VISIT KANAZAWA, JAPAN - Official Travel Guide

During the feudal era, the area was lined with the residences of middle-class clan members, and many of you may have seen the scenery of earthen walls and row-house gates on both sides of the alleyway in the media. You can feel the seasons just by walking through the garden, with its fresh greenery and autumn leaves visible over the earthen walls, and "komogake"(protecting wall with straw mats) and "Yukitsuri"(snow hanging) in the winter. The town layout remains as it was on an old map made in the Edo period. The town is so beautiful that some people mistake it for a theme park, but it is a residential area with people living in most of the houses.

The Nomura-ke Samurai Residence, which is open to the public, offers a glimpse into the lifestyle of the warriors of that time. The garden is so beautiful that it has received a Michelin 2-star rating and attracts many tourists from abroad.

♦Nomura-ke Samurai Residence 

Site / 1-3-32 Nagamachi, Kanazawa City

TEL / 076-221-3553

Open / 8:30-17:30 (8:30-16:30 from October to March, admission until 30 minutes before closing as indicated on the left), closed December 26 and 27, January 1 and 2

Admission fee (adult) / 550 yen

HP / http://www.nomurake.com/

The Nagamachi District tour starts from "Korinbo", a 10-minute bus ride from Kanazawa Station. Enter the intersection in front of "DAIWA" department store toward Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel and walk along the blue dotted line on the map. Take a zigzag course around the area, crossing the first, second, third, and fifth bridges over the Onosho canal, and return to the Korinbo bus stop. A leisurely one-hour walk. If you want to have a leisurely meal or tea, or if you want to take your time sightseeing, plan for even more time.

Instead of returning to Korinbo, we recommend that you extend your visit from Oyama Shrine to Kanazawa Castle Park, Kenrokuen Garden and 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa.

The Nagamachi District is full of places where you can experience Kanazawa's unique atmosphere and stores where you can buy souvenirs, all while maintaining the atmosphere of the old town. We will pick up a few of them and introduce them here. Why not experience Kanazawa's traditional culture along with a stroll around the city?

♦Nagamachi Yuzen Kan 【temporarily closed 】

A workshop run by a dyeing company that has been in business since the Edo period. In addition to learning about the process and history of Kaga Yuzen and viewing the works, visitors can also experience wearing and coloring Kaga Yuzen furisode (long-sleeved kimono) and visiting kimono, and walking around Nagamachi in street clothes for a separate fee.

Site / 2-6-16 Nagamachi, Kanazawa City

TEL / 076-264-2811

Open / 9:30-17:00

Close / Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and December-February (Dyeing experience is available by reservation.)

Admission fee (adult) / 350yen

HP / https://kagayuzen-club.co.jp/en/

♦Shiki no Table　（restaurant serves local cuisine)

You can eat Kanazawa's local cuisine, such as "jibuni"（duck or chiken stew）

Site / 1-1-17 Nagamachi, Kanazawa City

TEL / 076-231-2501  

Open / 16:00〜17:00

Close / Sundays, National holidays, Year-end and New Year holidays

HP / https://shikinotable.gorp.jp/ (Japanese only)

♦Kaburaki Store Kanazawa Kutani Museum

Inside the tasteful Japanese-style building, Kutani ware and other items are sold, and the Kaburaki Collection is on display. The adjoining restaurant, "Oishii Ippuku Kaburaki," offers food and drink while enjoying a view of the garden.

Site / 1-3-16 Nagamachi, Kanazawa City

TEL / 076-221-6666

Open / 9:00-18:00 (Oishii Ippuku Kaburaki is open from 10:00, also open in the evening by reservation only)

Close / Irregular holidays

Admission fee / Free

HP / https://kaburaki.jp/museum (Japanese only)

◆atelier&gallery creava

Visitors can experience "Rokuro" (potter's wheel), "Kutani gosai" (five-colored porcelain), and "Akae kinsai" (red glaze with gold leef) at the pottery studio, which was renovated from a warehouse built in the Meiji period. It also has a gallery, store, and café.

