Category:Hokuriku Region

Hokuriku (北陸地方) is a cultural and geographic subregion of Chūbu (中部地方), located along the Sea of Japan coast. The region is characterized by heavy snowfall in winter, expansive mountain ranges, and long-standing craft traditions tied to local natural resources. Historically, Hokuriku benefited from its position on trade routes connecting the Sea of Japan with inland transport networks, fostering active exchange of goods, materials, and artisanal knowledge.

Hokuriku is particularly renowned for its lacquerware, pottery, and metalworking traditions. The forests of the region provided abundant lacquer trees, while mineral-rich clays and river systems supported pottery and papermaking. Cities and castle towns such as Kanazawa developed into cultural hubs where artisanal guilds, tea ceremony lineages, and local patronage systems shaped refined craft aesthetics.

Because of its relative geographic isolation compared to central Japan, many craft workshops in Hokuriku preserved historically continuous techniques and region-specific styles. The region today is viewed as one of Japan’s major centers of traditional craftsmanship.

Hokuriku consists of three prefectures:

• Toyama Prefecture
• Ishikawa Prefecture
• Fukui Prefecture

• Notable lacquerware production centers (especially Wajima in Ishikawa).
• Important ceramic traditions including Echizen ware (Fukui).
• Strong metalwork, gold leaf craft (Kanazawa), papermaking, and textile traditions.
• Cultural identity shaped by castle towns, tea culture, and historical artisan guilds.

• Location: Northwestern Chūbu along the Sea of Japan
• Landscape: Coastal plains, mountain basins, river valleys
• Major cities: Kanazawa, Toyama, Fukui

• Chūbu (中部地方)
• Wajima Lacquerware
• Echizen Ware
• Kanazawa Gold Leaf