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City rich in culture and history. During the Edo Period, Kanazawa (金沢) served as the seat of the Maeda Clan, the second most powerful feudal clan after the Tokugawa in terms of rice production and fief size. Accordingly, Kanazawa grew to become a town of great cultural achievements, rivaling Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo).
This is the official tourism site for Kanazawa, a castle town with over 400 years of history in Japan. Find a wide range of information to make the most of your stay! Favorite
Kanazawa (金沢市, Kanazawa-shi) is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan. As of 1 January 2018, the city had an estimated population of 466,029 in 203,271 households, and a population density of 990 persons per km 2. [1] The total area of the city was 468.64 square kilometres (180.94 sq mi).
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- 14 Hours in Kanazawa
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Forged by samurai, geishas and Edo-era feudal clans, the elegant garden city of Kanazawa is a quieter alternative to Kyoto for those seeking traditional Japanese culture.
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
The sound of drumming rises to a fever pitch, fluttering rhythms in enigmatic time signatures shaking the century-old rafters of In Kanazawa House. Before me on the stage are two geishas — or geikos, as they’re known in this city — one playing the taiko drum, the other accompanying her on the banjo-like shamisen while singing.
It’s an interplay unchanged since the 17th century, when wealth flowed through Kanazawa, the seat of the influential Maeda clan. Samurai were hired for protection, geikos for entertainment. The historic districts in which they lived and worked are beautifully preserved — Kanazawa rivals Kyoto as the city that best embodies the Japan of picture books. The elegance of the Edo era, which shaped Japan from the 17th to 19th centuries, reaches its apogee at Kenroku-en — a remarkable garden of ponds, bridges and teahouses beside Kanazawa Castle, close to the In Kanazawa cultural centre.
The music stops to warm applause, replaced by an air of nervousness when an invitation is extended from the stage: “Who’d like to play the drum?” Never able to stand an awkward silence, I shoot a hand up and trudge to the stage, trying desperately to remember the complex percussive patterns. Thankfully, the geikos go easy on me; they demonstrate a simple rhythm in standard time, hand me a mallet and urge me to join in.
It’s the perfect ice-breaker — something in which the geikos are well-versed, being professional conversationalists as well as musicians. After a traditional kaiseki multi-course dinner, one of them joins my table. The geikos of Kanazawa, she tells me, are different from their counterparts in Kyoto. “Our life is more relaxed,” she says. “In Kyoto, you move to the okiya [lodging house] at 15 to start training. Here, we can start later, after studying or working. We can marry if we want. We have our own lives.”
8am: Kenroku-en stroll
Start the day in a state of serenity at one of the official Three Great Gardens of Japan. Kenroku-en represents the perfect marriage of human ingenuity and natural beauty, its ponds, fountains, bridges and plants carefully curated so the garden is equally beautiful year-round. Plum and cherry blossom erupt in spring, irises unfurl in the summertime and maple trees paint the park a fire-engine red in autumn. Winter is the season of yukitsuri (‘snow-hanging’), when the pines are propped up with bamboo to support a canopy of snow.
10am: Lacquerware workshop
Kanazawa is one of Japan’s great craft centres and lacquerware is among its most esteemed traditions. Local manufacturer Nosaku has been creating gorgeous bowls, dishes, boxes and artworks since 1780 — applying hundreds of layers of resin interwoven with gold and silver patterns. At its 1.5-hour workshop, you swerve the hard yards and join in for the fun part: applying the shiny, colourful decorations. You then get to take away the finished product as a souvenir.
12pm: Lunch at Omicho Market
Kanazawa has a reputation for gourmet kaiseki (traditional multi-course cuisine), but its street food is equally appealing. Don’t miss the chance for a hearty lunch at Omicho Market, a lively warren of covered streets a couple of blocks from the castle. The speciality is kaisen-don — rice bowls topped with raw seafood (snow crab, eel, sweet shrimp and more from the nearby Hokuriku coast). Pick your stand by following the locals to one of the many that has a long lunchtime queue.
Discover Kanazawa, a historic city with samurai, geishas and Edo-era culture. Learn how to spend a day in Kanazawa, from strolling in Kenroku-en garden to trying gold leaf ice cream.
Journey into old Japan and walk among the shadows of samurai and geisha. Kanazawa (金沢), located just two and a half hours from Tokyo via the JR Hokuriku Shinkansen, offers visitors a glimpse into the Edo Period with its maintained castle, historic districts, culture, and more.
Apr 13, 2022 · Kanazawa is one of Japan’s most well-preserved historical cities, earning it the nickname “Little Kyoto” for its serene gardens, picturesque geisha and samurai districts, and buzzing markets. Kanazawa is also very.
Kenrokuen is one of Japan's three most beautiful gardens, with water features, bridges, teahouses and seasonal flowers. Learn about its history, features, hours, fees and how to get there from Kanazawa Station.
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