Take Part in Art: Contemporary Craft Art Installations in Traditional Townscapes

In Hokuriku, a region where craftsmanship has been passed down through generations, the art festival GO FOR KOGEI comes to life. The event takes place in the historic districts of Iwase in Toyama and Higashiyama in Kanazawa. Exhibitions are thoughtfully integrated into local settings—old warehouses, sake breweries, and traditional machiya townhouses—blending seamlessly with the unique architectural and cultural character of each town. Visitors can enjoy this walking-style art event while exploring the charming streets. Unveil Japan offers guided tours led by expert guides with a deep appreciation for art. Rather than simply observing the works, you’ll gain insight into the stories, techniques, and intentions behind each piece. Through the artist’s perspective, the experience invites quiet moments of reflection and personal discovery. These guided interpretations not only deepen your understanding of the artwork, but may also open the door to new ways of seeing your own life and values.

Feel free to sign up for the tour by email (goforkogei@expressions.co.jp), or drop by Unveil—our hands-on experience studio just steps from the Higashi Chaya District.

Iwase Area (Toyama City, Toyama)

Iwase, a fifteen-minute drive from Toyama Station, was once a flourishing port of call for the Kitamaebune trading ships that traveled along Japan’s coast, and the area still boasts an atmosphere full of beautiful old-fashioned architecture. Iwase now hosts Michelin-starred restaurants and the studios and galleries of renowned craft artists active both in Japan and abroad.. The Iwase Area exhibition of Go for Kogei features engaging site-specific installations by artists and craft artisans, building on past initiatives and recontextualizing the historic local scenery and architecture. These multi-sensory experiences blend local food culture, traditional crafts, and contemporary art to achieve a unique expressiveness deeply rooted in the area.

Higashiyama Area (Kanazawa, Ishikawa)

©︎Kanazawa City

Perhaps the best known part of the Higashiyama area of Kanazawa is the Higashi Chaya district, the city’s largest geisha district. Many of the old chaya “teahouses” where geisha would perform have since been converted to cafés and galleries — an echo, perhaps, of the countless craft artisans’ workshops that once filled the area. The Higashiyama Area exhibition for Go for Kogei is built around five main projects that aim to explore the relationship between objects and their contexts. Visitors are encouraged to consider various facets of the concept of value itself, as embodied through crafts: as physical objects for practical use or decoration, of course, but also as tangible extensions and expressions of a place’s history, culture, environment, and other forms of local context.

Highlights

Kuwata Takuro — Exhibiting Artist, Iwase Area

[Past Work] Installation view from《Takuro Kuwata + KU: Kamaage Udon》Gallery & Restaurant Butaiura, 2025. Photo: Kumi Nishitani

[Past Work] Installation view from 《Takuro Kuwata + KU: Kamaage Udon》Gallery & Restaurant Butaiura, 2025. Photo: Kumi Nishitani

[Past Work] Installation view from 《Takuro Kuwata + KU: Kamaage Udon》Gallery & Restaurant Butaiura, 2025. Photo: Kumi Nishitani

Kuwata is a ceramic artist known for pushing the boundaries of traditional pottery to explore new forms of expression. His unique visual language combines pop colors and a colorful palette with excessive application of traditional ceramic techniques such as kairagi (a textured surface that resembles the granular texture of shark skin caused by glaze shrinkage), ishihaze (lit. “stone bursts,” referring to the irregularities or cracks on a ceramic surface caused by the expansion of small stones in the clay during firing), and tenteki (application of glaze in a dotted pattern). Recently, he returned to the theme of “food,” which spans from vessels for everyday use to extraordinary sculptural pieces. Oscillating between these extremes, he brings new perspectives and creativity to each realm.

Customizable Comprehensive Tous

For an even more in-depth exploration of Go for Kogei and the cities the event takes place in, we offer customizable full-day tours. These tours are guided entirely in English, and are designed with Go for Kogei as a highlight. Itineraries can be adjusted to take travelers’ interests and preferences into account, with plenty of flexibility. The following is a sample itinerary for a 2-day, 1-night trip.

Day 1｜Toyama – Iwase Area

10:00
Meet at Toyama Station and transfer to the Iwase area
Guided English tour of the GO FOR KOGEI 2025 exhibition (Part 1)

11:30
Lunch at a local restaurant featuring seasonal ingredients from the region

13:00
Guided English tour of the GO FOR KOGEI 2025 exhibition (Part 2)

14:00
Sake tasting at a historic local brewery

15:00
Stroll through Fugan Canal Kansui Park and experience the local history and culture

16:00
Discover the beauty of contemporary glass art at the Toyama Glass Art Museum

17:30
Check in at hotel

Day 2｜Ishikawa – Kanazawa Higashiyama Area

10:00
Depart Toyama and travel via Kanazawa Station to the Higashiyama area
Guided English tour of the GO FOR KOGEI 2025 exhibition in the Higashiyama area

13:00
Lunch at a restaurant offering dishes made with seasonal local ingredients

14:30
Stroll through Kenrokuen Garden and appreciate its seasonal beauty and refined landscaping

16:00
Explore diverse works by leading contemporary artists at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa

17:00
Tour ends at Kanazawa Station