HAKUZA NIHONBASHI

A fantastic space filled with the glitter of gold

With its main store in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, an area famous for gold leaf production, Hakuza Nihonbashi is a specialist in everything related to gold leaf, from production to processing to sales. The shop has a variety of ingenious products and introduces innovative new possibilities.

Upon entering the store, one cannot help but notice a large structure called Ogon no Tenku, a radiant circular tower encased in 16,000 shimmering sheets of gold leaf.

In addition to crafts, such as traditional lacquerware, tableware, and interior goods, Hakuza has developed other products such as cosmetics and food that highlight their expertise in the properties of gold leaf and convey the appeal of gold leaf cultivated in the historic city of Kanazawa. Accessories with a mysterious shine brought about by the light qualities of gold leaf are particularly popular.

Edible gold leaf born of traditional expertise

Hakuza still uses the traditional gold leaf technique of entsuke, which is used only in Kanazawa. This laborious and costly manufacturing method takes more than half a year to prepare, but it is an important technique that is also used to restore National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. Pounding and stretching out the gold leaf is a feature of this process.

Because the gold leaf is placed between sheets of Japanese washi paper—a natural material—it is also suitable for products that are eaten or put on the skin. This gold leaf is used in foods and cosmetics sold at Hakuza, and the cosmetic gold leaf, in which the gold leaf conforms directly with the contours of the face, gives the skin a gloss and firmness as well as a beautiful appearance.

Hakuza also sells cakes and jellies decorated with gold leaf that are so beautiful you may forget to eat them. Hakuza’s gold leaf products are certain to help you shine, both inside and out.