Decorate high-quality products using genuine gold leaf in a renovated geisha house
2 hour private experience
Location: Kanazawa City, Ishikawa
Offered in Japanese, with a friendly Deeper Japan guide interpreting in your language
Meet the Master
What you’ll do
Under the guidance of a gold leaf artisan, decorate a wooden lacquer plate with gold leaf. Learn more about the history of gold leaf in Kanazawa and the studio's geisha-house origins. Enjoy refreshing tea and wagashi after the hands-on work is done.
Who can attend
Children must be 10+
What to wear
Comfortable clothing is recommended
Availability
Only on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Session 1 (10:00 - 12:00)
Session 2 (14:00 - 16:00)
Access
10 minutes by car from Kanazawa Station
Paper-Thin Perfection
Kanazawa, a historically prosperous region rich in craft thanks to the financial support of the Maeda clan, also boasts over 99% of gold leaf production in Japan, the nation's uncontested top producer since at least the 17th century. This shimmering craft was once primarily used to coat prominent temples and shrines in a layer of gilded, glittering glory, setting the sacred places of worship alight. However, as time passed and techniques were refined, gold leaf transitioned into an art form all of its own. Creating gold leaf is not just a meticulous process of developing alloys, hammering, slicing, and compressing, it also requires an immense amount of time and expertise. At this premium, artisan-led gold-leaf workshop, held in a refurbished geisha house located in the center of Kanazawa's geisha district, experience the elegance of gold leaf art up close by using artisanal processes to craft your own masterpiece. Operated by one of Kanazawa's leading gold-leaf companies, with a 50-year company history but family heritage extending far back to the initial era of Japan's gold-leaf innovation, experience one of the Kanazawa region's most iconic crafts for yourself.
Cancellation Policy
Please make your booking at least 7 days in advance. See cancellation policy here.
A detailed itinerary will be emailed to you once your booking has been confirmed.
