Things to Do in Kanazawa, Ishikawa: Feel the history and elegance at Kaga Hyakumangoku Excursion Route

Summary

This time, sightseeing in Kanazawa along the “Kaga Hyakumangoku Excursion Route” where you can feel the history of the Edo period ✨ Two chaya district, shrines, samurai residences, Kanazawa Castle, Kenrokuen Garden, etc… I have visited the famous sightseeing spots in Kanazawa! Please take a look at this trip to feel the history and be healed by the greenery.

*Please note that information and prices listed are subject to change.

Travel Itinerary

9:30am Kanazawa Station（金沢駅）

This trip started at Kanazawa Station! Take the Kanazawa Castle Town Tour Bus.

bus stop

Bus stop No. 6 at the east exit of Kanazawa Station

Leftward route of the Kanazawa Castle Town Tour Bus

bus

Kanazawa Station, located in Kanazawa City, is a station of West Japan Railway Company (JR West) and IR Ishikawa Railway Company. Its symbols are the huge “Motenashi Dome” and the wooden “Tsuzumimon gate” , and it was selected as one of the 14 most beautiful stations in the world. From Kanazawa Station, you can take a bus that tours around the castle town of Kanazawa, making it convenient for sightseeing.

10:00am Nishi-Chaya District

The first stop was Nishi-Chaya District, where every building is beautiful! There were many charming stores, including an inn, a shaved ice shop, and a soba noodle shop, but I was there early in the morning, so all of them were in preparation.

Arrival!

signboard

Located in Nomachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Nishi-Chaya District is one of Kanazawa’s three teahouse districts, along with Higashi Chaya-gai and Shukkeichaya-gai. It has a relaxed atmosphere, with the sound of shamisen (three-stringed Japanese banjo) playing in the evenings and the impressive sight of geiko (apprentice geisha) walking outside. Located a 15-minute walk from Buke Yashiki, it is a recommended spot for a quieter spot with fewer tourists than Higashi-chayagai. Nishi-Chaya District offers delicious restaurants and souvenir shops, and the Kanazawa City Nishi-chaya Museum is another highlight of the area.

10:20am Nagamachi Samurai District（長町武家屋敷跡）

I passed through here on my way to my next destination from Nishi-Chaya District.The atmosphere is so nice, it’s fun just to walk around!

The Nagamachi Samurai District is a tourist attraction and historic site located in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. The area is designated as a traditional environment preservation area and a scenic area, where the atmospheric landscape is still maintained.

10:45am Oyama Shrine（尾山神社）

We came to a famous shrine in Kanazawa! The fashionable glass-walled awarding office and the Japanese/Western stained glass of the pagoda are stylish, as one would expect from Kanazawa ✨ I also enjoyed the fortune that’s divided by generation.

Torii (gate)

tower

stained glass

awarding office

Stylish amulet

Kyusei mamori

Omikuji (fortune-telling paper strip)

Oyama Shrine, located in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, is dedicated to Lord Toshiie Maeda and his wife, Omatsu. The shrine has a western atmosphere with brick and stained glass windows. After sunset, the shrine is lit up until 22:00, giving it a fantastic appearance. The shinmon gate, designated as a national important cultural property, is a highlight.

11:00am Kanazawa Castle（金沢城）

Kanazawa Castle is next! Visitors can stroll through the park and learn about the history of the museum.

Nezumitamon Gate

The restoration will be completed in 2020, and a new sightseeing route called the Kaga Hyakumangoku Excursion Route was created to allow visitors to feel the history of the Edo period!

Gyokuseninmaru Garden

Beyond the gate of Kanazawa Castle Park

Map

The writing is on the wall.

Entrance

Combination ticket with Kenrokuen Garden

Museum Map

(an) exhibit

Panoramic view of the park

diorama

Nice smell of wood

stone pit

Kanazawa Castle, located in Marunouchi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, is designated as a national historic site. The castle symbolizes Kanazawa and is open to the public as Kanazawa Castle Park. Visitors can learn about history while enjoying the beautiful scenery. Kanazawa Castle is also illuminated at night, allowing the public to see the daytime and nighttime appearances of the castle at close range. If you visit Kanazawa, be sure to stop by Kanazawa Castle.

1:00pm Kenrokuen Chaya Kenjotei（兼六園茶屋 見城亭）

Lunch is here! The first floor is a café and the second floor is a restaurant. The building is stylishly designed and the view is beautiful and relaxing.We will have Kanazawa’s Jewel Box ¥3,300, inspired by the lunch box of the lord of Kaga Hyakumangoku. Colorful plates and dishes! I tried Kanazawa’s local dish “Jibuni (Dishes made with boiled duck meat and seasonal vegetables)” for the first time, and it was so delicious with its tender texture and horseradish ✨

Exterior

Interior

It’s a stairwell.

Menu

Kenrokuen Chaya Kenjotei is a teahouse established in 1913 in Kenroku-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, with a café on the first floor and a restaurant on the second floor, providing a relaxing space with a stylish building design and beautiful scenery. A wide variety of local Kanazawa dishes and sweets are available, such as “Kaga Hyakumangoku no Otonosama Bento Box,” a colorful plate and dish inspired by Kanazawa’s jewel box, and green tea zenzai with gold leaf on top.

2:00pm Kenrokuen Garden

Visitors can see the island floating in the pond representing immortality and the Kotojitoro Lantern, the symbol of Kenrokuen Garden! The snow-covered Kenrokuen Garden is famous, but the garden when it was green was also lovely.

signboard

water fountain

The oldest fountain in Japan, created in the 19th century!

Kasumigaike Pond

Karasakimatsu pine tree

Kenrokuen Garden is a Japanese garden located in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. It is famous as one of the three most famous gardens in Japan and is designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the national government. It is a popular tourist spot with excellent transportation access and an increasing number of overseas tourists.

Horaido

Before boarding the bus, we took a dumpling break because we were hungry.The freshly baked sticky dumplings were delicious.

Horaido is a teahouse in Kanazawa City, located just past the Lotus Pond Gate of Kenrokuen Garden, where you can casually enjoy a menu featuring local ingredients at the snack corner on the first floor, and a Japanese-style cafe with a view of Kanazawa Castle on the second floor.

3:30pm Higashi Chaya District（ひがし茶屋街）

We got on the bus and headed for the famous tourist attraction of Kanazawa, Higashi Chaya-gai. We went there during the consecutive holidays, so it was very crowded!The retro cityscape also raises the tension!

Located in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Higashi Chaya District is one of the teahouse districts that represent Kanazawa culture and is a popular tourist attraction. It is an ideal spot for taking pictures with a Japanese flavor.

Morihachi Main Store （森八 本店）

Since we have come all the way to the Chaya District, we will have tea and sweets.We ordered the Kaga Boucha and Jo-namagashi (traditional Japanese sweets） set (¥950) and the Chestnut Joyo Manju (Steamed sweets using a yam as the bun skin) set (¥900). The sticky buns and sweet chestnut red bean paste were too delicious! The fragrant aroma of Kaga Boucha tea was also a fitting end to the trip!

Exterior

Menu

Morihachi Main Store is a Japanese confectionery located in Otemachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Located in the Chaya District, the shop is popular for its wagashi, such as Kaga Boucha , Jo-namagashi, and Chestnut Joyo Manju. According to word of mouth, the mochi mochi buns and sweet chestnut red bean paste are delicious, and the fragrant aroma of Kaga Boucha is a perfect ending to a trip.

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