The National Crafts Museum is the only national museum specializing in crafts and the first national museum located on the Sea of Japan side of the country, but there is little wonder how it came to Kanazawa. Kanazawa has a long history of supporting the arts dating back to the ruling Maeda family’s patronage of the arts and culture starting over 400 years ago. Since then, the city has thrived as a center for Kogei, or traditional Japanese Crafts. Kanazawa is known as the “City of Crafts.” In fact, in 2009, UNESCO designated Kanazawa as a city of Crafts and Folk Art in its Creative Cities Network which eventually led to the relocation of the museum from Tokyo in 2020.

Housed in two historic Meiji-era (1868-1912) buildings formerly used by the military and restored with their original exteriors, the National Crafts Museum holds more than 4,000 craft and graphic design artworks primarily originating from the 20th century and is home to the finest examples of Japanese traditional crafts in the nation, including many pieces created by Japan’s Living National Treasures, the designation for master craftsmen of a specific traditional art or craft. The National Crafts Museum is located near Kenrokuen Garden, in an area that is home to several of Kanazawa’s museums.