Family Dining · Practical guide
NOUSAKU
The Inbound Traveler's Guide to Takaoka 100% Pure Tin Tableware, Bendable KAGO & Narita Airport Shopping
Prices, ordering steps, payment details, and common mistakes — in one place.
Quick Facts
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Japanese name | 能作 (NOUSAKU) |
| Brand Name | NOUSAKU / 能作 (株式会社能作 / Nousaku Corporation) |
| Store Type | Traditional Takaoka bronze/tin casting atelier & modern 100% tin tableware boutique |
| Target Audience | Design enthusiasts, sake lovers, home decorators and visitors looking for distinctive lightweight cast-metal gifts; soft tin can scratch or deform during travel. |
| Ordering Style | Gallery-style boutique browsing, hands-on bending demonstrations for 100% tin pieces, gift wrapping, and counter checkout (foundry tours and casting workshops by reservation in Takaoka, Toyama) |
| Membership Required? | No membership needed for ordinary retail shopping. Guided Takaoka factory tours and casting workshops are reservation-based (same-day participation only if a place remains); for eligible tax-free purchases, follow the particular registered seller's passport requirements. |
| Approximate Price Range | Item prices depend on the specific model, size, finish, condition and retailer. Check the official current product page or the individual shelf label; availability and the final price depend on the selected seller. Tourist tax-free eligibility is determined by the seller and the purchase, not by the brand alone. |
| Multilingual Support | The official website provides multilingual information. Confirm foreign-language assistance for the chosen branch and reserve foreign-language factory tours directly rather than assuming service at all listed hubs. |
| Payment Methods | Check the actual boutique, showroom or host-facility register for currently accepted cash, cards and cashless payment options; methods vary by the selling counter. |
| Store Network | The official directly managed store directory covers Tokyo, Narita Airport Terminal 1 (central building, 4F), Takaoka, Kanazawa and other regions, plus Taiwan. Use the current locations rather than combining direct stores with third-party resellers. |
What it is
Founded in 1916 (Taisho 5) in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture—Japan's historic center of bronze casting—Nousaku Corporation (株式会社能作) began by manufacturing traditional Buddhist altar fittings, tea ceremony utensils, and brass flower vases. The maker later developed contemporary tableware cast from 100% tin alongside its traditional metalwork.
Because pure tin is soft and malleable, NOUSAKU makes KAGO lattice pieces that can be shaped carefully into baskets or holders. Its care guidance warns against repeated sharp bending: deformation, cracks or breakage can occur. Tin also conducts heat rapidly, so a hot drink can make the vessel hot enough to burn the hand. Tinware is not unbreakable. Tin vessels are traditionally associated with sake, but strong acids should not be left in them. Visit the Narita Airport T1 central building 4F shop (before security), Tokyo Midtown, the Takaoka Factory Shop and the other locations on the current official store directory; each location has its own product selection and services.
How to order
Step 1: Visiting Urban Flagships, Narita Airport or Takaoka HQ
Use the current official directly managed store list to locate the specific counter or showroom:
- Narita Airport & Tokyo: Narita T1 central building 4F, before security, Matsuya Ginza, Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi and Tokyo Midtown are listed. Verify hours and tax-free registration with each seller; Narita terminal retail is not automatically an airport duty-free shop.
- Regional Sightseeing Hubs: Kanazawa Higashi Chaya (Ishikawa), Kyoto, Hankyu Umeda (Osaka), and Fukuoka.
- Takaoka Headquarters Factory Shop (Toyama): Shopping and the IMONO KITCHEN cafe are separate from guided factory tours and casting workshops. Guided tours and workshops require a booking (same-day places only if available), with dates and languages shown on the official reservation pages.
- Shop hours depend on the precise branch, airport terminal and host facility. Check the current official NOUSAKU shop listing; do not infer opening hours from airline flight schedules.
Step 2: Experiencing Bendable 100% Tin & Sakeware
- Ask a member of staff whether a KAGO demonstration sample may be handled, and bend it only as instructed; display products and fragile designs must not be repeatedly flexed.
