8 recommended spots in Nishi Chaya-gai, not far from Katamachi, the center of Kanazawa.
Along with "Higashi Chaya-gai" and "Kazue-machi Chaya-gai," Nishi Chaya-gai is one of Kanazawa's three teahouse districts. Compared to Higashi Chaya-gai, Nishi Chaya-gai attracts fewer tourists and gives a more relaxed impression, but in recent years, new stores have been opening one after another, making it a hot area for casual sightseeing. Even though it is only a five-minute walk from Katamachi, the center of Kanazawa, once you enter the street, you will find a 100-meter-long pathway lined with teahouse buildings, all of which retain strong traces of the Edo period. Here are eight recommended spots to enjoy the tea house district to the fullest.
1Yusura (cherry blossoms)
Scales from the eyes, I was impressed by the fluffy pork cutlet sandwiches!
This café bar is also frequented by geiko (apprentice geisha). Recommended during café time, the "Teahouse Katsu Sandwich" is unforgettable once you try it. What is surprising is the melt-in-your-mouth texture of the cutlet sandwich. The freshly fried cutlet sandwiched between the fluffy bread is crispy, but the batter slowly melts away in your mouth. Although it looks hearty, you will be surprised at how light it is and how easily you can eat it.
The Kaga Bocha Gelato, in which you can enjoy Kaga Bocha tea, which has been popular in Kanazawa since ancient times, is served on top of a homemade rusk made from bread ears.
The owner's hospitality that cherishes "once in a lifetime encounters
In front of the counter are a variety of cups and saucers, mainly NIKKO, but also Wedgwood and Old Noritake. The owner's spirit of hospitality is expressed in the fact that "if you enjoy food, you should also enjoy good tableware," so only those seated at the counter can choose their favorite cups and saucers to enjoy their coffee or tea.
In the back of the store, there are box seats with a tsuboniwa garden. It is also a nice place where one can relax by oneself.
- Yusura (Cherry Blossom)
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2-24-4 Nomachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
15 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at Hirokoji, and walk about 2 minutes.
Cafe time 10:00-17:00
Bar time (reservations only) 18:00-23:00
Wednesday
076-220-7037
No parking *Pay parking is available in the vicinity.
2Ryotei Hana no Yado
Enjoy a leisurely cup of tea in a precious architectural masterpiece.
Built in 1820, the same year as the Nishi-chaya district was founded, this teahouse boasts a history of more than 200 years. Although the teahouse is open at night, it is open during the day as a reasonably priced coffee shop that can be visited by first-time visitors if they order a drink.
There are only two types of tea on the menu: matcha green tea (with sweets) and coffee. There is nothing better than taking a rest and enjoying the view of the tsuboniwa garden in the tea room, which is located past the "bride's curtain," a traditional bridal gift handed down in Ishikawa Prefecture.
Full of treasures. Touch the world-class traditional crafts of Ishikawa Prefecture.
Up the stairs, the second floor is dotted with rooms with colorfully painted walls in deep blue, vermilion, and green. Traditional handicrafts of the national treasure class are on display, including a Wajima-nuri table, a Kaga yuzen tablecloth, a groom's curtain, and an old Kutani vase.
The staircase and pillars are coated with lacquer, giving the room a stately feel, while at the same time giving it a somewhat modern feel. The walls and other parts of the building were renovated several years ago. The building was the only teahouse in Kanazawa to have been renovated by the government, so a specially qualified lacquer painter from the government did the work.
- Ryotei Hana no Yado
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- 2-24-3 Nomachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- 11 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
- Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at Hirokoji, and walk about 2 minutes.
- 9:00-14:00
- Wednesday
- 076-242-8777
- No parking *Pay parking is available in the vicinity.
3Ninja Weapons Museum
Feel like a ninja. Two types of shuriken experience that even adults can enjoy
This museum introduces weapons said to have been used by the ninja. Two types of shuriken experiences that can be experienced casually are popular here. Both are explained in detail from the beginning by Staff/staff members. The first form of shuriken that comes to mind is the kuruma shuriken, which has four blades. If you are a beginner, Kuruma Shuriken is recommended.
