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Kanazawa Travel Guide
Things To See
Walk around the Kenrokuen Garden
Considered to be one of the top three landscape gardens in Japan, along with Korakuen
in Okayama and Kairakuen in Mito, Kenrokuen Garden is a large, spacious garden built
centuries ago by the Maeda clan. It is home to many beautiful and colourful flowering
trees, such as plums, cherries and maples, which provide the garden with a variety
stunning looks at different times of the year.
Go to the Ninjadera
Also known as the Myoryuji Temple, the Ninjadera is a temple constructed by the Maeda
clan during the Edo Period. It has several defensive features, such as secret rooms, long
and maze-like corridors, hidden tunnels, trap rooms, and disguised military outposts. Its
complex escape network allowed everyone in the castle to effectively defend themselves
or escape when the castle came under attack.
Kenrokuen
Visit the Seisonkaku Villa
A samurai mansion built by a former Maeda leader as a gift for his mother, the Seisonkaku
Villa boasts an elegant style that features unique and intricate work on the roof, doors
and walls, and the interiors are adorned with tatami flooring.
Explore the Kanazawa Castle
Kanazawa castle
The Kanazawa Castle served as the seat of the ruling Maeda family during the feudal times of the Edo Period. Through the centuries, it has
suffered a number of tragedies, including several fires that led to its destruction. It has been restored in recent years and its castle grounds are
open to the public.
Where To Explore
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Nagamachi Samurai District – Home to old and restored samurai residences, the Nagamachi District offers a peek into the lifestyle and
culture of the past. Many of the houses and buildings, such as the Nomura-ke, are now museums displaying various samurai artefacts
and are open to the public.
Nishi Chaya District – For tourists looking to learn more about Kanazawa’s history and culture, the Nishi Chaya District has a museum
called the Nishi Chaya Shiryokan which offers free tours (in Japanese) of the area. It also has some cafes, shops and restaurants where
visitors are entertained by song and dance performances by geisha.
Omicho Market – The biggest fresh produce market in Kanazawa for centuries now, Omicho Market is a bustling district made up of
hundreds of stalls and shops that sell local produce, seafood, flowers and other products. It has many restaurants that serve the city’s
specialty dish: rice bowl with freshly-caught seafood toppings.
Higashichaya Old Town – The largest old town tea district in Kanazawa, Higashichaya Old Town has streets lined with traditionalstyle
buildings and cafes and shops (such as the Hakuza Gold Leaf Store) that offer a wide selection of tea products; a museum (the
Shima Teahouse) that showcases musical instruments, clothes and other objects used by geisha; and tea houses (such as the Kaikaro
Teahouse) where you can be part of a traditional tea ceremony.
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