- Compare brushed matte tin sake cups (Guinomi) with models lined in Kanazawa gold leaf (Kinpaku), and test the crystalline chime of Nousaku's cast brass Furin wind bells.
Step 3: Care & Packing Tips
- Packing Soft Tin: Pure tin will not shatter like porcelain but can dent, scratch, bend or crack under force; pad items and avoid compressing shaped KAGO pieces in luggage.
- Important Care Rules: For NOUSAKU tinware, avoid flames, microwaves, dishwashers, dryers and freezers. Tin heats rapidly with hot contents; take care against burns, and do not leave strongly acidic food or drink in the vessel. Follow the individual product's care instructions.
Step 4: Checkout & Japan's November 2026 Tax Refund Procedure
- Seller eligibility: Check whether the exact shop or department-store counter is a registered tax-free seller under the refund system in force since November 1, 2026. A host facility's participation does not establish eligibility for every tenant. Ask about eligible purchases, any fees and the refund method at the counter before paying.
- At purchase: If your purchase qualifies (generally at least ¥5,000 excluding tax from the same registered seller on the same day), show your original passport for the seller's electronic purchase-record procedure, buy the goods at the tax-inclusive price and agree on a refund method. The former separate general-goods and consumables purchase-category rules no longer apply; qualifying consumables must not be consumed in Japan.
- At departure: Within 90 days from the date of purchase, present your passport for customs confirmation at the airport or seaport from which you leave Japan. Customs checks the electronic tax-free purchase records and whether the goods are being exported; a physical-goods inspection is required when instructed, not automatically for every purchase. Complete the procedure before checking in baggage containing the goods.
- After confirmation: The registered seller or its designated refund provider returns the consumption-tax amount by the method agreed at purchase, subject to its terms. Some airports have refund facilities for participating merchants; they are not a universal refund counter for all brands or branches.
- Packing: Ask the individual seller what protective packaging it offers. Pack delicate purchases according to your airline's hand- and checked-baggage limits; packaging does not guarantee against breakage.
What to order first
1. Bendable 100% Tin "KAGO" Basket (Square / Dahlia)
- What it is: Flat-cast lattice baskets crafted from 100% pure tin that you shape with your own hands into fruit bowls, bread baskets, or wine-bottle cradles.
- Why buy it: A distinctive flat-packable tin lattice that can be shaped gently at home; pack it carefully to avoid permanent bends and do not repeatedly flex the same joints.
- Price expectation: Check the current model- and size-specific listing or shelf price at the selected seller; prices and availability vary.
2. Pure Tin Sake Cups (Guinomi) & Katakuchi Pourers
- What it is: Heavy, tactile sake drinking cups and spouted pouring vessels, available in plain matte tin or lined with shimmering Kanazawa gold leaf.
- Why buy it: Metal sakeware quickly takes on the temperature of its contents. Take particular care with hot drinks, and clean promptly after contact with strongly acidic liquids.
- Price expectation: Check the current model- and size-specific listing or shelf price at the selected seller; prices and availability vary.
3. Cast Brass Wind Chimes (Furin / 風鈴)
- What it is: Minimalist, architectural bells cast in Takaoka brass (the same alloy used for traditional temple bells), producing a clear, lingering high-pitched resonance.
- Why buy it: Compact cast-metal soundware that still needs protective packing against scratches and impact.
- Price expectation: Check the current model- and size-specific listing or shelf price at the selected seller; prices and availability vary.
4. Tin Chopstick Rests (Hashioki Sets)
- What it is: Boxed sets of five tiny, bendable tin chopstick rests molded into cherry blossoms, moons, ribbons, or geometric bars.
- Why buy it: Small tin gifts that can bend or scratch; keep them cushioned during travel.
- Price expectation: Check the current model- and size-specific listing or shelf price at the selected seller; prices and availability vary.