On the other hand, the stick shuriken is shaped like a single nail, which increases the difficulty level. Both are surprisingly difficult to control the force, but the exhilaration you feel when you get a good thrust is unforgettable. The experience can be captured on video or in photographs, making it a great way to remember your trip.
Now you can be a ninja too! Learn about the history and roles of the ninja in detail at the museum.
After the Shuriken Experience, don't forget to go upstairs and visit the museum. The museum displays about 160 weapons and tools that are said to have been used by the ninja, and is well worth a look. A hooked rope used to climb stone walls, a sickle with a chain and chain weight wrapped around an opponent's weapon and used as a scythe, and a hidden weapon used for assassinations are just a few examples of the variety of weapons developed by the ninja and the way they survived.
Staff/staff members are sometimes available to give guided tours of the museum.
- Ninja Weapons Museum
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- 2-26-1 Nomachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- 10 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
- Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at Hirokoji bus stop, and walk about 3 minutes.
- 10:00-17:00 (last admission 16:45)
- None
Museum admission: Adults: 500 yen, Students: 400 yen, Children: 300 yen (100 yen discount if combined with Shuriken Experience)- 076-245-6450
- No parking *Pay parking is available in the vicinity.
4Kanazawa Nishi-chaya Museum
Trace the path of a genius writer who was born in Nishi-chaya-gai and died at the age of 31.
The museum was built on the site of a teahouse where Seijiro Shimada, a writer who became a household name in the Taisho era (1912-1926), spent his childhood.
Materials related to his novel "Terrestrial," which sold over 500,000 copies at the time, are also on display. It describes firsthand the great achievements of the young genius and even his life, which took a sudden fall from there. In addition to Izumi Kyoka, Muroo Saisei, and Tokuda Akio, Kanazawa's three literary giants, he is someone you should definitely get to know.
Let's visit the culture of a teahouse
On the second floor, visitors can tour the colorful Benigara Room, a recreation of a teahouse sitting room. The other room on the second floor is a reproduction of a tea room, offering a glimpse into the culture of tea.
The museum also has a volunteer tourist guide "Maido-san" on hand to provide free information on sightseeing in the neighborhood. Feel free to ask him if you have any questions.
- 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.
5Handmade Nakatani Tofu
Tofu ice cream produced by a tofu shop
A tofu shop that has been in business for more than 40 years in Nishi-chaya-gai. The "Tofu Ice Cream" is a must-try here. The ice cream is made by crumbling the store's signature handmade "silken tofu" and kneading it into the batter, giving it a gelato-like texture. The ice cream has a gelatinous texture and a light taste with the flavor of soybeans.
If you pour "Ohno soy sauce," which is a representative of Kanazawa, over the ice cream, it tastes like a Mitarashi dumpling. The sweet and spicy taste is addictive. Why not sit on a bench in front of the store and enjoy it while taking a break?
Tofu, a longtime favorite of the neighborhood
Tofu made with carefully selected domestic soybeans, including Hokuriku's Enrei soybeans, has been loved by locals since the store first opened. Mukashi Tofu," made only with Hokuriku's Enrei soybeans and Noto's Shioda nigari (bittern), is synonymous with the restaurant. In order to maximize the potential of the soybeans, they use two to three times more soybeans than normal silk tofu.
Silken Tofu" made only with domestic soybeans is also popular. Nama-age Chili Sauce," deep-fried silken tofu tossed with chili sauce, is also recommended as a snack.
- Handmade Nakatani Tofu
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- 2-19-13 Nomachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- 11 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
- Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at Hirokoji, and walk about 2 minutes.
- 10:00-17:30
- Sunday (irregular holidays)
- 076-241-3983
- No parking *Pay parking is available in the vicinity.
6Bar Nishi-Suzutomi
Enjoy a glass of fine wine "Kenzo Estates
A hidden bar in a renovated teahouse, quietly tucked away in Nishichaya-dori. Here you can enjoy "Kenzo Estate," a wine that is rarely found in this area. It is famous for having only a limited number of stores where you can find the world's best wines, which have been selected as one of the "Top 100 Wineries in the World" and "Top 10 Wineries in Napa Valley".
