The Ultimate Kutani Experience: Art, Cuisine & Sake
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Port
Kanazawa, Japan
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$880
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 7½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
This exclusive program offers a rare opportunity to visit the distinguished kiln Tokuda Yasokichi Kiln, where both the first and third generations were designated Holders of Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Japan (Living National Treasures). Here, you will witness firsthand the creative environment in which traditional craftsmanship is elevated to the realm of fine art.
Your journey begins at the Nishikigama Exhibition Hall, a site designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property. Within this historic setting—preserving the former residence, kiln storehouse, and stone warehouse of the third-generation Tokuda Yasokichi—you will explore the old workshop and overglaze kiln. Masterpieces including Ko-Kutani works, along with pieces spanning from the first through the fourth generation, reveal how the Tokuda lineage established its singular aesthetic of color. By tracing this hereditary tradition of color expression—passed down from father to son—you gain a deeper perspective before entering the living creative atelier.
Lunch will be served at Authentic Japanese Restaurant where seasonal ingredients from Hokuriku are prepared with refined sensitivity. Presented on Kutani ware and Wajima lacquerware, each dish becomes a harmonious dialogue between taste and visual beauty—an expression of Kaga’s refined hospitality shaped by land, sea, and craftsmanship.
You will then proceed to Tokuda Yasokichi Kiln, where the fourth-generation master personally guides you through the atelier. The innovative technique Saiyu (colored glaze), established by the third generation, employs approximately seventy distinct glazes to create vast, singular worlds expressed solely through gradations of color. The secret formulations of these hues have been passed down through a single lineage to the fourth generation, who continues to pursue new artistic frontiers. Guests may view the works while receiving commentary directly from the master, with opportunities for acquisition.
The program concludes at Locall sake brewery, a brewery that carries forward the spirit of the historic Kaga domain. After touring the brewery and gaining insight into the sake-making process, you will enjoy a tasting experience. Using a handcrafted guinomi sake cup created by Tokuda Yasokichi Kiln—yours to take home—you will savor the sake’s clarity, depth of flavor, and lingering finish.
The refined aesthetic of a kiln in the lineage of Living National Treasures and the sake culture nurtured by Kaga’s history come together in this exceptional one-day experience, to be savored with all five senses.
Please note: This is exclusive tour so the capacity is very limited.In case 4th-generation master at Tokuda Yasokichi Kiln is not available, alternative staff will be substituted. Due to the limited workspace at the kiln, visitors will take turns observing the crafting process. Taking off the shoes will be required one or more locations. Wear comfortable shoes. Tour order may vary. The coach cannot accommodate scooters. Not advisable for guests with mobility limitations. Suggest to carry Japanese yen for additional purchases. Unfamiliar accents can be challenging; feel free to ask your guide to repeat or elaborate on information, and to speak more slowly so you can fully comprehend and converse.