So you've seen and done all there is to do and see in Kanazawa, you're now left with the most daunting of all travellers' tasks: buying souvenirs. There's always some relative or co-worker that you're stuck buying for. Luckily, Kanazawa has a spread of brilliant local products to take home with you - so much so that you'll end up wanting to keep them for yourself. Cousin John can have something from the airport...
We've prepared this handy list of all of Kanazawa's best gifts and souvenirs to help make the grueling task a little easier.
Kanazawa Gold Leaf
Kanazawa is famous for producing 99% of all gold- and silver-leaf made in Japan. The products call back to Kanazawa's age of prosperity during the Edo Period (1603 - 1868) and often feature surprisingly intricate designs. Because the layer of gold used to cover the material (usually lacquerware) is 1/10,000mm thick, gold leaf products are often quite budget friendly. People in Kanazawa will slap gold leaf on anything - from jewellery to plates to food covered in (specially-prepared edible) gold leaf and even cosmetics like face masks and lipstick made with gold leaf.
Recommended shops:
- Sakuda Gold Leaf - Sells watches, hand mirrors and decorative items.
- Hakuza - Has very nice glasses, plates, bags and jewellery. There's also a section for edible gold leaf.
- Chaya Bijin - Gold leaf cosmetics for when you're feeling extra fancy.
Interested in trying your hand at gold leaf? Check out our Kanazawa Experiences tour! On this tour, we have time to decorate using gold leaf, make traditional Japanese wagashi sweets, and even test our mettle at being a ninja by throwing ninja stars.
Choseiden
These sugar candies were originally designed in-part by the third lord of Kanazawa himself. The feudal lord's backing meant choseiden exploded in popularity and have been a mainstay ever since as Kanazawa's most traditional sweet.
Recommended shops:
- Morihachi - This 400-year-old confectionery was once the lord's personal sweet-maker. It's easy to see why! They have a few outlets around the city, including inside Kanazawa Station and near Omicho Market.
- Matsui - Another, albeit less prestigious, sweet-maker based inside Kanazawa Station's Hyakubangai shopping area.
Kintsuba
This local delicacy is a sweet made from tsubuan, a chunky red bean paste, shaped into a square block, covered in flour and then baked until slightly crispy. Kintsuba is best paired with a quite a bitter tea, which balances the sweetness well.
Recommended shops:
- Kintsuba Nakataya - Kanazawa's premier kintsuba maker, based inside the Higashi Chaya District.
- Le Cotentin - Why does it have a French name? Who knows! But this confectioner is based inside the Hyakubangai shopping area in Kanazawa Station, so is accessible for last-minute shopping before your train.
Mizuhiki
Mizuhiki (literally "pulling water") is a traditional knot-tying craft. Kanazawa is one of several areas across Japan associated with mizuhiki, so there are many good places to get goods here. The knots are most-often used to decorate envelopes but can also be used to hold flower bouquets, as earrings, keyrings and even lampshades!
Recommended shops:
Kutani-yaki
One of Kanazawa's most traditional crafts, kutani-yaki porcelain traditionally uses only five colours - green, blue, yellow, purple and red - to create bright, distinctive patterns and landscapes. Over time, more colours have been added to the palette by some artisans, while others have stuck to the traditions.
Kutani-yaki was heavily sponsored by the Maeda lords of Kanazawa which led to its popularity spreading across the region. Today, there are many places around Kanazawa to buy kutani-yaki, much of which is handmade, although more popular designs have begun to be mass produced.
Recommended shops:
- Kataoka Kouzando - This shop at the end of Konyazaka Street sells mostly mass-produced goods, but the cheaper cost reflects that. The popular designs make good souvenirs for people back home. The staff will also wrap your purchases more than well-enough for the journey home.
- Kutaniyaki-Goo - Towards the back, there are displays of more intricate hand-crafted works.
- Kasugayamagama Mokubeian - Located in the Nagamachi Samurai District, it has a mix of handmade and more affordable items.
Ohiyaki
Ohiyaki is another traditional style of porcelain originating from Ishikawa Prefecture. While kutani-yaki has become more commercialised in recent years, ohiyaki has kept its exclusivity. Virtually all of the products, which feature much simpler and rustic designs, are handmade. Many of the most expensive pieces are done by the Chozaemon, the current highest-ranking craftsman.
Recommended shops:
Hyakuman-san
Hyakumansan is the beloved mascot of Ishikawa Prefecture, the moustachioed menace first appeared to promote the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension to Kanazawa more than 10 years ago. He's stuck in Kanazawa, as his body is literally too wide to get through the shinkansen ticket gates, so he stays in the city to welcome travellers from all corners of the world. The horror of Hyakumansan's tragedy is only equalled by his cute face and the joy and good fortune that he (ironically) represents.
As the symbol of Ishikawa, you can find Hyakumansan's million-dollar body on a variety of goods like keyrings, stickers, towels and fridge magnets.
Recommended shops:
Matcha and Tea
Kanazawa is at the centre of an area known for its high-quality matcha and tea products, which is reflected in its variety of matcha-flavoured sweets and drinks. If you try any matcha experiences, such as the one at Gyokusen-inmaru Garden, you'll have tasted for yourself how nice it can be! Taking some of this matcha home can be a great way to bring a slice of Japan back with you.
Recommended shops:
- Yonezawa Tea - Known as one of the best tea shops in Kanazawa, and where many restaurants source their matcha powder from.
- Kanbayashi Chaho - Another well-known tea shop, this shop specialises more in its kocha, traditional black tea, rather than matcha.
Typical Tourist Souvenirs
If you're looking to get some more traditional "touristy" souvenirs like fridge magnets, keyrings, towels etc., there are plenty of places around the city to pick some up! Most of these reference Kanazawa Castle Park, Kenrokuen Garden, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, and Kanazawa's iconic Tsuzumi-mon Gate.
Starbucks Mugs
The Starbucks Coffee chain also has a variety of mugs which are only available here in Kanazawa. The "Been There" mugs are popular among travellers. The Been There mugs cost JPY 2600, while the kutani mugs are a pricier JPY 5700, and the coasters JPY 2300.
