Witness how glittering gold leaf is crafted by artisans in Kanazawa, the city of gold
2 hour private experience
Location: Kanazawa City
Offered in Japanese, with a friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in your language
A minimum of 2 guests is required to book. Solo participants are welcome but will be charged the 2-person rate
Meet the Master
What you’ll do
Visit a gold leaf manufacturing studio, led by a 3rd-generation gold leaf artisan. Observe the daily processes of making gold leaf using the entsuke method, from pounding the gold to cutting the gold leaf paper shape. Dive deeper into a craft that represents Kanazawa's devotion to art and culture.
Who can attend
Children must be 15+
What to wear
Comfortable clothing recommended
Availability
Monday to Friday
Session 1 (10:00-12:00)
Session 2 (15:00-17:00)
Not available on weekends; peak season in November
Access
15 minutes by car from Kanazawa Station
A Star is Born
Kanazawa is a city alive with gold. The hue decorates art and architecture alike: thinner-than-paper gold leaf flattened and sealed against the pillars of temples, ceramic cups and lacquerware plates dusted to a lustrous elegance. While Kanazawa boasts over 99% of the gold leaf production in Japan, currently, just over 10 gold leaf artisans remain active in Kanazawa, passing along these centuries-old gold-leaf techniques and ensuring the glittering craft continues to the next generation. A complex process requiring unyielding precision, crafting the gold leaf involves a combination of an array of techniques - making the alloy, hammering the gold between washi paper, slicing the shape with bamboo - resulting in a feather-light final product that's as delicate as it is dazzling. Join a 3rd-generation gold leaf paper maker in his Kanazawa gold leaf studio, observing the art that goes into bringing these materials to life. See the painstaking care put into thinning the gold-leaf to nearly imperceivable at a thickness of 1/10,000 of a millimeter, where even just a small gust of wind can send the gold fluttering. The artisans at this multi-generational studio are tireless in supporting this representative Kanazawa craft, treating each gleaming sheet not just as a product, but as a legacy—one that captures the spirit, skill, and quiet brilliance of a city where tradition still shimmers in every fold of gold.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 30 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.