HIMI CRAFT FES. 2026 and the Best Craft Experiences in Kanazawa
HIMI CRAFT FES. transformed the shopping streets of Himi into a meeting place for makers, residents and visitors on September 20 and 21, 2026.
The first edition brought together 113 makers from across Japan, from Aomori in the north to Okinawa in the south. Visitors could explore craft and food stalls, join workshops, experience screen printing and meet the people behind the objects.
The event was also connected to Himi’s recovery following the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. It used the energy of making to bring people back into streets where the townscape continues to change.
Travelers inspired by HIMI CRAFT FES. can continue their craft journey in nearby Kanazawa. Here, hands-on experiences and private studio visits provide deeper access to kintsugi, Kaga maki-e, Kutani pottery, contemporary glass and Japanese paper crafts.
Table of Contents
HIMI CRAFT FES. 2026 event details
What visitors could experience
The makers and designers behind the festival
Craft, food and workshops
Evening talk and EGO-WRAPPIN’ After Live
Craft as part of Himi’s recovery
Why Kanazawa is one of Japan’s great craft cities
The best craft experiences in Kanazawa
Frequently asked questions
1.HIMI CRAFT FES. 2026 Event Details
HIMI CRAFT FES. was held for the first time over two days in September 2026.
The daytime festival was free to enter. Separate tickets were required for the evening talk and live performance.
Dates and Times
Dates: September 20 and 21, 2026
Daytime festival: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Daytime admission: Free
Evening events: Separate paid tickets required
Venues
The festival used two main areas.
Himi Shopping District
Craft, food and workshop stalls were distributed throughout the shopping streets between Chuo-machi and Honmachi.
The shopping district is approximately a 17-minute walk from JR Himi Station.
Himi City Fisheries Cultural Exchange Center
The evening talk and live music performance took place at the Himi City Fisheries Cultural Exchange Center.
The venue is approximately a 20-minute walk from JR Himi Station or an eight-minute drive from Himi Interchange.
2.What Visitors Could Experience
HIMI CRAFT FES. was not simply a market for buying handmade objects.
The program combined:
Craft exhibitions and sales
Food stalls
Hands-on workshops
Screen-printing experiences
Direct encounters with makers
An evening craft and design talk
A live performance by EGO-WRAPPIN’
Exploration of Himi’s shopping streets
By distributing the event throughout the town, the festival encouraged visitors to walk between local shops, temporary stalls, workshop areas and the waterfront venue.
The town itself became part of the experience.
3.The makers and designers behind the festival
A total of 113 makers participated in the festival.
They came from across Japan, from Aomori to Okinawa, bringing different approaches to materials, function, design and regional identity.
The festival was not limited to one category of traditional craft. It connected handwork with contemporary design, food, clothing, daily objects and creative workshops.
This made the event accessible to both experienced craft collectors and visitors encountering Japanese craftsmanship for the first time.
Meeting a maker also changes the way an object is understood.
Instead of seeing only the finished surface, visitors can learn:
Who made the object
Which materials were selected
How the object was produced
Why its shape or decoration was chosen
How it is intended to be used
How the maker’s region influenced the work
The project developed through a connection between FCTRY, a screen-printing studio in Himi, and Akira Minagawa, founder and designer of the fashion and textile brand minä perhonen.
The relationship began when members of FCTRY visited the minä perhonen store in Kanazawa and discussed the possibility of working together.
Following the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, FCTRY continued to communicate the situation in Himi. This relationship eventually developed into the first HIMI CRAFT FES.
Akira Minagawa also designed the festival logo.
How the Makers Were Selected
The participating makers were selected with the involvement of three important figures in Japanese craft and design:
Akira Minagawa, designer and founder of minä perhonen
Ryuji Mitani, woodworker
Kenmei Nagaoka, founder of D&DEPARTMENT
Their involvement gave the festival a clear curatorial perspective.
HIMI CRAFT FES. was therefore more than a collection of unrelated stalls. It presented work connected by ideas such as quality, individuality, long-term use and the relationship between handmade objects and everyday life.
5.Craft Food and Workshops
The daytime festival was organized around three principal categories.
Craft
Visitors could meet makers, examine their work and purchase objects directly.
Buying directly from a maker provides a different experience from purchasing an anonymous souvenir. Visitors can understand the process and story behind an object and develop a more personal connection with it.
