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Kanazawa Gold Leaf Crafting and Activities

©Kanazawa City　　

HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Kanazawa Gold Leaf Crafting and Activities

Kanazawa produces 99% of all gold leaf made in Japan

Kanazawa City Tourism Association

In Japan, kinpaku gold leaf is used to decorate many temples and shrines with high historical value, such as the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto and Toshogu Shrine in Nikko. It is also commonly used in traditional crafts like lacquerware and pottery. When you see a beautiful, authentic gold shimmer on something in Japan, the gold leaf has most likely been produced in Kanazawa, which is home to 99% of domestic gold leaf production.

A piece of gold the size of a coin will make a dining-table-sized sheet of gold leaf. How do artisans make gold leaf as thin as a mere 1/10,000th of a millimeter?

Many aspects must come together in order to produce this incredibly thin sheet of gold, including exceptional craftsmanship, paper production (known to determine the quality of the finished gold leaf), good climatic conditions, and more.

For over 400 years, from the time when samurai prospered until the present day, top-quality gold leaf has been produced in Kanazawa. The ways gold leaf is used are much broader than they used to be. Kanazawa’s gold leaf-covered soft-serve ice cream is a must-try. You can also join gold leaf decoration workshops and activities available at gold leaf shops in the city.