The Uchiru editorial staff travels to the production areas of pottery all over Japan.
This time, I visited Kanazawa City in Ishikawa Prefecture for sightseeing, including a visit to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art.
Kanazawa is known as "Kaga Hyakumangoku" and has a historic townscape.
In addition to Kutani ware, there are many other traditional crafts such as lacquerware, so I wanted to take a closer look.
In this article, I will introduce the spots I visited in two days along with the shops.
I would be happy if you could read it like a guidebook.
| Itinerary | |
| Day 1 | 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art |
| Nagamachi Samurai Residence District | |
| Korinbo | |
| Day 2 | Higashi Chaya District |
| Omicho Market | |
What kind of pottery is available in Kanazawa?
I will briefly tell you what kind of pottery you can see in Kanazawa.
Kutani ware
This ceramic is made around Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture, and is characterized by its multicolored overpainting.
Lacquerware (Yamanaka-nuri/Wajima-nuri)
Wajima-nuri is lacquerware made from local powder in Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture.
A technique called maki-e, which involves inserting gold into the carved parts or using gold and silver powder, is known.
Yamanaka lacquerware is a type of lacquerware made in the Yamanaka Onsen area of Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture, and is also called Yamanaka Shikki.
The feature is a simple design that takes advantage of the wood grain.
Due to ``wipe lacquer'', which involves applying lacquer many times, it is shiny and durable.
Used with gold leaf
Kanazawa is famous for its gold leaf production.
Many lacquerware, pottery, and glassware decorated with gold leaf are made.
Suzuyaki
Ceramics representative of the Middle Ages, produced in Suzu City and the rest of the Noto Peninsula.
After about 500 years, it was revived in the late Showa period.
It is characterized by a gray-black color with a rough texture that does not use glaze.
Tin products
As it is close to Toyama Prefecture, you can often see Toyama's specialty tin products.
Tin has ionic and antibacterial effects and is often used in sake and tea utensils.
There are also plates that take advantage of their bending properties.
Start your journey at the hot spot "21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art"
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
After arriving at Kanazawa Station, I headed to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, which was one of the purposes of my trip.
In order to enjoy the famous "swimming pool", we completed the reservation on the Shinkansen.
I thought I was safe because I had made a reservation, but I also had to buy a ticket and there was a long line in the lobby!
You'll instantly feel like sightseeing.
At this museum, you can experience a variety of contemporary art that makes full use of paintings, objects, sound, and video.
There are many things that can only be seen here, so it's worth a visit.
At the museum shop, I purchased a Kutani ware paper plate.
The gorgeous painting unique to Kutani ware is beautifully reproduced.
I bought it as a souvenir for myself, but I think it can be used for home parties.
After having lunch at the museum, we headed to the next place.
As we move around, we will visit the shops along Hyakumangoku Street.
It was a good stop since it was cold.
Address: 1-2-1 Hirosaka, Kanazawa City
Business hours: Exhibition zone 10:00~ 18:00 (until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays) / Exchange zone 9:00-22:00 *Opening hours of each facility vary.
Closed days: Exhibition zone Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday is a holiday), New Year's holidays / Exchange zone New Year's holidays
HP: https //www.kanazawa21.jp/
SNS: https://www.instagram.com/21_kanazawa/< /a>
https://twitter.com/Kanazawa_21
Hokuzando
A store specializing in Kutani ware, which sells a wide range of items, from practical containers such as tea bowls and teacups to expensive platters made by artists.
There are so many items that you can shop just here.
There are a huge variety of beckoning cats (and pandas too!).
Address: 1-2-33 Hirosaka, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Business hours: 9:00-18 :00
Closed on Mondays
HP: http://www.hokusando.co.jp/index. html
Nousaku
A lacquerware specialty store with 3 floors.
At first glance, the store looks like it's difficult to enter, but it also has a wide variety of items for everyday use, such as chopsticks, spoons, and serving plates.
The upper floor is a gallery.
Address: 1-1-60 Hirosaka, Kanazawa City
Business hours: 10:00-18:00
Closed on Wednesdays (irregular holidays in August)
HP: http://www.kanazawa .gr.jp/nosaku/index.html
SNS: https://www.instagram.com/nosaku_kanazawa/
Nagamachi Samurai Residence District - A town where you feel like you have traveled back in timeA tour
The next place I visited was Nagamachi Samurai Residence District.
I came across two Kutani ware specialty stores here.
Both stores have unique store layouts and product lineups, and were very impressive to see.
Kaburagi Shoho
The store's appearance blends in perfectly with the scenery of samurai residences.
You must take off your shoes before entering the large restaurant-like restaurant.
What makes this store special is its wide variety of products.
You can see everything from affordable small plates to high-class vases that look like they belong in a museum, all in one place.
You can also enjoy meals and coffee inside the store.
Perfect for a break while sightseeing in Kanazawa.
Address: 1-3-16 Nagamachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture
Business hours: 9:00~22 :00 (Sunday, Monday, Holidays 9:00-18:00)
Closed: Irregular
HP: https://kaburaki. jp/
Hondaya tableware store
The original utensils that the shop owner ordered locally were very tasteful and I was impressed.
In addition to Kutani ware, we also sell utensils from other production areas such as Mashiko.
We also have a wide range of accessories such as table runners made from obi obi.
The display is also nice and can be used as a reference for interior decoration and table coordination.
Address: 1-3-8 Nagamachi, Kanazawa
Business hours: 10:00-18:00
Closed on Tuesdays
HP: http://www.hondaya.syokkiten.com/
SNS: https://www.facebook.com/hondaya.syokkiten
Samurai residence ruins Nomura family
To conclude our tour of utensil shops, we headed to Nomura House, the only samurai residence open to the public.
