From Kanazawa's traditional culture to the best gourmet food. A women's trip by car!
You can experience traditional Kanazawa crafts such as Kaga mizuhiki and Kaga temari, and pray for love fulfillment at a shrine related to the Maeda family. In addition, we will guide you on a women's trip to fully enjoy the charms of Kanazawa, including cafes where you can enjoy a course of sweets, night view spots, and delicious meals served in an old private house. Why not enjoy a relaxing tour of Kanazawa while also enjoying a drive?
Useful Information for Driving
Hyakumangoku Street, which circles around central Kanazawa, connects major tourist attractions such as Korinbo at "Omimachi Market", Hirosaka where "21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa" is located, and Hashiba near "Higashi Chaya-gai". As a result, there is a lot of traffic and morning and evening traffic jams can occur. Many of the nearby spots do not have private parking, but coin-operated parking is plentiful.
The area around Hirosaka Green near "Kanazawa Castle Park" on the east side of Korinbo is an area where you can enjoy a refreshing drive surrounded by tree-lined streets. The path between the Saigawa Bridge and the Sakura Bridge upstream is called "Saisei no michi," a scenic route lined with cherry trees along the Saigawa River.
＜Recommended Driving Spots for a Women's Trip to Kanazawa
1Jiyuukajin
Enchanted by modern items made of mizuhiki, a traditional Kanazawa craft
The women's trip starts at a mizuhiki store and workshop in a peaceful location along the Saigawa River. Mizuhiki is a decorative knot used to tie gift envelopes. In Kanazawa, mizuhiki has been a traditional craft since the Edo period (1603-1867), and is well-known as a beautiful three-dimensional decoration for gift-giving.
Mizuhiki is a traditional craft that has been familiar to people since the Edo period (1603-1868), and has been used as a beautiful three-dimensional decoration for wedding gifts. While based on the traditional "Awaji-knot," the lineup includes modern items that are not bound by the traditional mizuhiki craftsmanship.
Dainty mizuhiki accessories as souvenirs
Popular gifts for friends include earrings and pendants made of mizuhiki beads. They are colorful, lovely, and easy to wear. Flower baskets with glass cups make picture-perfect interior decorations by simply placing a vase of wild flowers in it.
For those who would like to make their own baskets, workshops are also available. The workshop takes about one and a half to two hours and costs from 1,500 yen. It is also recommended to purchase original mizuhiki materials and kits, available in more than 150 colors, and make your own at home.
- Jiyuukajin
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7-9 Kiyokawa-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
15 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at Sakurabashi bus stop, and walk 5 minutes.
10:00-16:00
Sundays, national holidays, year-end and New Year holidays
Mizuhiki Experience class: 1,500 yen and up (4 people or more, please make a reservation for the date and time)
076-244-6441
Free of charge
2Kanazawa Nishichaya Museum
Reproduction of a gorgeous teahouse
Walking along the Saigawa River, pass through the temple town where many temples are concentrated, and you will arrive at Nishi Chaya-gai, a historic and atmospheric teahouse street built around 1820.
For a glimpse of what teahouses were like in those days, visit the museum located in a corner of the teahouse street. Located on the site of the former teahouse "Yoshiyone-ro" where Seijiro Shimada, a local writer from the Taisho period, spent his time, the museum is on the first floor and the teahouse's hall is reproduced on the second floor. The first floor is a museum, and the second floor is a recreation of the teahouse's hall. The reddish brown walls, gold folding screens, and massive lacquered ornaments are all decorated in a very elegant manner. Visitors can also enjoy the audio guide commentary.
Take a stroll along the elegant teahouse district, a must-see photo opportunity
Although smaller in scale than the touristy Higashi Chaya-gai, the Nishi Chaya-gai is full of atmosphere with its rows of teahouse-style buildings. There are four teahouses still in business, and another new one will open in the fall of 2019. The number of active geiko is said to be the largest among the three Kanazawa teahouse districts of "Higashi," "Nishi," and "Kazue-machi.
If you pass by the Nishi Ryotei Kumiai Office next to the museum, you may hear the sounds of taiko and shamisen (three-stringed Japanese banjo) performances. The stone-paved street is dotted with Japanese and Western sweets stores, including a long-established rakugan (rakugan) shop. It is the perfect place to stop by and take a break.
