Kanazawa boasts five renowned must-visit spots, all located in the city centre and within easy walking distance of one another. While it is enjoyable to simply stroll through the traditional townscape and admire its historical buildings, your trip will be even more fulfilling thanks to the key features and insights that we will share with you in this article featured in eyeon Kanazawa. Let’s explore the city with these stories and make the most of your sightseeing in Kanazawa!

Max and Viki (Germany)
We love the little shops here, and the handcrafted items they display.

Higashi Chaya District

Since 2001, the Higashi Chaya District has been designated by the Japanese government as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. It is one of Kanazawa’s three historic teahouse districts. The district was originally established in 1820 by samurai as controlled areas where geiko (Kanazawa’s term for ‘geisha’) could work and perform, and was once lined with the teahouses where they lived. As of September 2025, four teahouses and 12 geiko continue to preserve and carry on this rich cultural tradition.

1

Where Geiko (Geisha) Are Still Present

Kanazawa is a rare city in Japan where active teahouses (ochaya) and geiko continue to thrive in well-preserved traditional teahouse districts. While ‘geisha’ is the more widely known term internationally, locals in Kanazawa prefer ‘geiko’. Currently, there are 35 geiko across the city’s three teahouse districts, all offering traditional Japanese hospitality through conversation, drinks and exquisite performances.

2

Unique Architectural Style

Buildings in the Higashi Chaya District showcase a unique style known as ‘teahouse architecture’. Most of them originally operated as teahouses during the district’s heyday over 100 years ago, and they were built closely together without gaps between them. A standout architectural feature is the beautiful, latticed windows called kimusuko, meaning ‘insect cage’ named for their resemblance to insect enclosures. Each slat was traditionally trapezoidal in shape, creating the effect of a one-way mirror. The rooms behind the latticed windows once served as dressing rooms for geiko, which made it essential for them 
to see outside without being seen from the street.

3

Corn Decoration

While visiting the Higashi Chaya District and its surrounding areas, you may notice ears of corn hanging under the eaves of buildings. These are amulets purchased during an annual event called Shimanrokusen-nichi (literally ‘46,000 days’), 
held at Kannon-in Temple, just a short uphill walk from the district. It is believed that prayers offered on this day bring blessings equivalent to 46,000 days (about 126 years) of devotion. This unique tradition is special to this part of Kanazawa.

4

Welcome Sign of Noren Curtains

As you walk through the streets of the Higashi Chaya District, you might notice curtains hanging from some shop entrances. What do they symbolise? Does a closed sliding door mean the shop is shut? When you see these curtains (known as noren in Japanese) hanging outside, it means the shop is open, and customers are welcome. Typically, the noren is taken down when the shop closes. While not every shop in Japan uses noren, when you see one, it’s a clear sign that the shop is open for business.

Givanni and Barbara (Italy)
We were impressed by the strong cultural presence here.

Kenrokuen Garden

The history of Kenrokuen dates back to 1676, when the fifth-generation samurai lord built a villa on a slope facing Kanazawa Castle and created a garden around it. This marked the beginning of Kenrokuen. Originally intended for the lord’s private use, the garden was opened to the public about 150 years ago and is now one of the most visited places in Kanazawa. The name Kenrokuen means ‘a garden that combines six attributes’. These attributes are spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, water features and scenic views. Together, these qualities make Kenrokuen one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. It is said to be the only garden in Japan that fully embodies all six characteristics of an ideal garden.

5

The Secret of the Fluffy Green Carpet

Kenrokuen is one of many Japanese gardens that feature a lush green carpet of moss. Deeply intertwined with Japanese aesthetics and the concept of wabi-sabi, moss has long been cherished in Japanese culture. One of the gardeners’ main responsibilities in Kenrokuen is to care for over 70 varieties of moss. Have you ever wondered what the people wearing sedge hats 
are doing in the garden? The answer is that they are ensuring the moss remains healthy and vibrant.

6

A Giant Bonsai Tree?

Many people must have heard of bonsai, the traditional Japanese art form in which miniature potted trees are carefully grown and trained to evoke natural landscapes. In Kenrokuen, you can see what resembles a giant bonsai. One example is Neagari no Matsu, which means ‘Raised Root Pine Tree’. Estimated to be around 200 years old, it is said to have been created by planting a young pine tree in a mound of soil and covering its roots deeply. As the tree matured, the surrounding soil was gradually removed to reveal the now-exposed roots.

