VISIT KANAZAWA, JAPAN - Official Travel Guide

OVERVIEW

Go for Kogei serves as a spotlight to showcase artisanal crafts, or kogei, in the Hokuriku region. Unlike exhibitions held at museums, which generally aim to create a neutral, isolated environment for showing works, Go for Kogei instead deliberately engages directly with traditional neighborhoods as a way to provide fresh perspectives: exhibits are presented with their environments serving as a crucial form of supporting context. This event serves as a gathering of artisans, craftspeople, designers, and artists, providing an opportunity for locals and travelers to encounter the various materials, techniques, goals, and forms of expression involved in crafts and art, both traditional and contemporary. 

This year’s Go for Kogei is being held in two main areas: the Iwase area (Toyama City, Toyama) and the Higashiyama area (Kanazawa, Ishikawa), with works by a total of 37 professionals on display. Visitors can discover new contemporary craft items, made with a broad variety of innovative techniques, at exhibitions built on this year’s theme of “Craft and Art: Philosophies for Life.”

TOURS

Go for Kogei tours are available in two main styles, to fit different travel plans.

Go for Kogei Day Tours
Travelers can be accompanied by an interpreter-guide as a way to better enjoy and appreciate Go for Kogei. These day tours last two hours, and are recommended for travelers interested in a deeper understanding of these local crafts and neighborhoods. Tours are adjustable to accommodate date and location preferences.

Customizable Comprehensive Tours
Customizable full-day tours are available for an even more in-depth exploration of Go for Kogei and the cities the event takes place in. These tours are guided entirely in English, and are designed with Go for Kogei as a highlight. Travelers are also invited to choose from a variety of other destinations related to art and culture to visit, in and around the areas where the event is being held. Itineraries can be adjusted to take travelers’ interests and preferences into account, with plenty of flexibility.

Example Two-Day Itinerary:

Day One
 10:00 — Meet guide at Toyama Station
 10:00 to 11:00 — Luggage drop-off & travel time
 11:00 to 13:00 — Lunch
 13:30 to 15:00 — Go for Kogei in Iwase area
 15:00 to 16:30 — Sightseeing in Toyama*¹
 16:30 — End guided day

Day Two
 10:00 to 12:00 — Meet guide in Kanazawa for Go for Kogei in the Higashiyama area
 12:00 to 13:30 — Lunch
 14:00 to 15:00 — Sightseeing in Kanazawa (part 1)*²
 15:30 to 16:30 — Sightseeing in Kanazawa (part 2)*²
 16:30 — End guided day

*¹ Select one: Toyama Prefectural Museum of Art and Design, Kansui Park, Toyama Glass Art Museum, Shusui Museum of Art, or Toyama City Local History Museum (Toyama Castle)

*² Select two: Kanazawa Castle, Kenrokuen Garden, Omicho Market, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, D.T. Suzuki Museum, National Crafts Museum, Nagamachi Samurai District, hands-on gold leaf workshop, hands-on Kaga Yuzen silk dyeing workshop, or hands-on incense ceremony experience