- Kanazawa City Nishi-chaya Museum
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- 2-25-18 Nomachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- 15 min. drive from JR Kanazawa Station
- Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at Hirokoji, and walk about 2 minutes.
- 9:30-17:00
- None
- Free of charge
- 076-247-8110
- No parking *Pay parking is available in the vicinity.
3Muroo Saisei Memorial Museum
A memorial museum in the birthplace of Saisei Muroo, one of Kanazawa's three great writers.
From the Nishi Chaya-gai, walk toward the Saigawa River and you will soon arrive at the Memorial Hall, located on the site of the birthplace of Saisei Murou. Saisei's literature, which spanned a variety of fields including poetry, haiku, novels, and essays, is filled with his love for the nature of his hometown Kanazawa and his compassion for small lives.
Upon entering the memorial hall, visitors will find a small garden inspired by the flow of the Saigawa River that Saisei loved so much. The stone pagoda and Tsukubai, which were actually used by Saisei, are placed in the garden, and the sight of birds playing in the water is soothing. On the wall of the atrium space, the covers of the first editions of all his books are displayed in chronological order. The retro artwork is a real treat to behold.
Full of exhibits to learn more about Saisei, the cat-loving writer.
The exhibition room on the first floor introduces visitors to Saisei's manuscripts, letters, and drawings he made on postcards addressed to children. In addition to cats, which appear in many of his works, Saisei also kept dogs, small birds, and insects, and the "Muro Family Dog and Cat Chronology," produced by the museum, shows his love for these small creatures.
On the second floor, limited time-only exhibitions such as "Food and Saisei" and "Traveling Saisei" are held. In addition, there are school songs written by Saisei, a corner where visitors can listen to Saisei's voice, and a handwriting corner where visitors can Experience the use of letters and brush strokes, allowing them to immerse themselves in the world of Saisei Muroo.
- Muroo Saisei Memorial Hall
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- 3-22 Sennichimachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- 15 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
- Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at Katamachi, and walk about 6 minutes.
- 9:30-17:00
- Closed during the year-end and New Year's holidays *Closed during the period of exhibition changes three times a year
- 310 yen
- 076-245-1108
- Free of charge
4Aoki
9 obanzai dishes. Beautiful Japanese lunch
This Japanese-style restaurant is located in a residential area near the Saigawa River, just a few steps from the Muro Saisei Memorial Museum. The 90-year-old house was renovated to create a simple, modern atmosphere with large beams, and the restaurant seats about 10 people comfortably. The owner, who was born and raised in Kanazawa and trained in Kyoto for 10 years, serves delicious seasonal obanzai using local ingredients. The most popular dish is the "Lunch" (1,100 yen), which is served in a checkered bowl with nine dishes and includes a small bowl of cooked food and steamed egg custard. The "Lunch with Sashimi" (1,650 yen) and "Lunch with Sashimi, Tempura, and Dessert" (2,200 yen) are also available.
Relax after dinner with homemade desserts.
Ingredients are purchased by the owner at the Omimachi Market. Most of the obanzai dishes are prepared with seasonal Kaga vegetables and local fish. The chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) that accompanies every lunch is served cold in summer, showing the owner's thoughtfulness in wanting customers to enjoy the seasons.
The after-meal desserts are also well received. In addition to the standard desserts of shiratama (white rice balls), lotus root rice cakes, and yokan (sweet bean jelly), there are also homemade desserts such as pumpkin and sweet potato pudding in the fall. The chewy shiratama, made with azuki beans simmered according to the owner's grandmother's recipe, can be served either hot (oshiruko style) or cold with ice cream on top.
- Aoki
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- 5-2 Sennichimachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- 15 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
- Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at "Katamachi" and walk 5 min.
- 11:30-13:30 (last entry), 18:00-20:30 (L.O.) *Reservations are required for lunch.
- Wednesdays, 3rd Thursdays
- 076-287-3126
- None
5Gyokusenin Maru Teien (Gyokusenin Maru Garden)
Take a stroll in the recreated and scenic Daimyo Garden
Crossing the Saigawa Bridge and passing Hyakumangoku Street, it takes about 10 minutes to reach Kanazawa Castle Park. The Gyokuseninmaru Garden is a feudal lord's garden built by successive lords of the Kaga domain within Kanazawa Castle. The garden was abandoned during the Meiji period (1868-1912), and its appearance was once lost, but it was reconstructed in 2015. The ponds, islands, and bridges are faithfully reproduced in the garden, and the water, lush greenery, and stone walls create a magnificent landscape. The Japanese-style room "Gyokusen-an" is a perfect spot from which to enjoy a panoramic view of the garden.
