When it comes to gold, only very few people probably think of Japan first and foremost. Even though the Land of the Rising Sun is blessed with all kinds of riches and cultural treasures, it is not necessarily associated with the shiny precious metal, whose price has risen to record levels in recent years. But if you take a closer look, you can of course see that some Japanese also succumbed to the gold fever a long time ago.
The first thing that comes to mind is the gold mine on the island of Sado, which used to play an important role in the Japanese economy and also in the country's history. It was officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024 and is now a major tourist attraction that offers insights into Japan's mining history. There visitors can explore the old tunnels and learn more about traditional and modern gold mining techniques
But also the city of Kanazawa in Ishiskawa Prefecture has a long association with our coveted precious metal and is famous for its gold leaf production, which accounts for almost 100% of all Japanese gold leaf. The city has a long history of producing kinpaku (gold leaf), which is used to decorate temples, works of art and even in food.
The name “Kanazawa” literally means “gold swamp” and comes from an old legend about a farmer who discovered gold dust in his field. Kanazawa has been a center of gold leaf production since the 16th century, and the technique has been passed down and perfected over generations.
Gold leaf from Kanazawa is used in famous buildings such as the Kinkaku-ji temple in Kyoto and the Todaiji temple in Nara. It is produced using an elaborate process in which the gold is hammered to a thickness of 1/10,000 of a millimeter.
There is also a museum in the city that aims to give visitors an understanding of the history and production of gold leaf. A visit to the Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum is therefore highly recommended for any gold lover. Stores also offer gold leaf workshops where visitors can apply gold leaf to objects themselves.
And of course there is also a whole range of gold souvenirs to buy. You can always find stores offering elaborate products with gold leaf decorations, especially for tourists with fat and full wallets. Even if the layer of gold covering the various objects is only wafer-thin, you can easily end up spending several hundred or thousand dollars. After all, good craftsmanship costs money, and a golden craftsmanship costs even more.
In Kanazawa's Higashi Chaya district, there is a special building with a golden wall: the Hakuza Hikari Kura Gold House. This wall is completely covered with 24-carat gold leaf and belongs to the store Hakuza, which specializes in gold products.
The building was originally an old teahouse, but was decorated with gold and is now a popular attraction for tourists as well. Visitors can not only marvel at the impressive golden wall, but also buy various gold products, including jewelry, handicrafts and even edible gold for food.
The Higashi Chaya district is known for its traditional machiya wooden houses, where geishas used to entertain their guests. In addition to the Gold House, there are many historic buildings, teahouses and stores selling Kanazawa's famous kinpaku.
When it comes to gold, Kanazawa also has a special delicacy: Gold leaf ice cream! This luxurious dessert consists of soft ice cream covered with a wafer-thin sheet of 24-carat gold.
For those who are wondering: Yes! Gold is edible, and the gold leaf is tasteless and safe to eat. It is often used in Japanese cuisine to add a luxurious touch to dishes. Actually our body does not absorb gold and excretes it undigested.
Well, I had decided not to join in with this slightly decadent game of fun, but apparently the 'gold ice cream' is quite popular and admittedly it looks good too. Supposedly it's also a symbol of the city's long tradition of kinpaku gold leaf production.
Well, at least the city of Kanazawa has something else to score points with visitors. And a little bragging is always part of the business, and if you're going that way, you should do it right. That's why it's gold, so you immediately know what's going on.
So if you ever come to Kanazawa, you are welcome to follow the golden trail. Let's see where it will take you and whether you'll end up with a sparkle in your eyes....
