The magnificent handicrafts of Kaga, the foremost city for traditional crafts in Japan
The city of Kaga, which had been under the safeguard of the prosperous Maeda family of the Kaga clan since the 16th century, developed a brilliant culture of handicrafts. Thanks to the skill of the artisans, handicrafts such as the showy but composed designs from the famous Kaga Yuzen dyeing (kimono), the colorful Kutani porcelain ware, kinpaku gold leaf in which the foil is worked down to a thickness of just 1/10,000th of a millimeter, and Wajima-nuri lacquerware have been passed down over the centuries. At Kaga Traditional Village Yunokuni No Mori, these traditional handicrafts are brought under one roof so that you can not only see products of the finest caliber but also try your hand at making them. Professional staff guide you along so there is no worry about making these goods. This is a popular facility which was chosen by professionals in 2016 as one of the Top 100 Tourist, Culinary and Souvenir Facilities.
Choose from a selection of 50 handicrafts
At Yunokuni no Mori, there is a selection of 50 handicrafts that you can try in 11 buildings. You can make chopsticks using the Wajima-nuri method of chinkin (gold inlaying), handkerchiefs and T-shirts making use of the Kaga Yuzen dyeing technique, and Kutani Japanese tea cups on a potter’s wheel with the addition of glaze. With each course ranging from 20 to 40 minutes, you are able to choose the course that matches your time in the village and combine courses into a set. When considering your selection of courses, please think about the time needed to make your goods and complete them by 3pm.
Enjoy a tea ceremony in an old precious house that is over 100 years old
The old houses at Yunokuni no Mori were moved from 3 prefectures in the Hokuriku region with each of them possessing its own valuable history. The Tea Ceremony House is such a house which was built in the 1780s with a beautiful and profound thatched roof where you can enjoy tea and sweets while admiring the wild flowers and plants in the garden.