Kanazawa

Kanazawa flourished under the Maeda clan during the Edo period, growing into a center of culture and craft that rivaled Kyoto and Edo. It largely escaped the wartime destruction that reshaped many other Japanese cities, leaving its historic districts well preserved today.

Where to go

Kenroku-en, ranked among Japan’s three great gardens, sits alongside Kanazawa Castle at the heart of the city. The Higashi Chaya district preserves a row of historic geisha teahouses, while Nagamachi, the former samurai quarter, retains its old earthen walls and canals.

Good to know

The Hokuriku Shinkansen connects Kanazawa directly to Tokyo. Most visitors cover Kenroku-en, the castle, and Omicho Market comfortably in a single day, though the historic districts reward a slower, longer visit.