Wajima Kobo Nagaya Workshops

Near central Wajima, five wooden workshop buildings let you watch lacquerware artisans at work across each stage of the Wajima-nuri process. At the wood-turning studio, artisans shape zelkova bowls on a lathe. The priming studio shows how Wajima's distinctive jinoko diatomaceous earth paste is applied before lacquering. Fragile edges are reinforced with cloth at this stage. You can watch lacquer application through a window, as the process requires a dust-free environment. A third building has a gallery, shop, and a hands-on workshop where you can decorate chopsticks or a lacquer square using maki-e or chinkin gold inlay techniques. Closes Wednesdays.