Kanazawa

Culture, attractions
and entertainment

Of course, the main attraction of Kanazawa is the traditional Japanese landscape park Kenroku-en, one of the “Three Great Parks” of Japan. Its name means "Six Virtues", implying a vast area, a place of solitude, artistry, a touch of antiquity, flowing water and beautiful scenery. The park is picturesque at any time of the year, and in winter it is given a special flavor by ropes stretched from the tops of trees in order to protect them from damage under the weight of snow, which falls abundantly here during this season. It is considered to be the most beautiful landscape park in Japan; it is a true masterpiece of landscape art. The local castle until the very end of the Edo period (1603-1868) was the residence of the Maeda samurai clan, the second most powerful in Japan at that time after the Tokugawa shogun clan. Also associated with the Maeda family is the elegant samurai villa Seisonkaku, built for the mother of the head of the clan in 1863. Also interesting is the former samurai district of Nagamachi, located at the foot of Kanazawa Castle. In the Middle Ages, samurai and their families lived here, and today the area retains its ancient atmosphere, with narrow alleys, canals and clay walls of preserved houses. Here is the restored home of one of the samurai, with household items and original interior elements on display. The city has two famous Buddhist temples, also built here during the reign of the Maeda family: Ninja and Oyama. Oyama Shrine combines traditional Japanese and Western architecture, which is very unusual for such structures in Japan: its gate was built by a Dutch architect. The ancient Higashi-chaya district also deserves unconditional attention, somewhat reminiscent of the famous Gion quarter in Kyoto. Its narrow streets still retain memories of Edo period Japan. To get to Kanazawa city from Tokyo, it is best to take a plane (Haneda Airport, flight time - 1 hour).