VISIT KANAZAWA, JAPAN - Official Travel Guide

Unlike Western etiquette, Japanese dining often involves picking up your miso soup bowl. This is only possible because of the unique properties of Urushi:

・Thermal Insulation: Urushi does not transfer heat easily, allowing you to hold steaming bowls without burning your hands. 

・Featherlight Weight: With a wood base, lacquerware is incredibly light, making it effortless to hold throughout a meal.

・Tactile Comfort: Urushi feels gentle and "skin-like" against the lips

Without Urushi, Japan might have evolved to eat with spoons from plates left on the table. Because of this natural gift, we developed a dining style that celebrates the warmth and texture of the vessel itself.

Urushi is a natural sap harvested from the Urushi tree. These trees only grow in parts of East and Southeast Asia, making the material a rare treasure.

Interestingly, the properties of the sap change depending on the region:

◆Japan, China, Korea: 

Rich in "Urushiol," which creates an incredibly hard, durable, and glossy finish.　Japanese lacquer, in particular, is renowned for its exquisite luster and exceptional durability.

◆Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar: 

Contains "Laccol" or "Thitsiol," resulting in a softer, more flexible finish—perfect for unique decorations like inlaid eggshells.

The Mystery of "Drying"

Unlike synthetic paints that dry as water or thinners evaporate, Urushi hardens by absorbing moisture from the air. It is a chemical reaction that requires a humid environment.

For this reason, a moderate level of humidity is essential for creating lacquerware. The flourishing of lacquer culture in Japan—a nation surrounded by the sea with a naturally moist climate—is due precisely to this unique property. In particular, the climate of Ishikawa and the Hokuriku region, with its high humidity year-round, provides the ideal environment for Urushi. While the frequent rain and snow may seem like an inconvenience, for the craftsmen, they have always been the ultimate 'natural ally.'"

Urushi is not just a craft; it is the soul of Japanese history.

1. Jomon Period（9000BC）:　One of the World’s Oldest Lacquer Cultures  

Findings in Hokkaido date back 9,000 years, making them the oldest lacquer artifacts in the world (as of February 2026).

At that time, Urushi was used practically as a "super-glue" (adhesive) and for waterproofing. Yet, it was also used to create beauty, such as vibrant red combs and other exquisite ornaments that adorned the people of the ancient world.

2. Asuka ＆ Nara Period（7th centuryー）：　Urushi as the Foundation of Buddhist Art

During this era, Urushi became a vital material for Buddhist art. The mystical glow of the "Tamamushi no Zushi" (Beetle Wing Shrine) at Horyu-ji Temple and the delicate, lifelike expressions of the famous "Asura Statue" at Kofuku-ji Temple were made possible by advanced lacquer techniques.
The Asura statue was created using a sophisticated method known as Datsu-Kanshitsu (hollow dry lacquer). In this process, a rough model is first sculpted in clay, and layers of hemp cloth soaked in Urushi are meticulously applied over it. Once the shell hardens, the internal clay is removed, leaving a hollow lacquer skin. This revolutionary technique allowed for a lightweight, realistic, and fluid expression that was simply impossible to achieve with the heavy wood or stone carvings of the time.

3. Heian to Muromachi (late 8th centuryー）：　Golden Artistry and Popularization

Masterpieces such as the Konjikido (Golden Hall) of Chuson-ji Temple in Iwate and the Phoenix Hall of Byodo-in Temple in Uji—where entire structures shimmer in gold—represent the ultimate fusion of Urushi and gold leaf. From the Kamakura period onward, lacquerware began to spread beyond the aristocracy and clergy to temples and the common people. It firmly established its status as an essential "tool" (vessel) for Japanese daily life.

4．Edo Period (17th centuryー): Urushi as a Flourishing Industry

During the Edo period, Urushi evolved into a thriving local industry across Japan. Feudal lords (Daimyo) protected and nurtured lacquerware production as a key pillar of their local economies. In the Kaga Domain (modern-day Ishikawa), the lords invited elite craftsmen from all over the country to compete and refine their skills. It was during this golden age that the distinct identities of the brands we know today—Wajima-nuri, Yamanaka-nuri, and Kanazawa Shikki—were truly established.

5. Meiji Period (late 19th centuryー ): Captivating the World as "japan"

When Japan opened its borders, the world was mesmerized. Just as porcelain became known as "china," lacquerware became known simply as "japan."

Ishikawa Prefecture is a rare region in Japan where three major lacquerware production centers coexist: Wajima-nuri in Noto Peninsula, Yamanaka-nuri in Kaga, and Kanazawa Shikki in the castle town of Kanazawa. While each has cultivated a different aesthetic, together they have led Japan’s lacquer culture for centuries.

Why did the lacquer industry flourish so remarkably in Ishikawa? The secret lies in the local climate.

Unlike ordinary paints that dry through evaporation, Urushi has the extraordinary property of hardening by absorbing moisture from the air. The humid climate of the Hokuriku region, which remains moist year-round, has been the ultimate "natural ally" in creating beautiful, high-quality lacquerware.

