Ishikawa Prefecture Specialty Products, Souvenirs, Shrines and Temples, and Travel | 47 Prefecture Guide

Ishikawa’s specialties can be explained, in short, by the fact that “the domain paid for them.” Although the Kaga Domain was an outside domain, it had one of the largest rice yields in the country, and directed that wealth toward crafts and culture.

Specialties

Kanazawa gold leaf accounts for more than 98% of the gold leaf produced in Japan. 1 gram of gold is stretched to about the size of one tatami mat. Its thickness is in the range of one ten-thousandth of a millimeter, and it can fly away with just a breath.

One reason it concentrated in Kanazawa is said to be climate That is why. Gold leaf beating is vulnerable to dryness, and higher humidity makes it easier to handle. The winter humidity on the Sea of Japan side had become part of the process conditions.

Seafood from Noto, Kaga vegetables such as Kaga lotus root and Gensuke daikon, and spending on confectionery ranks among the highest in the country is another characteristic. It is a land where the tea ceremony is part of daily life.

Souvenirs

Japanese sweets are central. Rakugan dry sweets such as Choseiden, and fukuume. They keep well, are light, and look beautiful. They meet every condition for a souvenir.

Then Small items with gold leaf. Other choices include Kutani ware small plates and Wajima lacquer chopsticks. If you want crafts as souvenirs, this prefecture offers many options.

Shrines and Temples

Shirayama Hime Shrine in Hakusan City is the head shrine of the roughly 3,000 Hakusan shrines said to exist across Japan in total.

Mount Hakusan is one of Japan’s Three Sacred Mountains, alongside Mount Fuji and Tateyama. What makes this shrine special is that the object of worship is “water.” Snow that falls on Mount Hakusan becomes the Tedori River and Kuzuryu River, nourishing the plains. Rice, sake, and even the yuzen-nagashi washing process for yuzen dyeing all depend on this water. To worship the mountain here meant to worship the source of water. The inner shrine stands on the summit at an elevation of 2,702 meters.

Keta Taisha Shrine (Hakui City) is the Ichinomiya shrine of Noto Province, the “Irazu no Mori” forest within the grounds is a national Natural Monument, and entry by the general public is still prohibited. Sojiji Soin Temple in Wajima City is an old Soto Zen temple.

Sightseeing

Kenrokuen Garden is counted alongside Kairakuen in Mito and Korakuen in Okayama as one of Japan’s three great gardens one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens. The winter yukitsuri ropes are practical work to keep branches from breaking under the weight of snow.

Higashi Chaya District, and the Nagamachi samurai residence district. Because Kanazawa escaped wartime damage, old townscapes remain together in concentrated form.

Wajima Morning Market in Noto, Shiroyone Senmaida rice terraces, and the Kaga Onsen area including Yamanaka, Yamashiro, Katayamazu, and Awazu.

Traditional Crafts

Wajima Lacquerware, Kutani Ware, Kaga Yuzen, Yamanaka lacquerware, Kanazawa Gold Leaf, Ushikubi pongee, and many other nationally designated items.

Wajima lacquerware is made on the premise that it can be repaired even if it cracks, by mixing locally produced diatomaceous earth powder called Wajima-jinoko into the undercoat. Yamanaka lacquerware is also from this prefecture, which means Ishikawa has two of Japan’s three great lacquerware traditions.

For details, see 【VILLAGE Report vol.31】98 Percent of Gold Leaf

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References: Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa City, Wajima City, Kaga City, Shirayama Hime Shrine, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications "Family Income and Expenditure Survey," Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries — Value Village Editorial Team