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Best craft destinations in Asia

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Kanazawa
Samurai streets, gold leaf and Kenrokuen garden
8.2
Most of Japan's gold leaf is produced in this city. Workshops near Higashi Chaya let visitors apply gold leaf to chopsticks or small lacquer trays. Kaga yuzen silk painting and Kutani porcelain are also local specialties. Some cafes even serve soft serve ice cream topped with gold leaf.
Highlights:
  • 🍵 Wander the preserved tea houses of Higashi Chaya District
  • 🏯 Explore Kanazawa Castle and its impressive defensive grounds
  • 🌸 Stroll through Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan’s finest landscapes
Kyoto
Temples, geisha districts and kaiseki dining
9.2
Nishijin district has woven silk brocade for obi sashes and kimono since the fifteenth century. The Nishijin Textile Center shows looms producing gold threaded fabric. Kiyomizu ware pottery is sold along the slope below Kiyomizu Temple. Visitors can also try Kyo yuzen dyeing in small studios.
Highlights:
  • ⛩️ Climb the vermillion torii gates at Fushimi Inari Shrine
  • 🍱 Experience Japan’s beautifully presented Kaiseki dining at a traditional restaurant
  • 🎋 Stroll through the magical Arashiyama bamboo forest early in the morning
Takayama
Old town, morning markets and Hida beef
8.1
Hida shunkei lacquerware shows wood grain beneath a translucent amber coat. Craftspeople brush on layer after layer in small shops around town. The lanes of Sanmachi Suji preserve old merchant houses and sake breweries. Visitors can buy hand carved Ichii Ittobori figures made from yew wood.
Highlights:
  • 🏯 Tour the Takayama Jinya, the historic Edo government house
  • 🍠 Visit the morning markets along the Miyagawa River
  • 🏮 Wander through Takayama’s preserved old town of Sanmachi Suji
Kyushu
Volcanoes, onsen and tonkotsu ramen
8.4
Arita potters have made porcelain since the early 1600s after kaolin was found at Izumiyama. Fine blue and white ware and colorful Kakiemon styles were once exported to Europe through Imari port. Nearby towns like Karatsu and Hasami have their own pottery traditions. The Arita Ceramic Fair in early May sells pieces at reduced prices.
Highlights:
  • 🕊️ Explore historic Nagasaki Peace Park memorial
  • 🥾 Hike scenic trails at Mount Aso volcanic caldera
  • ♨️ Relax in Beppu’s famous hot spring baths
Otaru
Canal warehouses, glass shops and sushi
8.0
Glassmaking began here in the late 1800s with oil lamps and fishing floats. Workshops along Sakaimachi Street let visitors blow their own glass cups. Shops sell delicate pieces in ocean blues and greens. The Otaru Music Box Museum on the same street fills the lanes with melodies.
Highlights:
  • 🦐 Explore the bustling Sankaku Fish Market for fresh seafood
  • 🎼 Visit the Otaru Music Box Museum and craft your own
  • 🌅 Stroll along the historic Otaru Canal at sunset
Hida
Carp canal and sake town near Takayama
7.3
Hida carpenters were once summoned to build temples and palaces in Nara and Kyoto. Woodworkers here still cut joints so precisely that no nails are needed. Sarubobo charms, small red faceless dolls, are sewn by hand for good luck. Hida Furukawa town also has a workshop making traditional candles.
Highlights:
  • 🚆 Ride the scenic Hida-Furukawa rail line through mountain valleys
  • 🍶 Take a sake brewery tour and sample local varieties
  • 🏮 Wander through the preserved streets of Hida-Furukawa
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