1 Fuji-san (Mount Fuji)
2 Hagi
3 Hiroshima
4 Iriomote-jima
5 Kamakura
6 Kanazawa
7 Kinkakuji Temple, Kyoto
8 Miyajima
9 Todaiji Temple, Nara
10 Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo
Kanazawa is a large, modern city that yet retains many reminders of the old Japan, which kept faith with the idea of the unity of heaven and earth.
Located on the western coast of central Honshu, in Ishikawa-ken, Kanazawa became an independent Buddhist republic during the 15th century, before being taken over by the Maeda clan. It is still a religious centre, as well as a centre for crafts and the arts, particularly noh (stylised dance drama) theatre.
The single most famous attraction of Kanazawa, and one of Japan's three finest gardens, is the Kenrokuen Garden. Originally part of the castle, the private domain of the Maeda, the garden was gradually enlarged between the 16th and 19th centuries. It lives up to its name, which refers to the six vital features of a garden - artifice, age, running water, seclusion, spaciousness and views - and is best seen in the peace of early morning. But what is most attractive about Kanazawa is the abundance of old houses, especially in the samurai quarter behind the 109 Korinbo department store in the Nagamachi district. The Nomura Family House, the elegant former home of a wealthy samurai warrior, has been painstakingly maintained in its original condition and is open to the public. The Higashi-yama district overlooks the city from the slopes of Utatsuyama Mountain. There are a number of temples and shrines throughout the district, some active, some decaying, whilst the Eastern Pleasure Quarter, just north of the Asano-gawa river, was established as an entertainment area for high-ranking citizens in 1820. There are several streets of old geisha houses, one of which, the Shima-ke, is open to the public. Also worth seeing is the Honda Museum with its family collection of armour and art, the intimate Gyokusenen Garden and the Ohi Pottery Museum.Address: 150km north of Nagoya
Bus: Services to Kyoto, Nagoya and Tokyo
Train: JR limited express to Kyoto, Nagoya and Osaka
Air: Frequent flights to all main cities: airport 55mins from city centre
Info: Kanazawa station PHONE: (076) 232 6200
| COUNTRY |
| Japan
|
| Viewing |
| Top Ten |
| What To See |
| Where To ... |
| Practical Matters |
| REGION |
| CITIES |
| MAPS |
| World |
| Europe |
| TRAVEL BOOK |
| Book Info |
| Order Online |
 |