Kaga yuzen. After coloring, it takes about four weeks for the finished product to be sent to the customer's home.
A rare workshop where you can see craftsmen's skills up close
The husband is a well-known Kaga yuzen artist and also serves as the representative director of the Kaga Yuzen Cultural Association. The entire process, from designing to finishing, is done in the workshop, and his works, which match the sensitivity of the times with traditional beauty, are highly acclaimed. The Experience is held in the workshop where the craftsman is coloring right next to the studio. Visitors can see up close how white fabric is vividly dyed by skilled artisans.
Local Guide
Supporters
The on-site showroom displays a selection of the workshop’s creations and sells small items that easily fit into daily life—such as scarves, accessories, and business card holders—as well as “Somegaku” (framed Yuzen prints) and “GlassYuzen” (Yuzen fused with glass).
- Kaga Yuzen Maida Senga Kogei
-
- 3-9-19, Honda-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- From the East Exit of JR Kanazawa Station, take the Hokutetsu Bus (Kanazawa Castle Town Shuttle Bus), take the "clockwise route" or "easterly route" (approx. 19 min.), alight at "Honda-machi" and walk approx. 4 minutes.
- 9:00-17:00, Experience of coloring: 10:00-16:00 (last admission)
- Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and non-scheduled holidays
- Experience coloring: Pierced earrings 8,800 yen (shipping fee 1,000 yen not included), small furoshiki cloth 15,000 yen, one-stroke experience & tour 1,500 yen and up
- 076-221-3365
- Free of charge
- Reservations required at least 2 business days in advance for coloring experience and tour; from 2 persons accepted; elementary school students and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
4Nakajima Menya "Hachiman Okiagari" Painting Experience
Design your own traditional Kaga doll
Founded in 1862, Kaga Dolls is a long-established Kaga doll shop. Its signature product, "Kaga Hachiman Okiagari," is a doll with a pine, bamboo, and plum pattern on a vermilion background, and its adorable appearance is very popular. The palm-sized No. 3 doll is an easy version that uses a doll with a pre-applied vermilion background. The palm-sized No. 3 doll is a simple version that uses a pre-painted cinnabar background, while the larger No. 4 doll is plain and can be colored in any color from pink, yellow, stripes, etc. Both dolls are available for hands-on experience. In both cases, the face and pattern are up to the taste of the person experiencing the event. You can make it look like your own face or a popular character, and enjoy it to your heart's content.
Dolls to celebrate women's milestones such as birth and seasonal festivals
“Nakajima Menya” was a shop that primarily crafted theatrical props, with a focus on dance masks. As a result, the store is lined with items that showcase mask-making techniques, such as papier-mâché.
One such item, the “Kaga Hachiman Okagari,” is said to have originated as a replica of the red swaddling clothes worn by Emperor Ōjin—the deity enshrined at Hachiman Shrine—at birth. Today, it has become a classic Kanazawa gift, often presented to celebrate the birth of a girl or during her first Girls’ Day festival.Because it symbolizes getting back up after falling, it is also given as a get-well gift during illness or misfortune.
Local Guide
Supporters
“Kaga Hachiman Okagari” is said to increase the number of clothes for women and children if kept in a dresser, making it a popular choice for wedding trousseaus and as a wedding gift.
- Nakajima Menya
-
- 88 Aokusa-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan MAP
- From JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, take a 5 min. ride on the Hokutetsu Bus "Left Turn Route" around Kanazawa Castle Town, and get off at "Musashigatsuji/Omi-machi Ichibakan (Ichibakan-mae)" stop.
- 9:00-17:30, Painting Experience 10:00-16:00 (last admission)
- Tuesdays (open if Tuesday is a national holiday)
- Painting Experience 1,100 yen
- 076-232-1818
- None
- For details on the Painting Experience, check the official website.
5Kutani Kosen Kiln “Pottery Painting Experience”
Experience painting Kutani-yaki, a representative of Kaga's traditional crafts
Founded in 1870, this is the only Kutani pottery in Kanazawa City.
In the "Painting Experience," visitors can learn the process of line painting, which is the final step in the Kutaniyaki production process. The process involves drawing outlines of patterns using Japanese paints on a white vessel called "unjiki," and there are always 10 to 15 types of unjiki to choose from, including yunomi (teacups), mugs, tea bowls, and flat plates. You can use a sample pattern as a model or design your own. Even beginners can use a pencil to make a rough sketch.
For coloring, please consult a craftsman as it requires skill in applying the paint and producing the desired color. The experience ends when the color is chosen. The finished product will be delivered to your home about two months later.
