Kanazawa has been Japan's gold leaf capital for over 400 years. The Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum, near the northern part of the city, tells the story of this craft tradition and displays extraordinary examples of gold leaf work across textiles, ceramics, lacquerware, and even food.
The museum is small but interesting, with demonstrations of the beating process that turns gold into leaf thin enough to be translucent. The gift shop sells gold leaf products including the city's famous gold leaf ice cream — a sheet of edible gold wrapped around soft serve, which photographs well and costs about ¥700. The craft workshops in the Higashi Chaya area and around the market also offer gold leaf crafting experiences.