Take a break and feel like a princess in the garden
Gyokusen-an, decorated with the Maeda family crest "Umebachi Mon," is a quiet space with a touch of elegance. Staff/staff members in kimono welcome you to the tea room, where you can enjoy carefully prepared green tea and fresh confections. The fresh confections, made by a Japanese confectionery store in Kanazawa, change once every two months, offering a delightful sense of the seasons. The scenic garden outside the large windows looks like a painting. Looking out the large windows at the scenic garden, which was once cherished by feudal lords and princesses, you will feel as if you have stepped back in time to the Edo period.
6Oyama Shrine
Don't miss the exotic-looking Shinmon Gate with its five-colored giyamans
Oyama Shrine, built in 1873, is a historic shrine dedicated to Toshiie Maeda, the founder of the Kaga domain, and his wife Omatsu no Mata. The highlight of the shrine is the "Shinmon" gate, which is built in three different styles: Japanese, Western, and Chinese. An exotic-looking pagoda is built on top of a sturdy doorway stone arch, and the third level is inlaid on all four sides with beautiful five-color geyamans (colored glass). Above it, the oldest existing lightning rod in Japan can also be seen. On the right side facing the main shrine is a garden in the Tsukuyama Ikeizumi Kaiyushiki style, and a stroll along the water's edge amidst lush greenery is also recommended.
Get a cute mizuhiki amulet to pray for good luck!
The shrine is also visited by people who come to pray for the success in both literary and military endeavors, as the shrine is dedicated to the warlord Maeda Toshiie. The shrine is also said to bring good luck for marriages and marital bliss, since Maeda and his wife Omatsu-no-kata are enshrined here together.
After visiting the shrine, stop by the awarding office, which was completed in 2015. It is a stylish space with an open-air glass wall that does not obstruct the view of the garden. There are many Kanazawa-style amulets, such as the "Musubi-mamori" made of colorful Kaga mizuhiki. Why not find your favorite one?
- Oyama Shrine
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- 11-1 Oyama-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- 5 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
- From JR Kanazawa Station East Exit, take the Hokutetsu Bus (Kanazawa Castle Town Tour Bus), approx. 7 min. on the "Left Turn Route", alight at "Minamimachi, Oyama Shrine", and walk approx. 3 min.
- Jiyu
- 076-231-7210
- Free of charge
7Kaga Temari Mariya
Discover the colorful and beautiful traditional crafts of Kaga
Kaga Temari" and "Kaga Yubinuki" specialty stores are located along Hyakumangoku Street near Oyama Shrine. Kaga temari is a ball with a bell in its core, which is made of silk threads in a pattern. It is said that even today, there is a custom to give a Kaga Temari to a bride-to-be to wish her happiness. The store offers a wide variety of colorful handmade temari, including those with glossy chrysanthemum patterns.
There is also a wide variety of Kaga yubinuki, which were made by Kaga yuzen seamstresses from leftover silk threads and cotton. The colorful and beautiful patterns created by layering silk threads one by one are impressive.
Experience making temari and yubinuki (traditional Japanese ornaments) as a memorable part of your trip to Kanazawa.
Inside the store, you will find an array of works by artists active in Ishikawa Prefecture. Practical items such as needle piles made from small temaris and accessories using yubinuki are ideal as souvenirs. Experience classes in Kaga temari and Kaga yubinuki are also available.
Kaga temari is a delicate "two chrysanthemum pattern" challenge. Kaga yubinuki, made from a base of rolled cardboard and cloth, can be made in "two-color scales" or "yatara stripes" patterns. Since the yubinuki can be made in any color, even the same pattern can be made into a unique piece with original colors. Both are recommended for beginners as the artist will teach you how to make them in detail.
- Kaga Temari Mariya
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- 5-7 Minami-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- 10 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
- Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at "Minamimachi, Oyama Shrine" and walk about 1 minute.
