Special Experience
Kanazawa
Traditional, All-Natural Kintsugi Experience in Kanazawa, the City of Crafts
Overview
At Kanazawa, the city of crafts, visit Urushitoki Sadaike, a lacquerware workshop that uses natural urushi, Japanese lacquer. It is involved in all stages of the production process, from managing fields of urushi trees to crafting wooden bases. After an up-close look at the workshop's tools and owner Takashi Sadaike at work, try the traditional Japanese repair technique of kintsugi with natural lacquer. You can take home your finished creation on the same day.
Key Features
・At a lacquerware workshop in Kanazawa that has been passed down for four generations, watch a skilled artisan up close
・Experience the final step of kintsugi, which usually takes about three months in full, and take home your finished creation on the same day
・Learn about Japan's culture and spirit of craftsmanship through Ishikawa Prefecture's lacquerware and other traditional crafts
*You may also be interested in this experience in the same location:
Lacquerware Decoration Experience from an Artisan in Kanazawa, City of Crafts
Kanazawa
120mins
from ¥46,000 /person
1 - 4 participants
Available in English
Cancel free up to 8 days prior
* If fewer than 2 participants, the minimum fee will be JPY 92,000
Details
A Family-Owned Lacquerware Workshop with an Inheritance of Traditions
Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture is known as the city of crafts for its rich heritage of beautiful traditional Japanese handicrafts. Located on the outskirts of Kanazawa is Urushitoki Sadaike, a lacquerware workshop that has been passed down for four generations. Currently represented by Takashi Sadaike, the workshop was founded in 1940 by Takashi’s grandfather. Today, Takashi, his father Masafumi, his wife Natsuko, and his daughter Tomoko, are all involved with the workshop as lacquerware artisans.
Lacquerware has long been a familiar part of Japanese daily life. Its production process is generally divided into three steps: woodworking, painting, and decorating through the maki-e technique. It is common for the process to be divided, with each step being handled by artisans specializing in it. Thus, Ishikawa Prefecture as a whole has a thriving lacquerware industry, with the three main production areas being Yamanaka for woodwork, Wajima for painting, and Kanazawa for decoration.
Since the founding of its workshop, the Sadaike family has specialized in maki-e decoration for Buddhist altars. However, starting from Takashi's generation, they have also become involved in lacquer painting. As the family’s third generation, Takashi and Natsuko learned the basics of lacquer art at a specialized training institute in Wajima; then, after joining the family business, they further honed their skills in Kanazawa. In light of the declining number of artisans who create wooden bases, the backbone of lacquer crafts, the family also started woodworking in 2017.
Discover the Appeal and Artisanship of Lacquerware
In this experience, you will have the special privilege of touring the Sadaike family's workshop, which is normally closed to the public, as Takashi, a skilled artisan, explains what lacquer crafts are all about. Through repeated painting, drying, and polishing, lacquerware becomes glossier and more durable. Seeing actual tools for the craft and observing Takashi at work, you will get a sense of the time and effort it takes to complete a single creation.
The lacquer used as paint for Japanese lacquerware is called urushi, which is made from sap collected from urushi trees. Over the years, urushi production has been steadily decreasing, and it has become more difficult to obtain as a result. However, the Sadaike family is committed to only using natural lacquer, as crafts made with this valuable material have a unique feel and charm. Additionally, Takashi’s desire to know more about urushi led him to grow urushi trees in the mountains.
A Traditional Kintsugi Experience with Natural Lacquer
After learning about lacquer crafts, it's time for the kintsugi experience. Kintsugi, the traditional Japanese technique of repairing chipped or cracked ceramics with lacquer, is part of a lacquer artisan's work. This custom of repairing and reusing broken objects reflects the Japanese spirit of valuing things. Though kintsugi originated more than 400 years ago, it has seen renewed popularity in Japan and even overseas due to increasing awareness of the importance of sustainability.
Urushitoki Sadaike performs kintsugi the traditional way: using natural lacquer, which has antibacterial and antiseptic properties, and is also quite safe to handle. Because kintsugi usually involves many steps, the full process takes about three months to finish. However, in this experience, Urushitoki Sadaike's artisans will handle most of the steps for you in advance. What you will experience is the final step of using lacquer to paint along the seams of a ceramic, then decorating the painted areas with gold powder.
Use Your Own Hands to Give a Ceramic Renewed Value
First, choose a ceramic that you want to repair. Each is a different type of tableware and is damaged in a different way. After this experience, your ceramic will have gold-patterned seams, so take your time to choose. Once you've decided on a ceramic, dip your brush in lacquer, and paint by tracing along the seams. The trick is to apply lacquer thinly so that it does not protrude from the seams.
Once the painting is done, sprinkle some gold powder across the lacquered area, and gently sweep it over the lacquer with a brush. This ensures that the gold powder will only stick to the lacquered area. The powder you'll use is made of high-quality pure gold, which is normally hard to find. Lightly wipe your ceramic with cotton to complete your one-of-a-kind kintsugi creation.
Take Home a Ceramic That's Like a Work of Art
You can take home your finished creation in a box specially selected for it right after your experience. However, the lacquer will take a while to dry, so do not take your ceramic out of its box for one week, and wait for it to dry completely. When using your ceramic, as much as possible, try not to rub against the areas decorated with gold so that the color can last longer.
Kintsugi is a way to renew the value of broken ceramics with your own two hands. By decorating damaged areas with gold to draw attention to them, a ceramic is then reborn as a beautiful work of art. You will surely want to use your kintsugi lacquerware for a long time as a memory of your time in Japan. Immerse yourself in Japanese culture and the spirit of artisanship as you learn directly from experienced craftspeople at Urushitoki Sadaike.
Urushitoki Sadaike
Urushitoki Sadaike
Located in Kanazawa, known as the city of crafts, Urushitoki Sadaike is a lacquerware workshop currently run by a family of four. They are involved in all stages of the production process for lacquer crafts, from crafting the wooden base, to painting, to decorating through maki-e. Their creations range from Buddhist altar tools to lacquerware, fountain pens, and various accessories. Additionally, they take custom orders and have been holding kintsugi workshops since 2023. They are known for their commitment to using traditional techniques and natural lacquer.
Location
Urushitoki Sadaike
Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Request for booking
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January 2025
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Additional Options
If you would like to have professional photos taken, please select the option below and review the details carefully before booking.
Commemorative photo / group
JPY 28,600
0
Experience fee
Minimum fee JPY 46000 × 2 participants
JPY 92,000
*Minimum: 2 participants; JPY 46,000 × 2 will be charged for bookings below the minimum.
Price may change after date is selected.
Additional options fee
Interpretation in English
JPY 0
Other
Service fee (5%)
JPY 4,600
Total Price
JPY 96,600
tax & service fee incl.
Extra charges may apply for the following
- ・Interpretation / Dependant on experience schedule and language
- ・Optional add-ons / Souvenirs, delivery, etc.
Kanazawa
120mins
from ¥46,000 /person
1 - 4 participants
Available in English
Cancel free up to 8 days prior
* If fewer than 2 participants, the minimum fee will be JPY 92,000
Things to know
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We also accept bookings from corporate clients and travel agencies.