1 – Kanazawa gold leaf workshops
Gold is timeless. It’s impervious to rust and other forms of oxidation. Gold leaf has a glorious soft lustre that is different than that of solid gold. In Japan, gold leaf is an essential ingredient in many arts and crafts such as painting, lacquer and ceramics, and is used extensively in decorating Buddhist alters and temples. Kanazawa produces almost 99% of Japan’s gold leaf, silver and platinum. Gold leaf produced in Kanazawa is officially recognised as a national tradition.
There are many craft shops in Kanazawa selling works of art using gold leaf: paintings, screens, exquisite lacquer ware boxes, and more unusual items such as stickers, gold business cards and gold dust sprays are just some of the surprising and original gifts you can find on display. Some shops and beauty salons sell luxury cosmetic products made of gold leaf and have special treatments using the purifying and revitalising properties of gold. In local restaurants and bars, food and drink are often embellished with edible gold, a sumptuous addition which is particularly delightful.
The manufacturing process of gold leaf can be seen in various places, and there are workshops where visitors can apply gold leaf to their own belongings or onto various items to take home as a souvenir.
(Shops offering gold leaf workshops)
Please note that some workshops require reservation. Furthermore, the below information is only current as of July 2011, so it is possible that the workshop contents or prices may have changed since then. Please contact the respective shops for up-to-date information.
| Address | Crafting workshop | Notes |
| Imai Kinpaku Tel:+81-76-223-8989 Fax:+81-76-223-1659 Contact:Ms.MATSUKAWA shop@kinpaku.co.jp (English via email only) |
Max.40 people Duration: -30 min for items such as postcards (¥630), etc. -60min for items such as square plates (¥630),etc. |
- Exhibition :“Source of holy gold”
-including a free gold tea or sweets. |
| Sakuda Gold and silver leaf Tel:+81-76-251-6777 Fax:+81-76-251-6677 Contact: Mr. Masanori MATSUMOTO kinpaku@goldleaf-sakuda.jp (English via email only) |
Max.20 people Duration: 60min. Times: 4 workshops a day: 9am, 10:30am, 1pm and 3pm. Items: chopsticks (600￥),etc. |
- A tour of the factory where you can see how gold leaf is made. - Exhibition:“Gold plated toilets” (in working order) -Parking for cars nearby (not free) |
| Hakuichi (Hakukokan) Tel:+81-76-240-0891 Fax:+81-76-240-6800 Contact : Mr. Satoru TAKEMOTO s-takemoto@hakuichi.co.jp (English via email only) |
Max.70 people. Duration: 60min. Items: hand mirrors, jewellery boxes( ￥1800), etc. Other workshops: “Gold plating experience” (max 4 people, 20 min, ￥500). |
- Possible to see gold leaf being made - Gold museum: Gold armour and coins, traditional tools used to make gold leaf. - Free parking for coaches. - There is also a cafe |
| KanazawaKatani Tel:+81-76-263-6111 Fax:+81-76-222-3433 Contact: Mr. Tatsuya INOUCHI Inouchimac1@katani.co.jp (English via email only) |
Max.40 people. Duration: 40min. Items: plates (￥900), small boxes (￥1100), lunch-boxes(￥1500), postcards (￥900),etc. |
Guided tour in English. |
| Hakuza Hikarigura Tel:+81-76-251-8930 Fax:+81-76-253-8955 Contact: Ms. Yuko TERANISHI (manager) hikarigura@hakuza.co.jp (English via email only) |
Max.6 people. Duration: 15+min. 6 workshops a day:10am, 11am, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm and 4:30pm Items: chopsticks (￥800), etc. The workshop (Keikodokoro) is located inside the shop. |
Exhibition : “Golden Storehouse” |
(Please note that the information in this article was last updated in June 2011. Please be aware that some of this information may have changed since then.)