Take home an original Kutani-yaki as a souvenir.
This studio is unusual among Kutaniyaki workshops in that it does all the work in-house, from shaping on the potter's wheel to overglaze painting. Before the Experience, visitors can take a tour of the studio, where they can view traditional Kutaniyaki pieces and learn about the characteristics of each piece.
Local Guide
Supporters
The store has a lineup of its own products. Gorgeous items decorated with Kutani Five Colors are perfect as souvenirs of Kanazawa. A set of five traditional Kutani ware patterns, such as a set of choko (cups) and coffee cups, can be purchased for around 20,000 yen each.
- Kutani Kosen Kiln
-
- 5-3-3 Nomachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- 2 minutes walk from Nomachi Station on Hokuriku Railway Ishikawa Line
- 9:00 - 17:00, Painting Experience - 15:30 (last admission)
- January 1
- Painting Experience: 2,200-7,700 yen (excluding shipping charges)
- 076-241-0902
- Free of charge
- Experience of painting is by reservation only.
6Sakuda Gold Leaf Shop Main Store “Gold Leaf Application Experience”
Create gorgeous and memorable works of art with gold leaf crafts
This is a long-established gold leaf store with multiple stores in Kanazawa. At the main store, visitors can enjoy the "Gold Leaf Placing Experience. First, select an item from chopsticks, compact mirrors, small boxes, and so on. Then, masking tape cut out in the shape of a pattern using a template is pasted on the item, and gold leaf is gently placed over the top. The gold leaf is 1/10,000 of a millimeter thick, so thin that light can penetrate through it. Gently peel off the masking tape to reveal the pattern. The patterns include rabbits, cherry blossoms, and Kenrokuen-style lanterns, and can be arranged according to your own ideas, such as combining two or more patterns or arranging them in different ways.
Products made with high-quality gold leaf, and cosmetics are popular among women
Kanazawa is known as the “City of Gold Leaf.” Among its shops, this one—founded in 1919 (Taisho 8)—is particularly renowned for its fine-grained, beautiful gold leaf. The store features a variety of gold-leaf products, including crafts combined with Wajima lacquerware and Kutani ware.Among women, “oil-blotting paper made using the gold leaf hammering technique” is particularly popular.
Local Guide
Supporters
The original gold leaf cosmetics series, “Bireihi,” offers a wide variety of products, including lotions, nail topcoats, and bath salts, as well as facial masks made with 24K gold leaf.
- Gold Leaf Shop Sakuda Head Office
-
- 1-3-27 Higashiyama, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- From the East Exit of JR Kanazawa Station, take the Hokutetsu Bus (clockwise route) around Kanazawa Castle Town. 10 min. ride and get off at Hashiba-cho (Higashi, Shukei Chaya-gai), 3 min. walk from the bus stop.
- 9:00-17:00 *Varies according to the season.
- No holidays
- Experience of applying gold leaf: 1,430 yen and up
- 076-251-6777 (reception 9:00-17:00)
- Free of charge (5 cars)
- Reservations are required for the gold leaf application experience. For details on reservations and the Experience, please check the official website.
7Kanazawa Noh Theater Museum “Kimono Dressing Experience”
Wear authentic Nishijin brocade costumes and feel like a Noh actor
The museum specializes in Noh, exhibiting masks and costumes of the traditional Noh play "Kaga Hosho" in Kanazawa, and visitors can try on authentic Noh masks and Nishijin karori Noh costumes at the Experience Corner. The Noh costume is said to be the most luxurious, weighing approximately 5 kg, and is used for female roles. There are two types of Noh costumes: the red "Iroiri" for young women, and the "Beni-nashi" for mothers and elderly women. There are 20 masks to choose from, including "koomote" for young women, "oo" for old men, and "hannya" for old women.
Visitors can also learn the different facial expressions depending on the angle of the mask, such as happy when looking up and sad when looking down, as well as the basic forms of the dance to express crying and joy.
Collection of traditional art "Kaga Hosei" open to the public
The centerpiece of the museum is its extensive collection of Kaga Hosei. Kaga Hosho" is the name given to the Hosho school of Noh developed by the Maeda family of the Kaga domain as ceremonial music for the samurai class, and is designated as an intangible cultural asset by Kanazawa City.
Local Guide
Supporters
The exhibition space on the first floor is the same size as a Noh stage. In addition to allowing visitors to experience the position and roles of the performers, a model of the Noh theater and tools for making Noh masks are also on display. The second floor is the main exhibition room with glittering costumes and a video gallery.
