JAPAN TRAVEL: Exploring Kanazawa City in Ishikawa Prefecture
Ishikawa Prefecture is one of a handful of prefectures that isn’t known for any particular season; rather, it’s known as an all-season destination with sights and sounds that will entice even the most seasoned of travelers. Located in the center of all of these attractions is the city of Kanazawa, making it the perfect place to start your journey throughout Ishikawa.
The city itself has its own attractions. From streets in Naga-machi that take you back to the Edo period to the beauty and serenity offered by one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens in Kenroku-en, Kanazawa, has you covered as far as history and nature are concerned.
Kenroku-en Garden
A fan of the arts? The region itself is already known as a place where the arts flourish, and Kanazawa is home to two places that puts the arts squarely at its center: the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, for people looking for traditional arts and crafts of Ishikawa; and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, for those who are looking for the best of contemporary art from local and foreign artists.
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
Find the freshest catch of the day from the Sea of Japan at Omi-cho Market, also known as Ishikawa’s Kitchen. Finally, indulge yourself in one of the three teahouse districts of Kanazawa: Kazue-machi Chaya, Nishi (West) Chaya, and Higashi (East) Chaya, the latter being seen as an equal to Kyoto’s famous Gion Teahouse District.
Higashi Chaya
Let’s explore Kanazawa City and immerse in the center of what was once the prosperous Kaga region.
Getting to Kanazawa City
The fastest way to get to Kanazawa City from either Tokyo or Osaka is by using the Hokuriku Arch Pass. If you’re coming from Tokyo, you can take the Hokuriku Shinkansen Kagayaki that will take you to Kanazawa in as little as 2.5 hours. If you’re flying into Osaka, you can take the Thunderbird Limited Express train which can whisk you through most of the Hokuriku region to Kanazawa in roughly the same time.
Getting around Kanazawa is easy if you have a one-day pass for the Hokutetsu Bus, which you can get at a discount thanks to your Hokuriku Arch Pass.
Also read: All About the Hokuriku Arch Pass
Written by Andronico Del Rosario
Supported by GCP
This first appeared in Philippine Primer English magazine’s Vol. 33 – December issue.