Food
Food stalls made the festival approachable for families and visitors who were not already craft enthusiasts.
Food and craft share a relationship with place, material, skill and everyday life. Including both allowed visitors to experience Himi through several senses.
Workshops
Hands-on workshops allowed visitors to move from observation to participation.
Instead of only looking at finished objects, participants could experience part of the making process and understand the coordination, tools and material knowledge involved.
Screen Printing with FCTRY
One of the central hands-on activities was screen printing led by FCTRY.
Screen printing uses a prepared screen and ink to transfer a design onto a surface. Visitors could create an original item using a selected design or their own illustration.
Possible items included:
T-shirts
Tote bags
Sweatshirts
Other fabric products
The activity expressed one of the festival’s central ideas: craft is not limited to viewing or purchasing finished work.
Making something yourself creates a personal connection between an object, a place and a travel memory.
September 20 Evening Talk
On September 20, the festival held a paid evening talk featuring:
Akira Minagawa
Ryuji Mitani
Kenmei Nagaoka
The talk took place at the Himi City Fisheries Cultural Exchange Center.
Doors opened: 4:30 p.m.
Program started: 5:30 p.m.
Advance ticket: ¥2,500
Same-day ticket: ¥3,000
Seating: Unreserved
The combination of a designer, woodworker and design-business leader allowed craft to be considered from different perspectives.
Likely themes included creation, regional identity, retail, long-term use and the relationship between people and objects.
September 21 EGO-WRAPPIN’ After Live
The festival concluded with a special performance by EGO-WRAPPIN’.
The After Live was held at the Himi City Fisheries Cultural Exchange Center.
Date: September 21, 2026
Doors opened: 5:00 p.m.
Performance started: 6:00 p.m.
Advance ticket: ¥5,000
Same-day ticket: ¥5,500
Format: Standing
Combining craft with live music extended the festival beyond a daytime market and created a broader cultural gathering for Himi.
6.Craft as Part of Himi’s Recovery
Himi suffered damaged buildings and liquefaction during the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake.
As publicly funded demolition progressed, familiar buildings and parts of the townscape gradually disappeared.
HIMI CRAFT FES. was created within this changing environment.
The organizers did not suggest that one event could complete the city’s recovery. Instead, they sought to use the energy of making to create movement, conversation and hope.
The festival aimed to:
Bring visitors into Himi’s shopping streets
Create opportunities for local businesses
Connect makers with users
Encourage new relationships with handmade objects
Give people a reason to revisit Himi
Help people imagine working or living in the city
Communicate recovery through creativity
For international visitors, this presents craft as more than a historical or decorative category.
Craft can also support community relationships, local economies and the continuing identity of a place.
7.Why Kanazawa Is One of Japan’s Great Craft Cities
Himi and Kanazawa have different histories and creative traditions, but they can be combined within one Hokuriku craft journey.
Kanazawa’s craft culture developed under the Maeda family, rulers of the former Kaga Domain. Their support for artisans helped sophisticated decorative and practical arts flourish.
Today, Kanazawa and the wider Ishikawa region are known for:
Kaga maki-e lacquer decoration
Kintsugi
Kutani pottery
Gold leaf
Kaga Yuzen textiles
Metalwork
Japanese paper
Bamboo
Contemporary glass
These traditions are not limited to museums.
Artisans continue to work in studios, teach techniques and adapt inherited knowledge to contemporary life.
A museum can show a completed masterpiece. A workshop can reveal the time, tools and judgment hidden beneath the finished surface.
8.Continue Your Craft Journey in Kanazawa
HIMI CRAFT FES. provided a broad introduction to many makers and materials.
Kanazawa’s craft experiences allow visitors to explore one technique more deeply.
Kintsugi Workshop
Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing ceramics while making the traces of damage visible through lacquer and gold decoration.
The experience introduces both the technique and the idea of finding value in repair rather than hiding imperfection.
It is recommended for:
First-time craft travelers
Visitors interested in Japanese aesthetics
Couples and small groups
Travelers seeking a meaningful handmade souvenir
Guests looking for an indoor cultural activity
Private Kintsugi Artisan Workshop Visit
The private experience provides deeper access to kintsugi and Kaga maki-e through a visit to a professional artisan’s working environment.
Guests can learn about lacquer, gold powder, tools and the relationship between kintsugi and Kanazawa’s decorative arts.
