Kanazawa's attractions and sightseeing spots

Kenrokuen Garden, one of the three most famous gardens in Japan, is a highlight of Kanazawa, the Little Kyoto of the Hokuriku region.
The garden is a typical Edo period garden with a stroll around a pond, and features a beautiful arrangement of the symbolic lantern, Kasumigaike pond, gourd pond, meandering stream, and artificial hill.
You can enjoy beautiful scenery in every season, from cherry blossoms in spring to autumn leaves and the winter scenery of snow hangings.

This urban Park was created on the site of Kanezawa Castle, which was the residence of the Kaga Domain.
Within Sonochi, historical buildings such as Gojikken Nagaya, Hishi Turret, and Hashizume Tsuzuki Turret have been restored as examples of Kizukuri castle architecture.
The imposing appearance of Ishikawa Gate, an Important Cultural Property, and its fantastical appearance lit up at night are impressive.

Seisonkaku, an Important Cultural Property, is a palace built in Kenrokuen Garden for Shinryuin, wife of the 13th lord of the Kaga Maeda clan.
It consists of an audience room built in the neat and tidy style of a samurai study and an elaborately designed Gunjo Room built in the style of a sukiya-style study. One of the highlights is the numerous art and craft items handed down through the Maeda family which are displayed according to the season.

Oyama Shrine, which enshrines Maeda Toshiie, the first lord of the Kaga domain, and his wife Omatsu, is particularly eye-catching with its three-story tower gate that stands at the top of a flight of stone steps.
It is 25 metres tall, and the windows on the top floor are decorated with five-coloured glass on all four sides, and it also served as a lighthouse for sailing ships crossing the Sea of Japan.

Higashi Chaya District, with its beautiful latticed windows, still retains a vestige of its past. When the lights come on, you can still hear the sounds of shamisen and taiko drums coming from the teahouses with their eaves lit.
In 2001, the area was designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings by the national government, and measures to preserve the area as a "cultural asset of the streetscape" are currently being implemented.

Nagamachi area is the site of the former Yashiki of feudal lords, and the townscape, lined with mud walls, is still a place where everyday life continues. Looking through a shoji (sliding paper door) into an area with ishidatami (stone paving) will give you a glimpse of the traditional atmosphere from the past.
"Komokake," a method of protecting earthen walls from snow, has become a seasonal feature of winter in Kanezawa.

Omicho Market, which is said to have been opened by Omi merchants when they came to Kanazawa, has a long history as the kitchen of Kanazawa.
It is also a popular shopping spot for tourists, with over 200 stores selling fresh fish, vegetables, dried goods, and miscellaneous goods, and is bustling with Kanazawa residents and tourists alike.

This glass-walled circular museum opened on Oct. 9, 2004.
The architectural concept of the museum is "Park-like art museum open to the town," and the interior is divided into an exhibition zone (for which there is a fee) and a free interaction zone.
Inside and outside the building, you can enjoy artworks that are integrated into the building and can be enjoyed with all five senses.

It recreates Daimyo garden of Maeda family, lords of Kaga domain, which began construction in the early Edo period.
This garden was located in Gyokusen'inmaru, which is part of Kanazawa Castle's inner area. It was abandoned during the Meiji period, but was renovated and reopened in the Heisei period. During the renovation, the remains of the garden buried underground were preserved and recreated. Garden paths were constructed so that visitors can wander around the garden, and a rest area (Gyokusen-an) was built from which visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the garden. The garden is also lit up depending on the season.

"Kaga vegetables" is the collective name for 15 items that have been cultivated in Kanazawa City area for a long time, including Kaga lotus root, Kinjiso, and Gensuke One.
It has been said to be an essential ingredient in Kaga cuisine, and thanks to recent PR efforts, it has become known nationwide alongside Kyoto vegetables.
They are sold at Omi Market and other locations, and are marked with a certification sticker.

You can enjoy "kaisendon" (seafood bowls) made with fresh local seafood. In particular, at Omicho Market, many restaurants offer their own seafood bowls, and the spectacular bowls piled high with seafood almost spilling out of the bowl are also very popular!

"Hyakumangoku Sushi" is a selection of 10 special sushi pieces that use seasonal ingredients. One of the 10 pieces is "Oyaji no Ikka" (Father's Sushi), which includes the unique and highly recommended nigiri sushi of each restaurant. Please enjoy the seasonal flavors that highlight the craftsmanship of the chef.

Snow crabs caught in Ishikawa Prefecture are branded as "Kano crabs" and can be identified by the blue tag attached to their legs. The fishing season runs from Nov. 6th to around Mar. 20th of the following year, and crab dishes are very popular at restaurants in the city during this season. Female snow crabs are called "kobako crabs" and their fishing season is shorter than that of males, ending at Dec.. Kobako crabs are small and have a delicate taste, and the texture of the immature eggs and the popping outer roe is very delicious.

Beautiful Kaga cuisine is served on lacquerware decorated with maki-e lacquerware and colorful Kutani ware. It is the culmination of Kanezawa 's food Culture, combining rich ingredients, traditional crafts, and hospitality. The cuisine is full of seasonal flavors, making use of local ingredients, such as fresh seafood sashimi, the traditional jibuni stew, and steamed sea bream served on celebratory occasions.

Kanezawa has three Chaya districts, Higashi, Nishi, and Kazuemachi, each of which still retains glimpse of the past. Along with the charming streetscapes with latticed windows, the refined arts of Kanezawa geisha are passed down.
In addition to the tatami rooms which are off-limits to first-time visitors, there are also events held several times a year where tourists can casually enjoy things like geisha dancing and taiko drumming.

Gold leaf is only 1/10,000 to 2/10,000th of a millimeter thick. Blessed with a climate and water of excellent quality that is ideal for making gold leaf, Kanezawa boasts a 99% share of the gold leaf production in Japan.
Gold leaf, which has a supple and beautiful glow, has been used in art and crafts and has supported culture of Kaga 100 Mangoku.
In addition to crafts, souvenirs such as food and cosmetics that use gold leaf are also popular.

Kaga Yuzen is characterized by its calm, realistic floral designs.
The entire production process is done by hand by artisans, and the color scheme known as the Kaga Gosai gives off a sense of strength, yet refined calm.
This technique is applied not only to kimonos, but also to Japanese accessories and interior items.

The fine brushwork of Kaga Kutani ware gives it a sense of luxurious elegance and dignity.
The vivid patterns that are one of the charms of Kutani ware have led to the creation of new designs one after another over the years, and today many artists are active based on these designs.