Tradition, Innovation, and
the Ancient Aesthetics of Japan

With the new Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train line, it’s easier than ever to access the Hokuriku region.

At the center is Kanazawa, the castle town and erstwhile center of political and cultural influence on par with Kyoto and old Edo (Tokyo).

Immerse yourself in this unique culture to discover its ancient aesthetic traditions – and the course of their modern-day evolution.

Here in Kanazawa, and Nowhere Else in the World

Ceramics Artist Ohi Chozaemon XI, and Architect & Ceramics Artist Nara Yuki Talk Kanazawa Arts and Culture

Ohi-yaki – or Ohi ware pottery – is a craft tradition of Kanazawa, where tea ceremony has deep historical roots. It has been handed down for over three and a half centuries, fired in the one and only historic waki-gama (branch kiln) of the house of Raku – keepers of the legacy of Kyoto Raku ware, a pottery style imbued with wabi-sabi aesthetics pursued by famed historic tea master Sen no Rikyu. It is part and parcel to Kanazawa’s vaunted tea ceremony.

We sat down for a chat with eleventh generation head of the Ohi family of potters, Ohi Chozaemon XI (Toshio), along with his son Yuki Nara – an architect and accomplished potter in his own right – for the artists’ perspectives on their hometown’s traditional culture, based on their lives here – and their extensive experience working their craft in other parts of Japan and the world.

Tea Master Sokyu Nara on Kanazawa’s Unique Cuisine and the Tea Ceremony Traditions that Nurtured It

Japan during the Edo Period (1603-1868) was ruled by numerous regional lords who owed central fealty to the shogun at the top. House Maeda, who ruled the Kaga Domain from Kanazawa Castle, were among the foremost of these regional powers, known for their generous patronage of cultural activities.

One such activity was tea ceremony – an erstwhile samurai pastime that spread to become a mass cultural phenomenon, finding particular popularity in Kanazawa. Not only did it spur on the development of numerous handicrafts for its accoutrements, but it also fostered unique Kanazawa culinary traditions including kaiseki cooking and wagashi confectionery.

A leading master of the Urasenke school of tea ceremony, Nara teaches its ways at home and abroad. For him, understanding the spirit of tea ceremony is a way to deepen the joy of partaking in the region’s delicious gourmet offerings. What makes Kanazawa perfect as a gourmet city?

A Journey Through the Soul of Japan, From an Inn in Kanazawa’s Teahouse District

Located in Kanazawa's historic Higashi Chaya District, Maki no Oto Kanazawa offers more than just a luxurious stay. Its owner, Seiichi Yamamoto, serves as a “travel concierge,” introducing guests to the city’s deeper, less conventional charms.

Once a flourishing castle town, Kanazawa blossomed under the patronage of feudal lords, cultivating diverse arts and traditions that remain a vibrant part of everyday life.

Encouraging visitors to take their time and explore Kanazawa’s multifaceted beauty, Yamamoto intentionally set his inn in the Chaya District. We spoke with him to uncover his vision for creating a one-of-a-kind journey that begins at Maki no Oto Kanazawa.