Hotel Amanek Kanazawa will host a hands-on hinoki woodcraft workshop as part of its learning experience project "Amanek Academy," running from Friday, June 26 to Saturday, June 27, 2026, in the hotel's 2nd floor lounge. Participants can create their own original coaster using traditional hinoki (Japanese cypress) woodcraft techniques — a craft designated as a traditional craft of Ishikawa Prefecture.
The workshop welcomes not only hotel guests but also tourists visiting Kanazawa from within Japan and abroad. Surrounded by the natural fragrance of hinoki, participants can experience the warmth of handcraftsmanship rooted in the living culture of the Kaga and Hakusan foothills region.
Background: Bringing Ishikawa's Craft Traditions into Your Journey
Hinoki woodcraft (ひのき細工) is a traditional craft designated by Ishikawa Prefecture, made by weaving thinly shaved cypress boards together. The craft is known for its natural fragrance, delicate texture, lightness, breathability, and durability — traditionally used as practical everyday tools and now cherished as folk crafts.
While many travelers are interested in local traditional crafts, opportunities to actually try them firsthand are often limited. Hotel Amanek Kanazawa designed the Amanek Academy program around the idea of "experiencing Ishikawa's handcrafts during your trip," offering a meaningful entry point into the region's cultural heritage.
The program transforms "seeing" into "experiencing" — a gateway to understanding local culture that fits even within the limited time of a hotel stay.
Workshop Details
Event name: "Shape the Memories of Your Journey — Hinoki Woodcraft Workshop at Hotel Amanek Kanazawa"
Dates: Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27, 2026
Hours: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Venue: Hotel Amanek Kanazawa, 2nd Floor Lounge
Eligible participants: Hotel guests, local residents, and tourists are all welcome.
Fee: ¥1,500 (tax included) per person
Instructor: Hinoki woodcraft artist Susan Maree
Reservations: Not required — simply arrive at the venue on the day.
Content: Participants will use natural hinoki to create their own original coaster. Completed works can be taken home as a memento of their time in Kanazawa.
About the Instructor: Susan Maree
Originally from Australia, Susan Maree came to Japan as an exchange student and became captivated by the techniques and culture of hinoki woodcraft — an Ishikawa Prefecture designated traditional craft. In 2017, she met hinoki woodcraft master Hisayo Katsuki, under whose guidance she began creating works at Yokocho Urara-kan in Hakusan City (Tsurugi).
Today, Susan sells her works at events while also sharing her latest creations and the appeal of hinoki woodcraft with audiences in Japan and around the world via social media.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mareecraftjapan/
About Amanek Academy
Under the concept of "My Hotel that Connects Travelers and Towns," Amanek Hotels operates properties across Japan that satisfy travelers' curiosity and help them connect with the appeal of each locale. Each hotel incorporates local streetscapes, traditional crafts, and regional character into the design of communal areas and guest rooms.
Amanek Academy was launched as an extension of this approach, offering diverse learning opportunities tied to local communities and cultures. Through events on a wide range of themes spanning all generations — grounded in lifelong learning rooted in the region — Amanek aims to become a community-revitalizing hotel that is easy for anyone to visit, not just hotel guests.