① Wajima-nuri — 【Durability】 Overwhelming Strength

Born from the rugged environment of the Noto Peninsula, Wajima-nuri is defined by its Kenro (extraordinary durability).

Its strength comes from a specialized base coat mixed with Ji-no-ko (a local diatomaceous earth) and a meticulous process of nearly 100 steps of layering. This creates a vessel so robust it can be used and passed down for generations.

Another hallmark of Wajima is its stunning decoration, particularly the technique known as Chinkin (gold inlay). This method is perfectly suited for Wajima’s thick, sturdy layers of lacquer.

The Art of Chinkin:

・Apply a final layer of lacquer to the surface.

・Engrave delicate patterns into the surface using fine chisels.

・Press gold or silver foil and powder into the engraved grooves to reveal the design.

② Yamanaka-nuri — 【Form】 Mastery of Woodworking

Developed in the hot spring town of Yamanaka Onsen, this style is renowned for having Japan’s finest wood-turning (Rokuro) techniques.

Craftsmen focus on bringing out the natural beauty of the wood itself, pursuing forms that are incredibly thin, lightweight, and elegant. Yamanaka-nuri captures the very vitality of the tree in its shape.

③ Kanazawa Shikki — 【Elegance】 A World of Refinement Born from Maki-e

Developed in the castle town of Kanazawa, this style is characterized by its high level of ornamentation, centered around the exquisite Kaga Maki-e.

◆Maki-e: The Technique of Trapping Light in Lacquer

Maki-e is a technique where gold or silver powder is sprinkled onto lacquer patterns while they are still wet. In Kanazawa, a jewel-like brilliance is achieved through three main steps:

・Drawing: Intricate patterns are drawn with an ultra-fine brush using lacquer as an adhesive.

・Sprinkling: Gold powder is sprinkled with expert precision using a bamboo tube or brush.

・Polishing: A fresh layer of lacquer is applied over the gold to seal it, then carefully polished. This makes the golden light appear as if it is glowing from deep within the lacquer layers.

While Wajima perfected "Strength" and Yamanaka mastered "Form," Kanazawa can be said to have reached the pinnacle of "Decorative Beauty."

These three regions do not merely compete; they have evolved by fulfilling different roles. This rich diversity is exactly what makes Ishikawa the true "Kingdom of Lacquer."

Kanazawa and its surrounding areas offer several welcoming spots where even beginners can experience traditional techniques firsthand. The gentle warmth of lacquer felt through your fingertips will surely become a cherished highlight of your journey.

◆【Kanazawa】 Paint with Authentic Brilliance: Nosaku

Founded over 250 years ago, Nosaku is a prestigious shop that has dealt in lacquerware for generations in the castle town of Kanazawa.

The store features a wide range of items, from sophisticated tea caddies and incense containers adorned with Kaga Maki-e to modern bowls and sake cups designed for everyday life. Here, you can enjoy an authentic Maki-e experience in a refined, historic atmosphere.

The process—coloring a pre-designed tray and sprinkling it with gold powder—is more delicate than you might imagine. The "thrill and joy of the moment the gold powder is scattered," a sensation only a historic master-shop can truly convey, is exceptional. Your finished piece will be a special treasure, like bringing a piece of Kanazawa’s samurai culture back to your own home.

◆【Kanazawa】 Ishikawa Museum of Local Crafts

This museum showcases 36 different traditional industries nurtured by Ishikawa’s unique climate. Visitors can get a close look at ancient techniques through extensive exhibits. On weekends and during summer holidays, live demonstrations by master craftsmen are often held. Please check the official website for details.

◆【Kaga】 Kobo Seikan (Yamanaka Lacquerware)

Located in the hot spring town of Yamanaka Onsen, Kobo Seikan is a workshop that cherishes the beauty of Hikimono (wood-turning), the essence of Yamanaka-nuri.

Visitors can try their hand at wood-turning—shaping the wood with a plane (Kanna)—or experience the lacquering process by coating their own set of chopsticks.

◆【Komatsu】 See, Touch, and Create: Yunokuni-no-Mori

Yunokuni-no-Mori is a traditional handicraft theme park set in a sprawling forest in Komatsu.

Inside charming, relocated traditional farmhouses (Kominka), you can try various Ishikawa crafts. For lacquer fans, they offer Chinkin experiences (Wajima style) and Maki-e experiences (Yamanaka style).

◆【Wajima】 A Hall of Elegance: Ishikawa Wajima Urushi Art Museum

Located in Wajima, Noto, this is one of Japan’s leading museums specializing in lacquer art.

The collection ranges from traditional Wajima-nuri masterpieces to ambitious works by contemporary artists. Here, you can appreciate up-close the profound, dignified beauty created by robust base-coating and advanced decorative techniques like Chinkin and Maki-e. The museum also offers programs such as "Chinkin Color-Inlay" for spoons and chopsticks.

Lacquerware is not simply something to admire. It is meant to be used, touched, and cherished—growing richer in luster and character over time.

A single piece you encounter in Kanazawa will become a lifelong companion, deepening in beauty as it shares the years of your daily life.

We invite you to begin your own lacquer story here in Kanazawa.