Kanazawa

金沢

A historic castle town on the Sea of Japan coast with one of Japan's finest gardens, Kenrokuen, and the stunning Higashi Chaya geisha district. The city preserves samurai and geisha heritage while offering excellent museums and contemporary architecture.

Things to do

• Kenrokuen Garden — One of Japan's three great gardens, featuring seasonal beauty with ponds, bridges, and meticulously pruned trees year-round.
• Higashi Chaya District — A preserved geisha quarter with traditional wooden machiya houses, tea houses, and shops showcasing samurai and geisha heritage.
• Kanazawa Castle Park — A reconstructed samurai castle with impressive wooden gates and palace buildings overlooking the city, adjacent to Kenrokuen.
• 21st Century Museum of Art — A contemporary art museum featuring interactive installations and rotating exhibitions in a striking circular glass building.
• Nishi Chaya District — The western geisha district with traditional tea houses and ochaya where visitors can experience authentic geisha performances and tea service.
• Nagamachi Samurai District — A well-preserved neighborhood of samurai residences with traditional wooden gates, narrow streets, and the Nomura samurai house museum.
• Myoryu-ji Temple (Ninja Temple) — A complex five-story temple with hidden staircases, secret passages, and ninja-proof mechanisms built to evade samurai inspection.

Food to try

• Kaga Kaiseki — An elaborate multi-course dinner showcasing seasonal Kaga region ingredients including fresh seafood, mountain vegetables, and local rice.
• Gold Leaf Dishes — A Kanazawa specialty where edible 24-karat gold leaf adorns desserts, tea, and sake, reflecting the city's historic gold leaf craftsmanship.
• Jibing (Jibuni) — A local hotpot dish combining chicken, vegetables, and mushrooms cooked in a clay pot with a savory broth at the table.
• Noto Peninsula Seafood — Fresh catches from nearby coastal waters including nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch), squid, and seasonal fish prepared sashimi-style or grilled.
• Kaga Vegetables — Heirloom vegetables unique to the Kaga region like Kaga renkon (lotus root) and Kaga natsu daikon featured in seasonal kaiseki menus.
• Kinako Soft Serve Ice Cream — A popular local dessert featuring roasted soybean powder on creamy soft-serve ice cream, sold throughout the city's shopping districts.

Local customs & good to know

• Remove shoes in traditional spaces — When entering temples, traditional tea houses, samurai residences, and some restaurants, always remove your shoes and follow the genkan (entryway) customs.
• Book geisha experiences in advance — Viewing authentic geisha performances or attending kaiseki dinners with geisha entertainment requires reservations made days or weeks ahead through hotels or dedicated agencies.
• Respect photography boundaries in Higashi Chaya — Avoid photographing geisha or people in the districts without explicit permission, as residents value privacy despite the area's tourist popularity.
• Learn about the Maeda clan — Understanding Kanazawa's history as the domain of the powerful Maeda samurai family enriches visits to the castle, gardens, and cultural sites throughout the city.