7

Yukizuri: A Work of Art in a Winter Garden

Yukizuri is a traditional Japanese technique used to protect trees from heavy snowfall by suspending straw ropes from tall poles. Commonly seen in colder regions, such as Tohoku and Hokuriku, Kanazawa’s yukizuri is especially renowned for its exceptional beauty and its practical function. At Kenrokuen, the yukizuri process begins on 1 November and is completed by mid-December.It involves more than 800 trees and around 500 people. The striking winter scenery featuring yukizuki can be enjoyed until mid-March.

8

The Secret of the Oldest Fountain in Japan

Kenrokuen is home to a famous fountain believed to be the oldest operating fountain in Japan. The water shoots up continuously to a height of 3.5 metres without the use of pumps. It is powered by natural water pressure, created by the elevation difference between Kasumigaike Pond
 in the garden and the fountain’s outlet. It is said that the fountain was created by the 13th lord of the Kaga Domain as a prototype for a similar fountain that he planned to build on the castle grounds.

Andrea and Anni (Germany)
We are glad we chose to come here. The garden is absolutely gorgeous.

Kanazawa Castle

The castle town that first laid the foundation for present-day Kanazawa was established in 1583, when Maeda Toshiie, the first lord of the Kaga Domain, began the full-scale construction of Kanazawa Castle. During the Edo period (1603–1867), the Kaga Domain, which ruled much of what is now Ishikawa and Toyama Prefectures, was known as the richest domain in Japan. Kanazawa Castle served as the residence for 14 generations of the Maeda family, who were the successive lords of the Kaga Domain. Although most of the original buildings were lost to fires, the site was opened to the public as Kanazawa Castle Park in 2001, allowing visitors to experience samurai-era structure, faithfully rebuilt using traditional methods.

9

Secret Ways of Attacking Enemies

The castle incorporates several secret attacking points. Along the exterior of the buildings, you will notice projected windows, topped with small roofs. At the base of each projection are two wooden panels that open inwards, which are designed to stop enemies from climbing the stone walls by allowing defenders to drop stones on top of them.
If you look closely at the walls above the stone foundations, their elegant exterior, characterised by grey tiles and white stucco grids, conceals another defensive trick. On the reverse side are small square openings framed with wood. The grey tile can be broken to create a firing position with a gun through one of these openings.

10

Engraved Stone Walls

Kanazawa Castle is often called a ‘museum of stone walls’ because you can observe a wide variety of stonework designs and techniques from the early 1600s to the mid-1800s. While examining the walls, look closely at the marks engraved on the stones, such as circles, triangles, stars and crosses. Similar markings appear in other castles in Japan, 
but at Kanazawa Castle, no one knows who made them or for what purpose. Would you like to try solving the mystery?

11

White Roof Tiles of the Castle Buildings

The roofs of the buildings in Kanazawa Castle Park gleam white, thanks to their distinctive lead tiles. Kanazawa Castle is the only castle in Japan featuring roofs that are entirely covered in lead. While clay is the usual material for roof tiles, lead was chosen here for several reasons. One theory holds that the tiles could be melted down to make 
bullets in an emergency. The samurai of Kanazawa valued cultural prosperity over military strength, yet they considered such a hidden resource to be essential.

12

Everything is Shaped Like a Diamond

The tallest building in the Kanazawa Castle Park is the three-storey Hishi Yagura, which literally means ‘diamond turret’. Originally built in the 1630s and reconstructed in 2001, this diamond-shaped building even has interior columns that follow the same design. The shape was believed to enhance the castle’s defence and provide a wider view to monitor both the Otemon Gate and the Ishikawamon Gate. If you would like to see inside, you can pay an admission fee to visit the Gojukken Nagaya, which is connected to the Hishi Yagura.

Busker Family (The Netherlands)
The city feels authentic, and we especially love the samurai district.

Nagamachi Samurai District

From the 17th to the early 19th centuries, Kanazawa’s castle town—the foundation of present-day Kanazawa City—was divided into three types of districts: samurai, merchant, and temple/shrine. Samurai districts are thought to have covered about 70% of the town’s total area. Kanazawa retains its beautiful traditional townscapes because it escaped air raids and major natural disasters. Nevertheless, it has suffered many large fires, which destroyed Kanazawa Castle and numerous samurai residences. Located in the heart of Kanazawa, the Nagamachi Samurai District is the only remaining samurai district in the city. It is a rare place where visitors can immerse themselves in the historical atmosphere within its well-preserved earthen walls, narrow cobblestone streets, and residences that once belonged to upper- and middle-class samurai.

