Kanazawa has long been one of our favorite mid-sized cities and it keeps growing on us. It’s large enough that we don’t rent a car while in town, but rather rely on buses and taxis, or best of all, our own feet. Kanazawa is a town you can easily walk from major site to major site.
But make sure you book your accommodations in or near the Higashi Chaya District. This offers a glimpse of what the Gion District of Kyoto would look like without all the tourists. We love walking down the winding alleys and narrow streets taking in the sights and smells of the 300 year old tea houses and inns. Turn off your Google Maps, and just wander around, getting lost in the history. Its an amazing experience, especially on a clear night when the glowing streetlights illuminate the reds, rusts and brown colors of the historic houses.
Nothing like it elsewhere, except perhaps in the comparable Kazuemachi Chaya District, or the Nagamachi Samurai District or the Nishi Chaya District also here in Kanazawa. That’s why we say, Kanazawa is a very pedestrian friendly city.
Of course you’ll find Kenroku-en Garden, one of Japan’s “Top Three” and Kanazawa Castle which is perhaps my absolute favorite in all of Japan. Want know why? Send us an email through our contact page and I’ll fill you in or look for the video on our YouTube Channel.
Kanazawa offers the perfect blend of sophistication (i.e. the 21 Century Museum of Art) and historic charm of the various neighborhoods that you should put it on your list of places to go in Japan.
The Uncharted Japan website is little more than a month old and the first video (on Takayama) on the Youtube Channel was posted two weeks ago, therefore though we have a great deal of experience in getting around Japan, the platform of Youtube is something quite...