Summary
If you like Kyoto, Japan, and enjoy the ancient Japanese culture, when you have the opportunity to arrange a Hokuriku Free Travel, you might as well visit Kanazawa and plan a one-day trip to explore the attractions of Kanazawa, such as the famous Kanazawa Station Gate, the seasonal lighting of Kenrokuen Garden; the nearby historically significant Kanazawa Castle Park, or the downtown areas of Omicho Market and Higashi Chaya District… and other attractions, giving yourself a different journey in the ancient capital of Japan.
About Kanazawa City
Kanazawa (金沢市／かなざわし)is located in Ishikawa Prefecture in the Hokuriku region of Honshu, Japan. It is the largest city in Ishikawa Prefecture and one of the largest snow cities in the world, with a considerable amount of snowfall in winter. Kanazawa developed in the 16th century when Maeda Toshiie moved there, and it is filled with a strong sense of ancient capital everywhere, earning it the nickname “Little Kyoto”.
Transportation to Kanazawa
Thanks to the Hokuriku Shinkansen, it no longer takes a lot of time to travel to and from Kanazawa as it used to. It only takes about 2.5 hours to travel from Tokyo to Kanazawa by Shinkansen, and with the JR PASS, you can also save a lot on transportation costs. If you are traveling from Toyama, Shirakawago, Takayama… and other directions, you can choose to take a bus (about 2-3 hours).
If you depart directly from Taiwan, there are direct flights from Taoyuan Airport to Komatsu Airport operated by Tigerair Taiwan or EVA Air; there are also direct flights from Taipei Songshan Airport to Komatsu Airport, which is very convenient for the itinerary. If you want to travel from Chubu Centrair International Airport, you can also take the Hokuriku Shinkansen and Hokuriku Railway to Toyama after arriving in Nagoya, and then transfer to a bus.
One-day Itinerary in Kanazawa City
There are many interesting places in Kanazawa City, such as the famous Kanazawa Station, Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle, Higashi Chaya District, Omicho Market, and 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art… Due to the arrangement of this itinerary, we visited all of these places except for the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. If you want to explore in depth, you can directly plan a trip to the Hokuriku region next time.
As for the main attractions in Kanazawa City, you can take the “Kanazawa Loop Bus” to reach them. It is recommended to directly purchase a one-day pass (500 yen) for friends who plan to spend a day there, as it is more cost-effective.
Kanazawa Station (JR Kanazawa Station)
Kanazawa Station is the main gateway to Kanazawa City, and the city’s bustling area is mainly concentrated around the station. The most famous feature of Kanazawa Station is the wooden “Tsuzumi Gate” located outside the station. Tsuzumi is a traditional Japanese hand drum, and the Tsuzumi Gate symbolizes and welcomes visitors to this ancient capital with a history of hundreds of years. In addition, Kanazawa Station itself is built with large glass curtains, giving it a modern architectural style that contrasts strongly with the Tsuzumi Gate.
The circular roof of Kanazawa Station is called “Motenashi Dome,” which symbolizes welcoming tourists.
The huge Tsuzumi Gate in front of Kanazawa Station is one of the most prominent buildings and landmarks in front of the station.
Kanazawa Castle Park (Kanazawa Castle)
Kanazawa Castle was the residence of Maeda Toshiie, the lord of the Kaga Domain, during the Edo period. It was originally named Oyama Castle and was renamed Kanazawa Castle around 1587. The castle was partially destroyed by a fire in 1898, and the remaining parts of Kanazawa Castle have been reconstructed through restoration. The Ishikawa Gate, Sanjikken Nagaya, and Tsurumaru Warehouse in the park are all important cultural properties of Japan. Kanazawa Castle is also a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in Kanazawa, attracting a continuous stream of visitors during the cherry blossom season.
Kanazawa Castle Park
Opening Hours: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm (8:00 am to 5:00 pm during winter time); Nighttime visits are available at specific times, please check the official website.
Tickets: Free.
Kanazawa Castle at night, reflecting in the moat, presents a quiet beauty.
Kenrokuen Garden
Kenrokuen Garden is located next to Kanazawa Castle and is one of Japan’s three great gardens (the other two are Korakuen Garden in Okayama City and Kairakuen Garden in Mito City). Kenrokuen Garden is a traditional Japanese garden covering an area of about 30,000 square meters. The main reason for visiting Kenrokuen Garden this time, of course, is to catch the last wave of winter lighting events (this year’s dates are from January 27th to February 4th, 2017). For more information, please refer to the official website of Kenrokuen Garden. I heard that Kenrokuen Garden is also beautiful during the day, and it is more suitable for appreciating the vast beauty of the garden. However, due to the schedule, we had to leave it for next time!
Kenrokuen Garden
Opening Hours: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm (8:00 am to 5:00 pm during winter time), with fixed nighttime lighting hours throughout the year.
Tickets: 300 yen for adults.
Higashi Chaya District (Higashi Chaya-gai)
Chaya is a traditional Japanese entertainment and dining venue, where geisha performances were held during the Edo period. Higashi Chaya District is the largest chaya district in Kanazawa and is also designated as an important cultural property of Japan. If you’re lucky, you might even see geisha here. It’s easy to get from Kanazawa Station to Higashi Chaya District, just take the Kanazawa Loop Bus to the “Hashiba-cho” stop and walk for about five minutes.
Even on a rainy Monday, Higashi Chaya District is still lively.
Omicho Market
Omicho Market is located in the center of Kanazawa City and has a history of over 200 years. The market is divided into seafood, fruits and vegetables, and grocery sections. There are also many seafood shops in the market. Although the prices are not cheap, it’s worth a try if you like sashimi, as it would be a pity to miss out on such a long journey.
There are many seafood shops in the market, although the seafood products cannot be taken away, you can sit down at a favorite shop and savor them.
