VISIT KANAZAWA, JAPAN - Official Travel Guide

Experience the Traditional Craft [Wajimanuri Lacquerware]!

Discover the fascination of Wajimanuri lacquerware, which is also known as ‘the highest form of lacquerware’. 

At the restaurant CRAFEAT, produced by the long-established Taya Shikkiten Lacquerware Store, established in 1818, you will learn more about Wajimanuri while observing the handiwork of a Chinkin artist. You will taste a course of contemporary Japanese cuisine with seasonal ingredients from the area, served in gorgeous Wajimanuri lacquerware and other local traditional crafts tableware.

●CRAEFAT produced by TAYA-SHIKKITEN

This restaurant offers contemporary Japanese cuisine served on traditional Ishikawa craft vessels, including Wajima-nuri lacquerware! Traditional handicrafts from Ishikawa Prefecture, such as Wajimanuri lacquerware decorated with authentic maki-e, can not only be admired in the museum but can also be used for actual meals.

The chef, who has trained in several restaurants, creates elaborate contemporary Japanese cuisine using an abundance of seafood and mountain produce from Ishikawa Prefecture. Based on the concept of making traditional crafts more accessible, the dishes are served on Wajima lacquerware and other traditional crafts from Ishikawa Prefecture. The beautiful and warm-to-the-touch dishes enhance the deliciousness of the food even further.

●Chinkin artist: Yasutaka Maeda

Maeda was born in Wajima. Studied under lacquer artist Goichi Mitani. Winner of the Tokyo Governor's Prize at the Japan Contemporary Art Exhibition, as well as numerous awards at the Ishikawa Contemporary Art Exhibition, Nitten, and other exhibitions. He has held solo exhibitions abroad, including in the USA and Singapore. Director of the Society for the Preservation of Important Intangible Cultural Property Wajimanuri Lacquerware Technique.

●2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake

The earthquake on New Year's Day 2024 destroyed our head office and atelier of TAYA-SHIKKITEN in Wajima. Although we suffered severe damage, all of our staff was safe, and on 2 January we declared we had rebuilt Wajimanuri business and are moving forward.

●Includes

*Demonstration by Chinkin artist

*Chinkin experience

(You will carve your designs on a 10 cm square Wajimanuri plate with a chisel. During the meal, the Chinkin artist will finish the decoration and you will receive the finished product.)

*Dinnertime course meal

●Reservation

Email to us; contact@wajimanuri.co.jp