VISIT KANAZAWA, JAPAN - Official Travel Guide

Kogei, or artisanal crafts, have been a point of local pride in Kanazawa and Ishikawa for centuries: back in the day of the samurai, modern-day Ishikawa was ruled from Kanazawa by the wealthy Maeda family. Rather than using their considerable fortune for military or political goals, they opted instead to focus on building their feudal domain into a center of arts and crafts, inviting artisans from around the country to set up shop here, and encouraging and supporting various craft industries. For centuries, Kanazawa and Ishikawa have been known nationwide for a broad variety of hand-crafted items that run the gamut from practical everyday tools to opulent decorations.

KOGEI Art Fair Kanazawa 2024 is this year’s installment of Japan’s only art fair focused specifically on these crafts, held in a city with a profound history of artistic excellence. The event is an art fair, but also much more: it aims to show off innovative new approaches to kogei crafts, and the value of these artistic techniques in the contemporary world. These artists breathe fresh, contemporary sensibilities into techniques that have centuries of history, making this a very exciting time for art lovers to be in Kanazawa. Much like the subject of the art fair, the event itself is also carefully assembled for maximum effect, taking place at one of the city’s leading hotels, with hundreds of works on display across multiple floors.

There’s even more to experience outside the hotel, too: guided visits to shops in Kanazawa that specialize in antique art and crafts, offering a chance to enjoy the shopkeepers’ deep familiarity with their areas of expertise. Kanazawa has been a center of these various industries for centuries, so it’s no surprise that there are countless treasures to be discovered and rediscovered all around town. Join an English-speaking interpreter-guide for visits to lovely shops and lively chats you won’t soon forget!

Ishiguro Shouten Co., Ltd.

This antique shop dates back to 1904, and still features beautiful wood latticework on its exterior. In fact, the building itself, a Kanazawa machiya townhouse, has been given special recognition by the national government. Inside, you’ll find a choice selection of tea ceremony items and other antiques, as well as modern and contemporary craft items. Ishiguro Shoten is celebrating their 120th anniversary this year, and visitors to the celebration can enjoy matcha green tea served in antique cups, savoring it while looking at masterpieces from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Hirajyuu
Since their founding around the mid 19th century, Hirajyuu has traded in antiques, with a particular focus on tea ceremony items. For generations, the family has prided itself on their refined sense of taste and style, continuing on to the eighth-generation owner of this shop today. This visit event is built around the theme of “The Joys of Drinking Vessel Crafts,” and the shop owner will talk about the beauty of sake cups and servers, as well as dishes and utensils, all alongside light refreshments and sake.

Kashimoto Kin’yodo

This cozy shop offers a selection of tea ceremony utensils and other items carefully curated by the owner. For this visit event, the participants actually start by heading out from Kashimoto Kin’yodo’s location near the Higashi Chaya District, followed by a walk through town to a traditional chaya geisha entertainment venue, where guests enjoy matcha green tea served in an artisanal craft cup. The owner loves Kanazawa, and the walking tour covers more than just antiques, with plenty to learn about when it comes to local culture and history.

Shirai Bijutsu
Shirai Bijutsu is located near Kanazawa’s famous 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, and was originally founded with the goal of offering a choice selection of excellent items to delight customers. Today, the shop has a focus on local art with ties to Ishikawa, from the late 19th through mid 20th century. During the visit, the owner will talk about various precious items in his collection, and guests will also be able to enjoy matcha green tea and sweets at the historic Shoutou‑an tearoom at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art.

Toda Shoten
Toda Shoten was established in 1975, and handles a wide variety of works of art, with a focus on crafts and tea ceremony utensils from the local region. This tour features a lineup centered around lacquerware decorated with maki‑e, a craft that has long been highly prized internationally. The shop also has its own tearoom inside, providing guests with a quiet space to experience the tea ceremony firsthand using antique items.