The restaurant offers an almost full lineup of such rare Kenzo Estate wines, taking advantage of its strength as a special distributor. You can expect a great start to the evening.
Located in Nishi-chaya-gai, but still casual and relaxed.
The bar charge is 2,500 yen. The appetizers change daily, so you can enjoy them until they appear. Wine, whiskey, and beer are available in a modern yet atmospheric space. Alcoholic drinks start at 800 yen, and non-alcoholic drinks start at 500 yen.
Located about a five-minute walk from Katamachi, Kanazawa's gourmet district, it is also a good place to stop for a second or third meal. Behind the counter, there are three box seats with a view of the tsuboniwa garden. Why not enjoy an elegant evening of quiet conversation with a glass of wine in hand?
- Bar Nishi-Suzutomi
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- 2-26-2 Nomachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- 12 min. drive from JR Kanazawa Station
- Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at Hirokoji, and walk about 2 minutes.
- 19:00-23:00
- Sunday, Holidays
- 076-280-1103
- No parking *Pay parking is available in the vicinity.
Charge 2,500 yen
7Sweet bean sauce Kawamura
Recommended as Kanazawa souvenirs and gifts. Fashionable amanatto (sweetened soybeans) with a modern sophistication
This amanatto specialty store is very popular in Nishi-chaya-gai. More than 20 varieties of amanatto, which is synonymous with amanatto, are lined up in the store. The amanatto is made without using coloring agents or preservatives, but rather preserves the flavor of the beans.
Amanatto made from Ishikawa beans are popular, such as "Noto Dainagon," which allows you to taste high-quality Dainagon azuki beans made from Noto's local beans, and "Ohama Daisu," made from beans from "Ninami Farm" located in Suzu, the southernmost part of Noto. Each package is also stylish and makes a great souvenir on a trip to Kanazawa.
Exciting Kanazawa souvenirs to choose from in a traditional townhouse
While based on beans, the company develops its products from various angles, and all of them showcase the potential of beans. In addition to beans, the store offers sugar confections, yokan jelly, syrups, compotes, and more. The main store is the only one with such a rich lineup of products both inside and outside of the prefecture.
The window in the back of the store allows you to watch the beans being cooked, so if you are interested, why not come closer to the store and take a peek at the process?
Some amanatto are sold at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa and the Momogumi Cafe in the Higashi Chaya-gai district.
- Amanatto Kawamura
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- 2-24-7 Nomachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- 11 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
- Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at Hirokoji and walk 2 minutes.
- 9:30-18:00, Sundays and holidays - 17:00
- 1st Tuesday of the month, December 31 - January 3
Open on the 1st Tuesday of January, May, and December - 076-282-7000
- Available
8Salon de te Kawamura
Recommended for those who are greedy. Try a little bit of each bean from "Amanatto Kawamura".
The cafe by "Amanatto Kawamura" is located on the second floor of the same store. The "bean plate" looks like art, with a small selection of amanatto Kawamura's typical amanatto and roasted soybeans on a pure white canvas. On a small plate are vanilla ice cream and black beans dipped in rum. It is a great way to compare many beans at once.
The limited-quantity menu "Hon-Kuro Warabimochi" is another specialty. It is made of 100% precious Hon Warabi Mochi and has a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
A special seat by the window with a view of the geiko's rehearsal hall.
If you are visiting Nishi Chayamachi, we recommend a window seat with a view of the "Nishikenban Office," a training place for geiko. If your timing is right, you can hear the sounds of shamisen (three-stringed Japanese musical instrument) and taiko drums being played from this cute light blue wooden Western-style building. You may even be able to see geiko coming and going.
With such expectations in mind, why not try the owner's carefully selected Mie Prefecture craft beer or the seasonal sweets created by the patissier?
- Salon de te Kawamura
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- 2F, 2-24-7 Nomachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
- 11 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
- Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at Hirokoji, and walk about 2 minutes.
- Monday-Saturday 10:30-17:00 (L.O.16:25)
Sundays and holidays 10:30-16:30 (L.O.15:55) - 1st Tuesday of the month, December 31-January 3 (temporary closing)
- 076-282-7000
- Available
- One order only
Local Guide who was in charge of this article
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