Teahouses
Wooden lattice fronts.
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Kanazawa's best-known teahouse district, on the east bank of the Asano River, which the Kaga Domain licensed in 1820 as a quarter of teahouses where geiko entertained guests with music and dance. It has been a national Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings since 2001. The district covers about 1.8 hectares, and about two thirds of its buildings are traditional, including two-storey teahouses that survive from the district's founding to the early Meiji period, with fine wooden lattice fronts that let those inside see the street without being seen. The Shima teahouse has been an Important Cultural Property since 2003 and is open to visitors, who can see the upstairs guest rooms. Other houses are now cafés and craft shops, above all for gold leaf, a Kanazawa speciality. Walking around is free; Shima charges admission. The district is about a five-minute walk from the Hashiba-chō bus stop and busy by day, so early morning and evening, when the lanterns are lit, are calmer and lovelier.
Wooden lattice fronts.
An Important Cultural Property.
Kanazawa's craft.
Higashiyama, east of the Asano River, Kanazawa
Omicho MarketKanazawa's big covered market, nicknamed «Kanazawa's kitchen», with about 170 sh12 minutes walk3.9
Kanazawa Castle ParkA large, partly rebuilt castle, seat of the Kaga Domain, which the Maeda clan ru13 minutes walk4.2
Kenroku-en GardenOne of Japan's Three Great Gardens, with Kairaku-en and Kōraku-en: a strolling g15 minutes walk4.3
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, KanazawaA contemporary art museum opened in 2004 in central Kanazawa, designed by the Pr19 minutes walk3.6
Nagamachi Samurai DistrictAn old residential quarter where upper- and middle-ranking samurai families of t21 minutes walk4.2A historic teahouse quarter in Kanazawa founded in 1820, where geiko performed music and dance; today you can visit the Shima teahouse inside.