- Open 10:00-17:00
- Wed, Thu, Fri
- Experience: Temari 6,500 yen, Yubinuki 2,900 yen and up
- 076-231-7660
- None
8Le Musee de Ashe KANAZAWA
Enjoy sweets at the museum's café surrounded by greenery
From the "Oyama Shrine" area, pass by Korinbo and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, and drive about 5 minutes. Located at the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, this store is the perfect place to take a break after viewing art. As you enter the store, you are greeted by the year-round abundance of greenery outside the large, ceiling-length windows, which is a soothing sight.
Lined up in the showcase are about 20 kinds of fresh pastries. Produced by a famous patissier from Ishikawa Prefecture, the sweets are made with delicious local ingredients such as milk, eggs, azuki beans, fruits, salt, and sake.
The aroma of freshly roasted hojicha tea is superb!
In a private room in the café, a full course of sweets and Japanese tea called "Concept G" is available upon reservation by the day before, with G standing for Gyokuro, a Japanese green tea from Uji Prefecture that offers a perfect balance of aroma, flavor, and astringency. First, a cup of seasonal tea, such as lemon myrtle, is served. The first, second, and third cups of Hon Gyokuro offer different flavors. The concluding tea is a richly fragrant hojicha, which is roasted by yourself using a tea incense burner. The three desserts that accompany each tea are sure to make for an elegant teatime experience.
- Le Musee de Ashe KANAZAWA
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- 2-1 Dewa-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa MAP
- 10 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
- Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at "Hirosaka/21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art" and walk about 6 minutes.
- 10:00-19:00 (L.O.18:30)
- No holidays
- 076-204-6100
- Free of charge
9Utatsuyama Park
Drive to the nearest observation point from the city center
A 15-minute drive from Kenrokuen Garden and21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, you will arrive at Utatsuyama Park, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Kanazawa City. Although Utatsuyama is a small mountain with an elevation of about 140 meters, it offers an excellent view of the city. It is a spot visited by many locals. We recommend the "Hill of View," which was just completed in March 2019. You will see a brand new approach stretching up the hill of Utatsuyama. From the observation deck with pavilion and benches, there is a view toward Kanazawa Station to the west. At dusk, you can also enjoy a spectacular view of the setting sun over the sea.
Enjoy the night view of Kanazawa from a small mountain observatory
A few minutes' drive southeast from "Hill of View," you will find "Miharashi Gazebo," an observation deck on the site where the zoo once stood. From the grassy plaza with benches, you can see from the west to the south, and at sunset, the sparkling night view is all around you. To the west is Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle Park, and to the south is the city center, with the lights of buildings and cars passing by on the main street shining brightly. Admission to the park is free, and parking and restroom facilities are available near the two observation decks, making it easy to visit.
- Utatsuyama Park
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- Higashimikage-cho, Utatsu-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa MAP
- 15 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
- Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at Utatsuyama Koen-guchi (Utatsuyama Park Exit), and walk shortly.
- Free admission
- 076-220-2356（Green and Flower Division, Urban Development Bureau)
- Free of charge
10Yasaburo Sakeya
Enjoy original Japanese cuisine that makes the most of the local season with a glass of wine
This Japanese-style restaurant is located about 1 km from Kenrokuen Garden and21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, and is housed in a 100-year-old renovated private house. Using ingredients from farmers and fishermen in the Kanazawa suburbs, the restaurant serves dishes that bring out the best of the ingredients without being too elaborate.
The owner, who is from Kanazawa, personally gathers wild vegetables in the mountains and sometimes goes to Toyama Prefecture to catch firefly squid. He also makes wild boar meat without a hint of stench from hunters in Hakui and prepares it as menchikatsu. The menu features seasonal delicacies, such as wild boar meat made into mincemeat, which is sourced from hunters in the city of Hakui.
Enjoy food and conversation in an atmospheric old private house
On the first floor, there are tables where you can take off your shoes, as well as counter seats in the open kitchen. No background music is played because the chefs want visitors to enjoy the sounds of conversation and cooking. Up the stairs to the second floor is a modern tatami room. The restaurant is full of taste, with Kutani ware and other tableware from the Meiji and early Showa eras.
- Yasaburo Sake Shop
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- 3-10-27, Honda-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa MAP
- 10 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
- Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at "Honda-machi" and walk for 3 minutes.
- 17:30 - 24:00 (L.O. 23:00)
- Sunday
- 076-282-9116
- None
Local Guide who was in charge of this article
- Fumino Matsuzaki Kaga's Charm Hunter
