Kanazawa Gold Leaf: Golden Traditional Craft from Japan's Top Gold Leaf Production Area

Kanazawa's Gold Leaf Industry

Kanazawa City, Ishikawa is a gold leaf production area accounting for about 99% of Japan's gold leaf production. Gold leaf manufacturing was encouraged since Kaga domain days, with craftsman techniques passed down over 400 years. Gold leaf is used in diverse fields including Buddhist altars, lacquerwork, lacquerware, and confections.

Gold Leaf Experience and Tourism

Many workshops in Kanazawa City offer gold leaf application experiences. Besides creating crafts using gold leaf, gold leaf application to chopsticks, fans, and accessories are popular experiences. Beautiful gold leaf crafts can be purchased at gold leaf shops like "Hakuza Hikari-gura."

Gold Leaf Gourmet

In Kanazawa, sweets and gourmet using gold leaf are also specialty products. "Gold Leaf Soft Cream" is synonymous with Kanazawa, and the golden soft-serve ice cream is visually impactful. Gold leaf sake and sweets decorated with gold leaf can also be enjoyed everywhere.