Higashi Chaya is the old geisha district of Kanazawa. Today, it’s a maze of streets lined with old wooden buildings full of shops, restaurants, and other tourist attractions. Dotted around these are some interesting shrines and other elements of Kanazawa life. Here’s our guide to the eleven things, big and small, that caught our eye.
Central Japan
Tips and tricks for cities in Central Japan. These include Nagoya, Nagano, Toyama, Kanazawa, Takayama, Shirakawa-go. Find itineraries, accommodation advice and transport tips.
10 Best Things to Do in Kanazawa
Kanazawa is probably best known for the pretty streets of Higashi Chaya, its old geisha district, but there are a lot more things to do here than wander these. Here are our top 10 things to do in Kanazawa.
8 Things to See Around Nishi Chaya, Kanazawa
Nishi Chaya is one of Kanazawa’s four main sightseeing areas. An old geisha district, it’s lined with old wooden teahouses. Inside these, you’ll find new cafes and museums full of fun and interesting artifacts. Here are eight things not to miss when you’re wandering around Nishi Chaya and nearby.
What to Expect From a Gold Leaf Experience in Kanazawa
You’ll see a lot of gold leaf in Japan. Mostly on shrines and temples, but nowhere will you see it used in more fun ways than in Kanazawa. There are entire walls covered with it, you can eat food sprinkled with sparkly particles, and add it to cute souvenirs on one of Kanazawa’s gold leaf craft sessions. Here’s what happened when I tried the Hakuichi Gold Leaf Experience in Kanazawa.
Top 10 Things to See in Nagano City
Just a few hours away from Tokyo, the city of Nagano is home to one of Japan’s most important shrines, the famous snow monkeys and much more – so, what should you do when you visit? Here are our top 10 things to do in Nagano.
Guide to The Higashiyama Walking Course in Takayama
If you have more than one day in Takayama, why not spend a couple of hours of it investigating the Higashiyama Walking Course? This walk is located close to the old town and takes in 12 temples and shrines with some interesting features. If you don’t have time to do the whole thing, you can easily see 10 of the buildings in about an hour.
Where to Stay in Takayama
If you’re planning on spending a few nights in Takayama, you might wonder where to stay. Here are the best areas to consider, according to us.
How to Spend Two Days in Takayama
Two full days is the perfect amount of time to see the best that Takayama has to offer and take a side trip to the nearby town of Hida Furukawa. Here’s how to fit it all in.