Kanazawa

Kanazawa

In feudal times, Kanazawa was the wealthiest domain in all of Japan. Today, it's a city of beautiful rivers and parks, old samurai and geisha districts, and famous silk makers.

Attractions

is by far the most famous part of Kanazawa. Originally built as the outer garden of Kanazawa castle, it was opened to the public in 1875. It is considered one of the "three most beautiful gardens in Japan" and is filled with a variety of trees, ponds, waterfalls and flowers stretching over 25 acres (100,000 m). In winter, the park is notable for its yukitsuri - ropes attached in a conical array to trees to support the branches under the weight of the heavy wet snow, thereby protecting the trees from damage.Outside Kenrokuen is Ishikawa-mon, the back gate (karamate-mon) to Kanazawa Castle. The original castle was largely destroyed by fire in 1888 but part of it has been partially restored as of 2001, with more to come. There are currently plans to re-create the original castle grounds in full, encompassing what is now Central (Chuo) Park, as well as adjacent areas.The Seisonkaku Villa was built in the last years of the Edo Period by a Maeda lord for his mother. It is one of the most elegant remaining samurai villas in Japan. The villa stands in a corner of Kenrokuen, but separate admission fees (JPY500) apply.Kanazawa also boasts numerous Edo-period (1603-1867) former geisha houses in the Higashi Geisha District, across the Asano river (with its old stone bridge) out from central Kanazawa. Nearby is the Yougetsu Minshuku which sits at one end of one of the most photographed streets in Japan. It retains, almost completely, the look and feel of pre-modern Japan, its two-story wooden facades plain and austere. The effect is accentuated by the early morning mist. Late at night, the street is lit by recreated Taisho-period streetlamps.Kanazawa's Myoryuji Temple or ninja dera (ninja temple) is a fascinating amalgamation of traditional Zen architecture, hidden doors, passageways, and hidden escape routes. Although the temple is often referred to as ninja dera, it is in fact not connected with ninjas at all (this does not stop local tour operators and shops from selling ninja trinkets). Local legend has it that the temple, with its hidden doors and passageways, was intended as a secret refuge for the local rulers in the case of an external threat.

Food

Kanazawa is well-known throughout Japan for its traditional cuisine. The seafood is a speciality, the jumbo shrimp in particular. Sushi and sashimi are also excellent. The Japanese sake produced in this region is of high quality, smooth and sweet. The quality of the local sake derives from the excellence of the rice grown in Ishikawa Prefecture as well as the considerable precipitation of the Hokuriku region, allowing for an ample supply of clean, fresh water. Omicho market is an open-air market in the middle of the city which dates back to the Edo period. Most of the shops there sell seafood. The market is a favorite place to purchase the best that Kanazawa has to offer.

Currency

Currency in Japan: yen (JPY)

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