Kanazawa Kaga Wind Chime Painting in a Century-Old Machiya

Create a personal Kanazawa souvenir inside a traditional machiya townhouse that has stood in the Teramachi neighborhood for more than 100 years.

This workshop is not held in a modern craft studio. The venue is an atmospheric historic home displaying more than 150 wind chimes collected from Ishikawa, other regions of Japan, and countries around the world.

Their different materials, shapes, decorations, and sounds provide inspiration before you begin painting your own glass Kaga wind chime.

Experience a rare collection of wind chimes

Step inside the machiya and take a moment to look and listen.

Wind chimes are familiar symbols of summer in Japan, but their sound, shape, and construction vary greatly by region and material. The venue’s collection includes traditional and contemporary examples that show how one simple object can be interpreted in many different ways.

Workshop staff will introduce the space and help you prepare for the painting experience.

Design your own Kaga wind chime

Each participant receives one clear glass wind chime.

Choose your colors and decide whether you would like to paint a seasonal pattern, a memory of Kanazawa, a simple geometric design, or something completely original.

The design is painted on the inside of the glass, allowing the colors to be viewed through its smooth outer surface.

No previous painting or craft experience is required. The staff will demonstrate how to hold the wind chime, apply the paint, and work safely with the curved glass surface.

You can follow the examples provided or work freely at your own pace.

Complete it with a decorative paper strip

After finishing the painted design, choose a decorative paper strip to hang beneath the wind chime.

The paper strip catches the breeze and causes the glass chime to ring. Its color and pattern become part of the final design, so you can select one that complements your painting.

Assemble the parts with help from the workshop staff and listen to the first sound made by your completed wind chime.

Take home something you made in Kanazawa

Your finished wind chime will be wrapped in protective material and can be taken home on the same day.

Unlike a standard souvenir purchased from a shop, each wind chime reflects the participant’s own color choices, brushwork, and memories of the experience.

Optional gold leaf and brass decoration materials are also available for purchase at the venue for guests who would like to add another Kanazawa-inspired detail.

Combine the workshop with Teramachi sightseeing

The workshop is located in Kanazawa’s historic Teramachi area, approximately five minutes on foot from Sakurabashi bus stop.

Myoryuji, commonly known as the Ninja Temple, and Nishi Chaya District are also within walking distance, making the experience easy to combine with a half-day of cultural sightseeing.