The garden, which was once awarded two stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan, looks like a painting with its snowy scenery.
The furniture, such as the paintings on the sliding doors, is also wonderful, and you can get a glimpse of the life of samurai families at the time.
Kanazawa Bungo Cafe Anzu
At the end of my walk, I stopped by the Bungo Cafe in Korinbo, where I received a mug of coffee.
It is unique to Kanazawa that even though it is a bookstore, it sells small plates.
When you think of Kanazawa, this is it! Touring utensils in “Higashi Chaya District”
Higashi Chaya District, Kanazawa's representative tourist destination, is a treasure trove of craft shops.
While museums and other museums were closed at the end of the year, I was able to see a lot of pottery just by visiting various shops.
Here, we will introduce a shop that has a wide range of utensils.
Kanazawa setup
The first place I visited was "Kanazawa Shitsurae".
The store is a renovated tea house designated as a Kanazawa City Preservation Building, and displays and sells Ishikawa Prefecture crafts such as Kaga Yuzen, Yamanaka lacquerware, Kanazawa leaf, Kaga inlay, Ohi ware, and Kaga embroidery. It has been.
You can see a variety of Kutani ware works, from famous artists such as Living National Treasures and recipients of the Order of Culture to young artists.
It's located at the edge of the Chaya District, so it might be a good idea to start your stroll by gathering some information here.
Address: 1-13-24 Higashiyama, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Business hours: Shop from 9:00 17:00/Sabou Yanagi-an 10:00-17:00
Closed: January 1st, Thursday
HP: https://kanazawa.hakuichi.co.jp/shop/kanazawa-shitsurae.php
Tamakushige
This popular restaurant is featured in guidebooks and has a constant stream of customers.
We carry many works by young craftsmen connected to Kanazawa.
I was able to find a unique pottery that feels traditional yet new, which I can't find at other shops.
Address: 1-14-7 Higashiyama, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Business hours: 10:00-17 :00
Closed on Tuesdays
HP: http://www.tamakushige.com/
Antique Yamaya
Perhaps because it is located in a tourist area, this antique shop is very easy to enter.
We have a wide variety of items, from English and French teacups to Japanese antiques.
It's a good store to get familiar with antiques, as they have items at affordable prices.
Since it was before the New Year, there were many lacquerware and old Imari items lined up.
Address: 1-13-20 Higashiyama, Kanazawa City
Business hours: 11:00-17:00
Closed on Thursdays and Fridays
HPhttps://www.kanazawa-yamaya.jp/
SNS: https://www.facebook.com/Antique Yamaya-754234941273219/
Nouka Banzai THE SHOP Higashiyama
A select shop for crafts located one street away from the main street.
We sell unique works by artists connected to Ishikawa Prefecture, such as Kutani ware, Wajima lacquerware, Yamanaka lacquerware, glass, and accessories.
We have many one-of-a-kind items, and our product lineup is unique.
Address: 1-5-7 Kannon-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Business hours: 10:00~ 18:00 (10:00-17:00 from December to February)
Closed: None
HP: http://noukabanzai. jp/
SNS: https://www.instagram.com/noukabanzai/
Yaoyorozu Honpo
A renovated townhouse shop located outside of Higashi Chaya District.
We have food items, but we also have a wide range of utensils, from Kutani ware to antiques.
What caught my attention was "white Kutani ware."
The painting had a different charm than the original image.
The store also holds a Kutani sticker workshop where you can paste transfer stickers onto plain containers.
Address: 2-14-20 Owarimachi, Kanazawa City
Business hours: Weekdays: 11:00~ 17:00/Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 10:00-18:00
Closed: None
HP: https://www. yaoyoroz-honpo.jp/
SNS: https://www.instagram.com/yaoyorozhonpo/
Take a short break in between touring the pottery.
I took a detour to a cafe in the Chaya district.
Breakfast was heavy, so I had cheesecake and matcha latte.
The flower-shaped lacquerware is cute.
The trip ends at Omicho Market
The market at the end of the year is all about crabs.
It was crowded with people buying delicacies and lining up at the seafood restaurant.
The scene you see on the news was right in front of my eyes.
One such gourmet spot that sells utensils is Kuromon Koji, located in the basement of the M-ZA complex building across from the market.
Kuromonkoji
When you think of souvenir shops, they mainly sell food, but here, half of the sales floor is made up of crafts.
We have a wide range of affordable and modern pottery, from Kutani ware to lacquerware and Toyama tin products.
There is also a small gallery space in the back.
Recommended for those who want a pottery to commemorate their trip or want to buy more souvenirs.
There is a Kaga bocha shop on the same floor.
The vessels are of course Kutani ware.
Address: 15-1 Musashicho, Kanazawa City
Business hours: 10:00-19:00< br>Closed days: None
HP: https://www.kmza.jp/kuromon/index.html a>
SNS: https://www.facebook.com/kuromonkoji
There are a lot of chopstick rests in the market.
It's all handwritten!
It looks like it would be a good little souvenir.
Conclusion
Kanazawa has excellent access to tourist attractions starting from the station.
You can visit all the highlights in 2 days.
Furthermore, it was also a ``Utsuwa Town'' where you could encounter various genres of pottery, from pottery to lacquerware to tin products from neighboring Toyama Prefecture.
Next time, I would like to try a different way to enjoy pottery, such as visiting a pottery production area in the suburbs such as Wajima, or trying a painting experience.
You can view the Kutani ware and lacquerware vessels introduced this time here.
Woodworking/lacquerware list page
Thank you for reading until the end.
I hope you all find good works!
Enjoy pottery market Uchiru at home< /p>