5. 100% Tin NAJIMI Tumbler
- What it is: A 100% tin tumbler with a distinctive indentation for the thumb, designed to be comfortable to hold. Check the chosen model for its finish, capacity and care instructions.
- Why buy it: A distinctive metal vessel for cold beverages; tin quickly takes on the drink's temperature, so handle hot liquids cautiously.
- Price expectation: Check the current model- and size-specific listing or shelf price at the selected seller; prices and availability vary.
Payment & practical info
- Accepted Payment Modes: Confirm cash, card, electronic-money and QR-payment acceptance at the precise selling counter before purchasing; a host building's payment options need not cover every tenant.
- Tax-Free Refund Rules (from November 1, 2026):
- Confirm the exact selling counter's registration; buy tax-inclusive and register eligible purchase details with the seller using your passport. Generally the threshold is ¥5,000 excluding tax per registered seller per day, with no separate general-goods category limits; do not consume eligible consumables in Japan.
- Within 90 days of purchase, complete departure customs confirmation against the electronic purchase record before checking bags that contain the goods. The seller or its designated operator refunds by the purchase-time agreed method; airport refund desks serve only participating retailers.
- Operating Hours & Wi-Fi: Hours and Wi-Fi availability follow host facilities (varies by store).
Good to know / Common mistakes
1. Do Not Put 100% Tin in Dishwashers, Microwaves, or Freezers
Wash with mild detergent and a soft sponge, wipe dry, and avoid flames, microwaves, dishwashers and freezers. Do not store acidic food or drink in tinware; hot contents quickly heat the vessel and can burn the hand. Follow the actual item and coating instructions, especially for gold-leaf products.
2. Avoid Repeated Sharp Creasing on KAGO Baskets
NOUSAKU advises shaping bendable pieces gently and not repeatedly folding the same spot: fatigue, cracking and permanent deformation are possible. Shape a KAGO for its intended use rather than flexing it back and forth as a toy.
3. Promotional Discount Coupons
Promotional discount coupons may be distributed during specific promotional campaigns or host department store seasonal events. Terms, validity periods, exclusions, and minimum purchase conditions apply.
FAQ
Q1: Can I visit the NOUSAKU factory in Toyama on a Hokuriku Shinkansen trip?
Yes. The NOUSAKU Headquarters & Factory Shop in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture is accessible from Shin-Takaoka Station (on the Hokuriku Shinkansen) and offers factory tours and hands-on tin casting workshops by advance reservation.
Q2: Why does NOUSAKU use 100% pure tin instead of pewter?
Traditional pewter contains small amounts of antimony or copper to make it rigid. By using 100% pure tin with zero hardening metals, NOUSAKU achieves its signature soft malleability that allows customers to bend items like the KAGO basket by hand.
Q3: How do I receive my consumption tax refund under the 2026 airport customs system?
Only if the specific registered retailer processes your qualifying purchase: buy at the tax-inclusive price and register the purchase record and refund method when shopping. Within 90 days from the purchase date, complete customs confirmation of export using your passport and electronic purchase record, before checking bags containing the goods. Customs may request to inspect goods; the seller or designated provider then refunds according to the method agreed at purchase. Airport refund facilities are for participating retailers, not universal. Do not consume eligible consumables in Japan.
Sources
- Japan Customs: 2026 departure refund rules (Checked: 2026-11-14)
- Official brand/store/product reference: www.nousaku.co.jp (Checked: 2026-11-14)
- Official brand/store/product reference: www.nousaku.co.jp (Checked: 2026-11-14)
- Official brand/store/product reference: www.nousaku.co.jp (Checked: 2026-11-14)
- Nousaku Corporation Official Corporate Portal (Verified: 2026-11-13)
- NOUSAKU Directly Managed Store Directory (Verified: 2026-11-13)
- NOUSAKU: NAJIMI tumbler design and material (Checked: 2026-11-14)
- Japan Customs Departure Tax-Free Regulations (Verified: 2026-11-13)