Kenrokuen Garden

Kenroku-en is located on a hill in the central part of the city of Kanazawa. It is regarded as one of Japan's three most beautiful gardens, along with Kairaku-en in the city of Mito and Koraku-en in the city of Okayama. Once the garden of Kanazawa Castle, it was opened to the public in 1874. There are many spots of interest within its spacious, 100,000 or so square meter grounds. These include the Kasumi-ga-ike Pond; a unique two-legged Kotoji-toro lantern in the north of the garden, and the Hisago-ike Pond, as well as an elaborately structured Yugao-tei Cottage near the pond. It snows heavily in winter in this region, and a device called a yuki-tsuri (snow support) is used to keep the branches of trees from breaking under the weight of snow. The ropes used for supporting the branches create beautiful geometric patterns.

Ishikawa Kenritsu Dento Sangyo Kogeikan (Ishikawa Prefectural Traditional Industrial Art Hall)

Ishikawa Prefecture has been called the Kingdom of Craft, and many traditional crafts have been preserved here, including dyed goods known as Kaga-yuzen, Wajima-nuri lacquer ware, and Kutani-yaki porcelain. Ishikawa Kenritsu Dento Sangyo Kogeikan (The Ishikawa Prefectural Traditional Industrial Art Hall) exhibits 1,400 items covering 34 of the 36 types of traditional craft found in the Prefecture. These exhibits include products and production processes, raw materials, and tools. Displays of items such as woodwork, lacquer ware, porcelain, dyed fabrics and bamboo crafts show visitors the skills passed down by craftsmen over the generations and made possible by the natural environment of this area. Displays in the Hall provide the visitor with a systematic view of different products that are the culmination of the work of Ishikawa crafts people.

Kaga Yuzen

Yuzen is a dyeing technique in which beautiful designs are painted onto cloth by the skillful use of starch and paper patterns. Kaga-yuzen evolved in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture. The technique is identical to that of Kyo-yuzen in Kyoto, but is characterized by a predominance of dark red, indigo and purple as base colors. It also makes skillful use of color gradations and designs, and patterns and colors are more geometric than Kyo-yuzen. Kaga-yuzen was designated a traditional Japanese craft in 1975.

Kanazawa lacquerware

Kanazawa-shikki lacquerware is made in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, and is known for its "Kaga" gold lacquer paintings. Kanazawa lacquerware was first produced circa 1630 when the master gold lacquer artisan Igarashi Doho was invited to the region to teach his decorative techniques. Lacquer work was also introduced. The main products are furnishings and tea ceremony utensils, but Kanazawa lacquerware is also used in creating works of art. Production is still by hand, and the coating process, normally carried out by more than one person, is completed by a single craftsman. Kanazawa lacquerware was designated a traditional Japanese craft in 1980.

Kutani ware

Tradition has it that Kutani-yaki ware was first produced by order of Maeda Toshiharu, who governed this region in the mid-17th century. When minerals used in porcelain were discovered in this region, craftsmen were dispatched to present-day Arita-cho in Saga Prefecture, known as a production center for porcelain, to learn porcelain-making techniques. Products made during this period are known as Ko-kutani. Production of Kutani ware ceased at the end of the 17th century, but commenced again in the 19th century. Kutani ware is distinguished by designs using five colors: green, yellow, red, purple and navy, which are used to paint over dynamic line drawings. The slightly bluish foundation unique to Kutani ware highlights the design even further. Even now many different products are made here, including vases, tableware, tea sets and ornaments. Kutani ware was designated a traditional craft in 1975.

Wajima lacquer

This is the local lacquerware of the city of Wajima, on the Noto-hanto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture facing the Sea of Japan. Wajima-nuri lacquerware uses a large quantity of lacquer and is known to be hard-wearing, thanks to a painstaking process involving over 70 coats of lacquer. Another feature unique to Wajima lacquerware is decoration utilizing a technique in which the surface of the lacquer is engraved with a design, which is then filled in with gold leaf. Large products include zataku (a low table used in Japanese style tatami rooms). A variety of general items such as soup bowls are also produced. Wajima lacquer was designated a traditional craft in 1975.

Yamanaka lacquerware

Yamanaka-shikki lacquerware was first made when craftsmen in search of good materials moved to this region in the latter half of the 16th century. Around the 18th century, craftsmen here produced items for everyday use such as soup bowls, trays and souvenirs for visitors to Yamanaka Spa, and the lacquerware industry grew along with development of the spa. In the first half of the 19th century, new lacquering techniques and a maki-e technique were introduced. The maki-e technique involves drawing designs using gold/silver powders before the lacquer dries. These laid the innovative foundations for the beautiful Yamanaka maki-e lacquerware seen today. Nowadays products include trays, tiered boxes and utensils for the Japanese tea ceremony. Yamanaka lacquerware was designated a traditional craft in 1975.