- Kanazawa Nohgaku Museum
-
- 1-2-25, Hirosaka, Kanazawa, Ishikawa MAP
- From the East Exit of JR Kanazawa Station, take the Hokutetsu Bus (clockwise route) around Kanazawa Castle Town. 18 min. ride and get off at Hirosaka/21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art (Ishiura Jinja-mae), 2 min. walk from the bus stop.
- 10:00-18:00 (last admission at 17:30), Dressing Experience (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and holidays only) - 15:30 (last admission)
- Mondays (if Monday is a national holiday, the museum will be open on Monday and closed on the following weekday), year-end and New Year holidays *Special holidays apply (please inquire).
- Adults 310 yen, Free for high school students and younger, 210 yen for those 65 years and older
Experience fees: Noh masks 100 yen, Noh costumes 200 yen. - 076-220-2790
- Parking is available at the Kanazawa City Hall and 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa Parking is free within 30 minutes.
- The kimono-wearing experience is available to those approximately 140 cm or taller; please check the official website for details on the traditional Japanese musical instrument experience
8Ame no Tawaraya “Candy-Filling Experience”
Experience "candy stuffing" to fill small containers with candy that grows in size.
A candy store specializing in candy since its establishment in 1868. The specialty is "jiro-ame," a kind of ame made of Japanese Uruchi rice and barley, and visitors can try their hand at stuffing the candy. First, a staff/staff member gives a lecture on how to hold and handle the special chopsticks. Then, the staff members take a piece of candy from the tub and twirl it around the chopsticks, or stretch it thin so that it can be easily packed, and transfer it to a container about 10 cm in diameter. At first glance, it looks easy, but there are some incidents such as the candy stretching more than expected and almost spilling out of the container. If the candy is packed well, it is applauded, and it is especially exciting when a group of people participate in the event.
Snacks and cooking. Nutritious and versatile food.
“Jiroame” is an old Kanazawa term meaning “soft candy.” It is said to have originated when the founder created a nutrient-rich malt syrup for mothers raising children. Even today, it is considered a good source of nutrition locally for colds and summer fatigue, and it remains a popular snack that lets you enjoy the natural sweetness of grains.Additionally, when used as a secret ingredient in simmered dishes, it adds depth of flavor and gives the dish a glossy finish.
Local Guide
Supporters
In addition to the standard flavors, the store carries plum- and ginger-flavored varieties, as well as candies and rice crackers inspired by “Jiroame.”
- Ame no Tawaraya
-
- 2-4 Kobashi-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- Approx. 17 min. walk from JR Kanazawa Station
- From JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, take the Hokutetsu Bus (Kanazawa Castle Town Circular Bus "clockwise route"). 5 min. ride, about 2 min. walk from Kobashimachi stop.
- 9:00 - 17:30 (Sundays - 17:00), Candy-stuffing Experience: Monday - Friday (except holidays) 10:00 - 10:30 - 11:00 - 11:30 p.m. 14:00 - 14:30 - 15:00 - 15:30 - p.m.
- December 31-January 3, candy-packing experience: Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays
- Experience of candy stuffing 2,200 yen
- 076-252-2079
- Free of charge
- Reservations required at least one day in advance for the candy-stuffing experience; younger children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
MAP
- <Recommended Traditional Culture Experience Spots in Kanazawa>.
-
- 1Kanazawa Saryo “Kanazawa-nuri”
- 2Seasonal Wagashi: Koshiyama Kanseido “Kanazawa Wagashi Experience”
- 3Kaga Yuzen Maida Senga Kogei "Color Painting Experience
- 4Nakajima Menya "Yawata Okiagari" Painting Experience
- 5Kutani Kosen Kiln “Pottery Painting Experience”
- 6Sakuda Gold Leaf Shop Main Store “Gold Leaf Application Experience”
- 7Kanazawa Noh Theater Museum “Kimono Dressing Experience”
- 8Ame no Tawaraya “Hard Candy Filling Experience”
- Hoshino Resorts facilities nearby
Local Guide who was in charge of this article
- Yumi HoriyasuCurious city walker!
OMO5 Kanazawa Katamachi
Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Katamachi is Kanazawa's best gourmet town. The hotel is also conveniently located for Direction to Kanazawa's representative tourist attractions.
Access by bus Approx. 4 minutes walk from Korinbo bus stop
- Example of Accommodation Rates
- 1 person per night From ³ ,200