13

Where Irrigation Canals Connect

Kanazawa is known as a city of irrigation canals, which were built during the samurai period. These canals played a vital role in supporting the castle, the agriculture and the daily lives of the people. The ponds in the beautiful garden of the famous Nomura-ke Samurai Residence, as well as those in other samurai homes, are fed by the Ono-sho irrigation canal, which runs right beside the buildings. The pond looks especially beautiful, as it contains vibrant orange koi carp, gracefully swimming within.

14

Earthen Walls Surrounding the Samurai Houses

As you step into the Nagamachi Samurai District, you will immediately notice the distinctive earthen walls lining the narrow streets. These walls indicate that middle- and upper-class samurai once lived in the area, as lower-ranking samurai were not permitted to have them. These walls were built to be heavy, solid, and defensive, and they are made from a unique mix of earth, limestone, gravel, river sand, and bittern, which is a natural byproduct of salt-making.

15

Komogake: A Winter Jacket for Earthen Walls

Aside from yukizuri, another highlight of Kanazawa’s winter scenery is komogake. Komogake refers to straw mats that are placed over the earthen walls of samurai residences to protect them from snow. The snow in Kanazawa is heavy with moisture, which can easily seep into the earthen walls, causing damage or cracks. The enchanting sight of streets lined with these straw coverings can be seen from early December through the end of March.

16

Tourist Attraction or Private Residence?

The Nagamachi Samurai District is a popular tourist attraction, but it is also home to local residents. Some traditional buildings that look like sightseeing spots may actually be private houses. To tell the difference, look for a nameplate, 
usually placed next to the entrance door. In Japan, most houses display a nameplate showing either the family name or the full name.

Lydia and Jacob (United Kingdom)
We arrived this morning, visited the garden and castle, and then came here for lunch.

Omicho Market

With a history spanning over 300 years, Omicho Market once supplied fish that was specially prepared for the samurai’s kitchen inside Kanazawa Castle. While there are various theories about the origin of the current market, one suggests that smaller markets in the area were destroyed by fires. This led to their reopening at the current location, which eventually developed into the large market structure seen today. Since 1904, when Omicho Market became open to the public, it has remained a hub for locals, with around 170 stalls, and a thriving community in the heart of the city. Why not visit, experience local food culture, and enrich your culinary journey in Japan?

17

How to Manage Your Temptation

With so many delicious foods before you, it’s only natural to feel tempted to grab a bite from a stall and eat while strolling through the market. However, take a moment to consider whether that is actually allowed here. Eating while walking is discouraged in Japan, and at Omicho Market, it is expressly prohibited. Don’t worry, though; there are plenty of seats where you can sit and enjoy your treats in comfort.

18

What to Do When Queuing

To taste mouth-watering dishes like raw seafood bowls, tender grilled wagyu beef skewers, and fresh oysters, you may need to wait in a queue. While queuing, please take 
care not to block the entrances of nearby shops.

19

How to Take Instagram Photos

We understand the urge to take photos for social media, but please ask shopkeepers for permission first. Some shops may also display signs requesting that you refrain from photography.

20

Plan Your Visit Wisely

Although the market is open daily from morning until early evening, it’s best to plan ahead to make the most of your visit. 
On Sundays and public holidays, only 50-60% of stalls may be open, and many are also closed on Wednesdays. Fish stalls typically begin closing around 3-4 PM. If possible, we recommend visiting before noon and enjoying a delicious lunch there.

Want to Know More?

With the information provided in this spread, we are confident that you will have a great time exploring the city. If you would like to dive deeper into some of the spots mentioned, then check out the convenient ways to do so below!

eyeon® Kanazawa’s Walking Tour 
in the Geiko Districts

Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays between 30 Sep. and 20 Nov. 2025
Time: 14:00-16:00 (2 hours)
Price: JPY 5,500 per person
Capacity: 10
Booking: www.artofgeisha.com
 

This tour focuses on the history and culture of the Higashi Chaya District and Kazue-machi Chaya District, as well as the geiko who are active in these districts. Guided by an English-speaking eyeon Kanazawa staff member, you will enjoy a two-hour walk, filled with fascinating stories and hidden paths you might not discover on your own.
 

Volunteer Guides
at Kenrokuen Garden
and Kanazawa Castle Park

Dates: Daily (except during the New Year holidays)
Time: 9:30–15:30
Price: Free
Details: https://www.pref.ishikawa.jp/siro-niwa/english/borantia.html
 

Knowledgeable English-speaking volunteer guides from the Kanazawa Goodwill Guide Network are available for tours of Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle Park. You can find them at the Ishikawa-mon Gate Information Centre. Please note that only one or two English-speaking volunteer guides are on duty at a time, and reservations are not accepted. Simply stop by and check availability on the spot.

20 Facts about Kanazawa

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