Recently updated on January 20th, 2020 at 08:03 pm
Widely regarded as one of the country’s best-preserved cities from Japan’s culturally rich Edo period, Kanazawa’s charms are no secret on home soil. But despite this, the ancient city remains lesser known worldwide. By exploring Kanazawa, visitors are taken on a journey through the country’s fascinating history of lords, samurai, geisha and merchants, with an insight into Japan’s traditional arts, which in Kanazawa are held in high regard as a designated UNESCO Creative City.
Japan is undoubtedly a nation of epicureans, with each region showcasing its produce through its unique signature dishes. And Kanazawa is no exception, with a rich offering of seafood and fish (and sushi that’s famous across the country), rice that’s grown on the Kaga Plain and water from the Hakusan mountains. Soy sauce is made locally and the city has famously produced sake for around 400 years.
Perhaps what makes Kanazawa’s food so unique is the culinary style developed by the Maeda family, who were once the region’s ruling samurai clan, resulting in the unique dishes, such as Jibuni duck soup, that the city is now known for. Alongside Kyoto and Matsue, Kanazawa is also known across Japan for its confectionary, due to the Maeda family promoting the tea ceremony tradition, in which Japanese sweets are an important element.
Each of these culinary traditions can be seen in restaurants and shops throughout the city’s neighbourhoods, or all in one place at Omicho Market, where – having been at the centre of Kanazawa’s gastronomy for over 280 years – over 170 stalls, small shops and restaurants sell the region’s exceptional produce.
Perhaps the most fascinating neighbourhood for its heritage meanwhile, is the former samurai district Nagamachi. In the Edo period, samurai were at the top of Japan’s social hierarchy, so the samurai district was situated at the foot of Kanazawa Castle. Within the district’s narrow alleys, some of the original samurai homes – complete with hidden doorways – are now open to the public, including the preserved residence of the Nomura family, and the former samurai home Kaga-Yuzen, which now functions as a silk painting workshop where visitors can watch the artists at work.
Samurai relics can also be seen at Maeda Tosanokami-ke Shiryokan Museum, which – dedicated to the Maeda family – houses samurai armour and other historic objects.
Kanazawa Castle – having originally been built in 1583 – is undoubtedly one of the country’s great prides and the city’s most famous site, while Kenrokuen Garden, which lies alongside the castle, is considered to be one of Japan’s top three gardens, with a name translating to the garden of six attributes, referring to its qualities of spaciousness, seclusion, an abundance of water, artificiality, antiquity and sweeping views. Wander through the ornamental gardens before stopping by at one of the traditional teahouses.
Perhaps take a walk through Kanazawa’s Teramachi district, which translating to temple town has around 70 temples dotted throughout its streets. Or, for an entirely different insight into the city’s cultural landscape, head to the sleek 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art for its diverse collection of cutting edge creations.
The best way to discover Kanazawa is by exploring on foot, stopping off along the way to visit the workshop of a local specialist. This can be done, with an insight into the traditional art of gold leaf painting, on the Splendours of Japan trip with Trafalgar.
Image credits: cover photo © iStock / cowardlion. Lanterns in Kanazawa © iStock / Juri Pozzi. The gardens of Kanazawa © iStock / olliedog. Kenrokuen Garden © iStock / Shannon Kwok. Blossom in Kanazawa © iStock / xenotar.