Kanazawa is a lovely city on the northern coast of the island of Honshu about 500km and a pleasant Shinkansen train ride form Tokyo. Kanazawa is known for its castle, gardens and three lovely historical edo-era geisha districts; Kazue-Machi, the smallest by the river, Naga Machi Buke or the Samurai Districtand the Higashiyama Higashi Chaya District being the largest
Higashiyama Higashi Chaya is full of small shops, sake tastings, delicious food, stunning lacquer bowls – and gold leaf. Gold leaf done to perfection on crafts; and tasty gold leaf on ice-cream!
Stop by the very well preserved Shima tea house, with geisha shows, performing dances and the playing Japanese traditional musical instruments – carrying the same notes frome the Edo period.
Another lovely find is the Hakuza Gold Leaf Store. A shop selling gold leaf products. Inside the shop is a traditional Japanese warehouse which has been turned into a tearoom and completely covered inside and out with gold leaf. Only possible as Kanawaza produces almost all of Japan’s gold leaf.
Kanazawa, although small, For us has a more natural and local vibe then Gion in Kyoto – which at times felt too stiff and tourist crowded, turning the romanticism of the architecture into a theme park. We truly wish we had stayed more time in Kanazawa.
Higashiyama Higashi Chaya District
(81) 076.220.2800
1 Higashiyama
Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture
920-0831, Japan