Site / 2-6-51 Nagamachi, Kanazawa City

TEL / 076-254-1668（For reservation of ceramic art experience）

Open

・Ceramics Studio / Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays (See web page below for hours and other details) ※Reservations required

・Shop, Gallery, Cafe / 11:00〜17:00 (Closed on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Obon holidays, year-end and New Year holidays)

HP / https://creava-kanazawa.jp/

Kanazawa is one of the three major Japanese confectionery destinations in Japan. In this neighborhood, there are many stores where you can enjoy Kanazawa's typical Japanese sweets while admiring the historical landscape and well-kept gardens.

♦Cafe MURAKAMI nagaya-mon

The Japanese sweets cafe produced by "Wagashi Murakami", as known as "Fukusa mochi" (wrapped rice cake), "Wari gori" (confectionery sugar and agar). At this cafe, where the old row-house gate still remains, you can eat "Buke Yashiki Plate" and "Kinpaku (gold leaf) Dango" .

Site / 2-3-33 Nagamachi, Kanazawa City

TEL / 076-264-4223

Open / 10:30～17:30

Close / Irregular holiday

HP / https://www.cafe-murakami.com/ (Japanese only)

♦Kanazawa Nagamachi Kayuan

The owner is well known for his additive-free fresh confections and matcha (powdered green tea), which he makes by hand every day from early in the morning. There are five to six varieties of fresh confections, and they are sometimes sold out late in the day.

Site / 2-2-38 Nagamachi, Kanazawa City

TEL / 076-221-2925

Open / 10:00~16:00

Close / Monday, Thursday, Friday

HP / https://visitkanazawa.jp/en/shops/detail_50522.html

♦Sakakobo Tarou Onigawa Store

Including the most popular "Cacao Chocolate Yokan", there is a wide variety of unique confections that bring a new style to Japanese confectionery. Here, you can enjoy Japanese sweets while admiring the beautiful garden!

Site / 1-3-32 Nagamachi, Kanazawa city

TEL / 076-223-2838

Open / 8:45〜17:30（L.O.16:30）

Close / Jan.1,2 Irregular holiday

HP / https://www.sakakobo-taro.com (Japanese only)

If you visit the Nagamachi District, here are some spots you should definitely stop by.

♦Holy Spirit Monastery Cathedral

Built in 1931 by a Swiss architect, this wooden structure incorporating Romanesque style features an impressive worship space with tatami mats.  It is designated as a cultural property by Kanazawa City.

Site / 1-5-30 Nagamachi, Kanazawa City

Open / 9:00~17:00

Admission fee / Free

HP / https://www-pref-ishikawa-lg-jp.translate.goog/kyoiku/bunkazai/kenzoubutu/k-23.html?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=ja

♦Kibune Myojin

The shrine is located along the Kuratsuki Irrigation Canal and is marked by a magnificent red pine tree. It is said that if you enter the small shrine from upstream, you will be divorced, and if you enter from downstream and visit the large shrine, your wish for marriage will be fulfilled.

Site / 2-11 Korinbo, Kanazawa Ciy

♦Maeda Tosanokami-ke Shiryokan Museum

The museum stores and partially exhibits approximately 9,000 items (designated as cultural assets by Ishikawa Prefecture) belonging to the Maeda Tosanokami family, whose ancestors were Maeda Toshimasa, the second son of Maeda Toshiie(The founder of Kaga Domain).

Site / 2-10-17 Katamachi, Kanazawa City

TEL / 076-233-1561

Open / 9:30〜17:00

Close / Monday

Admission fee (Adult) / 310yen

HP / https://www.kanazawa-museum.jp/maedatosa/english/index.html

♦Kanazawa Shinise Memorial Hall

The building of "Nakaya Yakuho", a medicine merchant from the feudal domain era, was relocated. The museum recreates the appearance of a merchant's house from the feudal domain era, and also exhibits traditional town people's culture.

Site / 2-2-45 Nagamachi, Kanazawa City

TEL / 076-220-2524

Open / 9:30~17:00

Close / Monday

Admission fee (Adult) / 100yen

HP / https://www.kanazawa-museum.jp/shinise/english/index.html