Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Traditonal Arts and Crafts, Craft museum in Kenroku-machi, Kanazawa, Japan

The Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Traditional Arts and Crafts displays handmade items from 36 different craft traditions of the prefecture. The building spans two floors and presents objects such as hand-dyed silk, decorated pottery, lacquered containers, and gold-leafed accessories.

The museum opened in 1984 as an institution dedicated to preserving regional craft traditions. The building was designed by architect Yoshirō Taniguchi as part of broader efforts to support and document local artistic practices.

The permanent exhibition is arranged by theme: clothing, festivals, food, housing and prayer. Among the 36 crafts are Kaga Yuzen silk dyeing, Kutani porcelain, Wajima and Yamanaka lacquerware, Kanazawa gold leaf and Nanao candles. Labels are in English, and the lighting is kept dim to protect the pieces.

The museum stands on the outer perimeter of Kenroku-en Garden, and a ticket allows direct entry into the garden from inside the building. The ground floor holds the special exhibition areas, gift shop, photo space and café; the permanent exhibition areas, product-process displays and seminar room are upstairs. Buses leave Kanazawa Station for the garden.

The building itself is a work of architecture: Yoshirō Taniguchi designed it in 1959 as the former Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, and the craft museum took it over in 1984. A gate in the museum connects directly into Kenroku-en Garden, so visitors can step from the galleries into the garden.