Traditional Crafts of Ishikawa Prefecture

10 crafts designated by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Other Textile Products
Kaga Embroidery
加賀繍

Lavish Kanazawa silk embroidery using gold and polychrome threads to create richly textured floral designs on kimono, obi sashes, and folding screens.

Dyed Fabrics
Kaga Yuzen Silk Dyeing
加賀友禅

Kanazawa's signature silk painting tradition using five earthy colors and a distinctive shading technique to create lush botanical and figural kimono designs.

Buddhist Altars & Fittings
Kanazawa Buddhist Altar
金沢仏壇

Splendid Kanazawa household altars embellished with gold leaf, lacquer, and metal fittings crafted by multiple artisan specialists across generations.

Craft Materials & Tools
Kanazawa Gold Leaf
金沢箔

Producing 99% of Japan's gold leaf, Kanazawa artisans hand-beat gold into translucent sheets used on lacquerware, ceramics, textiles, and temple architecture.

Lacquerware
Kanazawa Lacquerware
金沢漆器

Opulent Kanazawa urushi lacquerware enriched with maki-e gold powder painting and mother-of-pearl inlay, reflecting the city's centuries of samurai patronage.

Ceramics
Kutani Ware Ceramics
九谷焼

Bold Ishikawa porcelain from Kanazawa and Komatsu painted with vivid overglaze enamels in red, green, yellow, and purple, among Japan's most recognized ceramics.

Buddhist Altars & Fittings
Nanao Buddhist Altar
七尾仏壇

Richly ornamented Ishikawa butsudan household altars from Nanao, crafted with gold lacquer fittings and fine woodcarving used in Buddhist home worship.

Textiles
Ushikubi Tsumugi Silk
牛首紬

A rare Ishikawa mountain silk pongee from Hakusan woven from double-cocoon threads, producing exceptionally durable fabric with a subtle pebbly texture.

Lacquerware
Wajima Lacquerware
輪島塗

Japan's most prestigious lacquerware from Wajima, Ishikawa, built up through 124 distinct steps using local diatomite-infused urushi for unrivaled strength and beauty.

Lacquerware
Yamanaka Lacquerware
山中漆器

Ishikawa lathe-turned lacquerware from Yamanaka Onsen, famed for its delicate wood-grain maki-e decorations and refined tea ceremony utensils.