In Kanazawa, there are many attractive spots both historical and modern. It used to be the second-richest city in Japan during the Edo period, and fortunately, it did not experience any significant wars or disasters. That helps to preserve its historical sites as well as the spirit which people cherish the traditional culture. Let’s explore 5 main tourist spots and 3 off-the-beaten paths.
Must-visit spots in Kanazawa
Kenrokuen Garden
Kenrokuen is designated as a special scenic beauty in Japan and is listed as one of the three important gardens in Japan. A feudal lord of Kanazawa established the representative strolling-around-ponds style garden during the Edo period. In the 17th century, the 5th lord made a private external garden on a hillside in front of his castle – it was the origin of the garden.
After the Edo period finished, the garden was opened to the public. Today visitors can enjoy an enormous number of precious trees and classical garden decorations, such as stone lanterns and bridges, as well as artificial waterways, ponds, and mountains. If you get tired walking in the big garden, how bout taking a rest at one of the tea houses in the garden with traditional confectionary and tea?
Kenrokuen Garden Official Website
Nagamachi District and Nomura-ke samurai Residence
Just a 5-minute walk from the bustling downtown, narrow alleys developed during the Edo period are well survived in the Nagamachi district. Traditional earthen walls and waterways run along the maze-like streets. The waterways used to use as canals to carry timber for castle construction.
Nomura-ke was a residence of a middle-class samurai family, originally. Today, visitors can enjoy the samurai house’s garden and a wealthy merchant’s mansion with two tea rooms upstairs relocated there later. Sitting on the floor and looking out the garden from the house, you will feel the refreshing atmosphere samurais may feel in the past.
The storehouse has turned to be a museum, displaying Japanese swords, personal items, letters, and so on.
For more information, visit Nomura-ke‘s official website.
Myoryuji, known as the Ninja Temple
In the western area of the castle town, the Teramachi district was formed in the early Edo period when the temples in Kanazawa were gathered together. Teramachi means “temple town” in Japanese. Located in this temple town, Moryuji is a temple known as Ninja Temple. In the past, there was a place for the feudal lord to offer a prayer. So the temple’s labyrinthine structure was designed to protect him from intruders in times of emergency and it has even some built-in traps! Please note that visitors need to make reservations in advance. A guide accompanies the tour, but it is only available in Japanese. However, you will be able to see what kind of traps are set in the temple with your own eyes.
Myoryuji Temple‘s official website.
Three traditional entertaining districts
Chaya is a word that literally means a tea house and is a place where geishas entertain people. In Kanazawa, there are three traditional chaya districts; Higashi, Nishi, and Kazue.
Higashi is the most popular tourist spot in the three chaya districts. Along the narrow arrays, many traditional tea house buildings are preserved well. Most of them are currently cafes, galleries, craft shops, and so on. “Shima” is a 200-year-old tea house building and shows visitors how is the inside of a traditional tea house like.
Kazue-machi is located on the opposite side of the Asanogawa river from the Higashi chaya district. There are fewer tourist shops so, in a quiet mood, visitors enjoy strolling narrow paths or taking pictures there.
The Nishi chaya district is in the western area of the castle town, near the Myoruji temple. One of the teahouse buildings which are facing the only main street is the Nishi Chaya Museum which opens for free tours.
Omicho Market
With the catchphrase “The Kitchen of Kanazawa Citizens”, Omicho market has supplied fresh seafood, vegetables, fruits, and others to people. Its history can date back to 300 years ago when some market came together in the current place. Ishikawa prefecture is facing the sea of Japan and a variety of fish are caught throughout the year. The most popular are crabs in winter. When the crab fishing season begins, people from all over Japan flock to Kanazawa to eat crab, and the Omicho Market comes alive with shoppers.
Some stores sell their fresh oysters, grilled fish, sashimi, or fruits in small cups so that tourists can eat them on the street. If you want to try the one, you need to take care not to bother the other shoppers. There are many restaurants and sushi bars in the market, too.
The next page is about off-the-beaten paths in Kanazawa.
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