Wajima Kobo Nagaya you can experience the charms of lacquer, including tours of the workshop, hands-on production experiences and purchases.

Hands-on experience schedule

9:00-17:00

Holidays

Wednesday(All day)

The history of Nagaya

In April 1910 a large fire broke out in Kawai-machi, the center of Wajima, causing enormous damage. The following year a Nagaya (tenement house) was built on the site of a relocated burned temple for people who had lost their homes, and many people involved in local industries lived there, including lacquerware artists, making it a lively area.

However, as time went on, the number of residents decreased due to changes in the living environment, and the building itself became dilapidated, so the tenement was gradually demolished. In 2003, Wajima Kobo Nagaya was built in this location, where the tenement house used to be, in order to recreate the lively scenes of the past.

Lacquerware workshop (information, hands-on experience, repair)

In addition to providing information on Wajima tourism and Wajima Lacquerware, the workshop also accepts requests for lacquerware-making experiences and repairs.

Artist workshop

A facility that supports the production activities of Wajima Lacquerware artists. It’s also possible to observe the work of these rich personality artists.

Nigiwai Kobo Kita

Observe parts of each process of Wajima Lacquerware.

Nigiwai Kobo Minami

Observe parts of each process of Wajima Lacquerware.

Experience the chinkin (gold-inlay) and maki-e (gold lacquer) lacquerware decoration techniques. Create an original work with the design of your choice on a lacquered panel or chopsticks.

Course 1Chinkin decoration on a lacquered panel

Price	Adult: ¥2,500 High school students and younger: ¥2,000
Time Required	About 90 minutes
Size	12cm x 13.5cm
Reservations	Accepted for groups of three or more Up to 40 people

Finished works can be taken home on the same day

Course 2Your own Chinkin chopsticks(Gold)

Price	¥1,500 per set
Time Required	20 minutes to 1 hour
Size	Black: 22.5cm, Tame: 21cm
Reservations	Up to 40 people

Finished works can be taken home on the same day

Course 3Your own Chinkin chopsticks(Irodori)

Price	¥1,500 per set
Time Required	20 minutes to 1 hour
Size	Black: 22.5cm, Tame: 21cm
Reservations	Up to 15 people

Finished works can be taken home on the same day

Course 4Lacquered chopsticks decorated with maki-e

Price	¥1,700 per set
Time Required	20 minutes to 1 hour
Size	Black: 22.5cm, Tame: 21cm
Reservations	Up to 15 people

Finished works will be sent to you

JR

From Tokyo: 2 hr., 28 min to Kanazawa by Hokuriku Shinkansen
From Osaka: 2 hr., 40 min. to Kanazawa
From Nagoya: 3 hr. to Kanazawa

From Kanazawa, take an express bus to Wajima.

Bus

Express Bus from Kanazawa to Wajima
11 round trips per day (2 hr. to 2 hr., 20 min.)
– Hokutetsu Bus Schedule

Scheduled Tourist Buses
Wajima Route (all seats by reservation only)
Contact the Hokutetsu Bus Reservation Center
at 076-234-0123

By Car

From Tokyo: 510 km
From Osaka: 420 km
From Nagoya: 340 km
From Kanazawa: 110 km

Use the Marine Town parking lot (morning market parking lot)
A charge applies if exiting the parking lot from 8:30am to 12:00pm (300 yen for standard-sized cars)

Airplane

1 hr. from Tokyo (Haneda Airport) to Noto Satoyama Airport
– More information about Noto Satoyama Airport (in Japanese only)

30 min. ride from Noto Satoyama Airport by Wajima Furusato Taxi shuttle bus
– More information about the Wajima Furusato Taxi shuttle bus (in Japanese only)