It is recommended for:
Serious craft enthusiasts
Art and design travelers
Collectors
Luxury FIT travelers
Repeat visitors to Japan
Guests seeking direct artisan interaction
Kutani Pottery Workshop Visit
Kutani ware is known for its colorful overglaze decoration and expressive designs.
During the private workshop visit, guests tour a working kiln and create a vessel on a potter’s wheel. Professional artisans later decorate the piece with a selected Kutani design and ship the finished work to the guest.
It is recommended for:
Ceramics enthusiasts
Art collectors
Design-focused travelers
Couples seeking a premium private experience
Guests who value collaboration with artisans
Glass Art Workshop and Atelier Visit
This contemporary glass experience combines an atelier visit with hands-on art making.
Guests meet a Kanazawa-based glass artist, learn about the relationship between light, transparency and layered color, and create an original work.
It is recommended for:
Contemporary art lovers
Design-focused travelers
Visitors interested in active artist studios
Travelers seeking an affordable small-group workshop
Japanese Paper Crafts
This workshop takes place at KamiBunbou Araki, a historic paper specialist established in 1827 near Omicho Market.
Visitors can experience origami, mizuhiki or another Japanese paper craft and take their creation home.
It is recommended for:
Families
Children and beginners
Travelers with limited time
Visitors combining the workshop with Omicho Market
Guests seeking an affordable cultural activity
Which Kanazawa Craft Experience Should You Choose?
Your interest | Recommended experience |
Japanese philosophy and traditional repair | Shared Kintsugi Workshop |
Private access to a professional artisan | Private Kintsugi Workshop Visit |
Ceramics and decorative design | Kutani Pottery Workshop Visit |
Contemporary art and materials | Glass Art Workshop |
Family-friendly and beginner-friendly making | Paper Craft Workshop |
Not sure which craft matches your interests?
8.Plan a Craft Focused Hokuriku Journey
A rewarding craft itinerary through Himi and Kanazawa could include:
Visiting a regional craft festival
Meeting several makers
Seeing completed work in a museum or gallery
Entering a working artisan studio
Trying the tools and materials yourself
Taking home or receiving a finished piece
The purpose is not to master a technique in one afternoon.
It is to return home able to see the object, the maker and the labor behind it differently.
Private studio visits should be reserved in advance. Some ceramics and glass works require firing or additional finishing and may be shipped after the experience.
9.Frequently Asked Questions About HIMI CRAFT FES. 2026
When was HIMI CRAFT FES. 2026?
The festival was held on September 20 and 21, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where was the festival held?
The craft, food and workshop areas were located throughout Himi’s shopping district between Chuo-machi and Honmachi. The evening events took place at the Himi City Fisheries Cultural Exchange Center.
How many makers participated?
A total of 113 makers from across Japan, from Aomori to Okinawa, participated.
Was the festival free?
Entry to the daytime craft, food and workshop areas was free. The evening talk and EGO-WRAPPIN’ performance required separate tickets.
What could visitors experience?
Visitors could explore craft and food stalls, meet makers, purchase handmade objects and participate in workshops, including screen printing with FCTRY.
Who selected the makers?
The selection involved Akira Minagawa, woodworker Ryuji Mitani and D&DEPARTMENT founder Kenmei Nagaoka.
What happened during the evening events?
September 20 featured a paid talk with Akira Minagawa, Ryuji Mitani and Kenmei Nagaoka. September 21 featured an EGO-WRAPPIN’ After Live performance.
Why was the festival created?
The festival was created partly in response to the damage and changes Himi experienced following the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. It aimed to bring people into the town and create new connections through craft.
Can I experience similar crafts in Kanazawa?
Yes. Travelers can book kintsugi, Kutani pottery, contemporary glass and Japanese paper craft experiences in Kanazawa.
Do I need previous craft experience?
No. Most of the Kanazawa workshops are suitable for beginners and include guidance from an instructor or artisan.
Meet the Makers and Make Something of Your Own
HIMI CRAFT FES. turned the center of Himi into a meeting place for makers, residents and visitors.
In Kanazawa, you can continue that journey on a more intimate scale: enter a studio, meet an artisan, learn why a material behaves as it does and participate in a process shaped over generations.
Choose the experience that matches your interests and add time for making to your Hokuriku journey.
