A premium tour that brings together sushi chefs from three popular sushi restaurants in Toyama Prefecture, known as the "Sushi Prefecture," and traditional craft artisans, the "SUSHI × KOGEI tour," goes on sale for international visitors to Japan on Saturday, October 24, 2026. It combines a traditional craft-making experience with a meal at a sushi restaurant, a tour found only in Toyama. ("Kogei" means traditional crafts.)
The tour is offered by the Tsuginote Executive Committee, an organization in Toyama Prefecture that connects people involved in making things and works to carry that craftsmanship into the future.
Also from October 24, 33 types of one-of-a-kind SUSHI PLATE, made together with 22 traditional-industry artisans and artists in Toyama Prefecture, go on sale online for overseas buyers, including in Taiwan. The plates are made from wood, brass, aluminum, tin and other materials, and each reflects its maker's individuality.
The project is carried out with a fiscal 2026 subsidy from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the "Cultural Resource Utilization Project Subsidy" (a project to promote the use of attractive cultural properties across Japan).
Official website: https://www.sushiplate-tsuginote.com/
The SUSHI × KOGEI Project, Which Began in 2025
In 2025, 24 artisans and artists in the prefecture made 44 types of sushi plates. They were first shown at Tsuginote 2025 in October, and since November, popular menu items at the Takaoka store of the long-loved local restaurant 氷見回転寿司 粋鮨 have been served on the SUSHI PLATEs. The project has aimed to link Toyama's sushi culture and its crafts, which the prefecture is proud to present to the world, to tourism by letting visitors experience them at one table.
In its second year, the project moves from the stage of "showing" to a system in which visitors can "make, taste and buy." The "SUSHI × KOGEI tour" is the result.
"Our Craft Sushi Plates, SUSHI PLATE," led by Tsuginote
Make and Taste: The SUSHI × KOGEI tour for International Visitors
The premium tour is a collaboration between three popular sushi restaurants in Toyama Prefecture, GEJO, 寿し処 佐々木 and 美喜鮨, and traditional-industry artisans. At each restaurant, guests taste the restaurant's signature sushi on a one-of-a-kind SUSHI PLATE born from the restaurant's concept and traditional techniques. The tour goes on sale on Saturday, October 24.
Two plans are available.
- Food Experience Plan: A plan to enjoy each restaurant's signature sushi served on a SUSHI PLATE at the sushi restaurant.
- Food + Making Experience Plan (with an English- and Chinese-speaking guide): A plan in which guests first try making a traditional Toyama craft item with an artisan, then enjoy a meal at the sushi restaurant. The item they made can actually be used during the meal, so guests dine with a craft they made themselves.
With both plans, guests can take home a not-for-sale SUSHI PLATE that reflects each restaurant's concept as a souvenir of the trip after the tour ends.
| Sushi restaurant | Collaborating artisans and workshops | Making experience |
|---|---|---|
| GEJO | 漆芸 吉川 (maki-e), 武蔵川工房 (raden mother-of-pearl inlay) | Maki-e experience (with a gift), making raden chopsticks |
| 寿し処 佐々木 | 和田彫金工房 (design) and 能作 (production) | Making a tin sake cup (guinomi) |
| 美喜鮨 | 砺波商店 | No making experience |
One-of-a-Kind SUSHI PLATEs Shaped by Each Restaurant's Concept and Traditional Techniques
GEJO: Tateyama Mountain Range Floating on Black Lacquer
寿し処 佐々木: Water Dragon (水龍) -- Cast From Pure Tin
美喜鮨: Splash of Toyama Bay
Note: GEJO and 美喜鮨 have other designs as well. See the official website for details: https://www.sushiplate-tsuginote.com/
Buy: SUSHI PLATEs Go on Sale Online, With Overseas Shipping
This year, 33 types of SUSHI PLATE were made together with 22 artisans and artists in Toyama Prefecture. The materials and techniques vary, from wood and brass to aluminum and tin, and each maker's individuality shows on plates made to the same standard size.
The plates are sold on a dedicated page opened on the online sales platform BASE. Overseas shipping is available, and orders are planned to be delivered to Taiwan, which is positioned as the most important market, as well as to customers in Europe, the United States and Australia, and in Japan. A dedicated Instagram account has also been opened to share the artisans and the stories behind the making. The photos here show a selection of the plates.
Sales overview
- Sales start: From Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Sales page: https://sushiplate.base.shop/
- Price: ¥6,600 to ¥41,800 (tax included, shipping not included)
- Instagram: @sushiplate_tsuginote
輪｜RIN -- Artist: 高島 悠子
漆黒金チラシ -- Artisan: 野阪 和史
らいちょうとゆきのふるやま -- Artist: 上原千紘
Project Overview
SUSHI × KOGEI tour
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Plans | Food Experience Plan; Food + Traditional Craft Making Experience Plan |
| On sale from | Saturday, October 24, 2026 |
| Participating restaurants | GEJO, 寿し処 佐々木, 美喜鮨 (Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture) |
| Collaborating artisans and workshops | 漆芸 吉川, 武蔵川工房, 和田彫金工房, 能作, 砺波商店 |
| Sold through | KKday, Klook, VANCHA TRIP and travel agencies |
| Languages | English, Chinese and Japanese |
SUSHI PLATE (Online Sales)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Contents | 33 types of plates, 63 plates in total, by 22 artisans and artists |
| Sold at | Dedicated BASE page (overseas shipping available): https://sushiplate.base.shop/ |
| Sales start | Saturday, October 24, 2026 |
Cooperation
The sushi restaurants (GEJO, 寿し処 佐々木 and 美喜鮨), artisans (武蔵川工房, 漆芸 吉川, 和田彫金工房, 能作, 砺波商店 and others) and VANCHA (tour sales) are taking part.
Tsuginote 2026 in Takaoka
The expo 産地の勧業博覧会 ツギノテ2026 (Tsuginote 2026) is held in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25, 2026 |
| Venue | Takaoka City-run Takaoka Chuo parking lot, 高岡市営高岡中央駐車場 (6-11 Shimoseki-machi, Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture), a 1-minute walk from the north exit of Takaoka Station |
| Admission | Free (online registration required) |
| Organizer | Tsuginote Executive Committee |
| Co-organizers | 高岡伝統産業青年会 and Takaoka City |
| Official website | https://tsuginote.jp/ |
