Kaga-Yuzen Kimono Center — Attraction in Kanazawa

The Kaga Yuzen Kimono Center is worth visiting if you are in Kanazawa and are interested in arts and fashion. This small museum showcases the traditional art of Kaga-Yuzen, a fabric dyeing, originating in the Edo period, which is characterised by its distinctive use of colour and vivid intricate patterns. The process involves nine stages of hand-dyeing the silk, using five colours: indigo, crimson, ochre, dark green and royal purple. Now I'm not really into fashion, my wife is, but even I can appreciate the level of skill and creativity on display here.

Apart admiring all the amazing kimonos exhibited here they also run craft workshops in the basement. We both tried our hand at doing some stencil work on a tote bag which surprisingly, at least for me, turned out really good. They also have a small shop near the work bench areas, selling distinctive, locally made items. If you have kids I'm sure that they would enjoy making their own Japanese souvenirs just as...

This is a beautiful small museum displaying kimono painted in the traditional Yusen style. All pieces are gorgeous, and there are clear explanations of the whole dyeing process. The basement includes a shopping area and the workshop area. You can choose two different options for dyeing a piece, using stencils or free hand. I tried the free hand option, and it was a challenge to get the colors to stay inside the marks! I had the help of a wonderelady who spoke to me in Japanese, while I asked her questions in English......

This was truly amazing! Upstairs you can (for a small entrance fee) view some incredibly beautiful kimono and other Kaga-Yuzen artworks! In the basement you can try your hand at dying stuff yourself. The staff is really helpful and it is both fun and a great learning experience. You can also purchase artworks made by Kaga-Yuzen artists. Definitely would go again...