Higashi Chaya District
5 minutes by car from Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa - directions
Nearby Parking - directions
A chaya (lit. teahouse) is an exclusive type of restaurant where guests are entertained by geisha who perform song and dance. During the Edo Period, chaya were found in designated entertainment districts, usually just outside the city limits. Kanazawa has three, well preserved chaya districts, Higashi Chayagai (Eastern Chaya District), Nishi Chayagai (Western Chaya District) and Kazuemachi.
Kinpakuya Sakuda - Gold Leaf Souvenirs & Workshop
7 minutes by car from Kenrokuen - directions
Open: 9:00am ~ 5:00pm
Closed: No ClosuresKinpakuya Sakuda is a well-established gold leaf shop known for its craftsmanship and expertise in producing kinpaku (gold leaf). Located in the heart of Kanazawa, it offers a wide array of gold leaf products, ranging from traditional crafts to modern items like cosmetics and home decor.
Gold Leaf Pasting Experience
Start Times: 9:00 /10:30 / 13:00 / 15:00 ~
Duration: 60 minutes
Cost: Dependent on the item chosen for you experience
🚩 Prior Reservation is required - To be booked by Japan Junket
Ramanya Rickshaw Tours - Kanazawa Sightseeing
directions
Open: 10:00am ~ 4:30pm
Closed: No ClosuresRomanya Rickshaw Tours offers a unique and immersive way to explore Kanazawa's rich cultural heritage. Operating from the historic Higashi Chaya District, their rickshaw rides are guided by knowledgeable and friendly "shafu" (rickshaw pullers) who share local insights and stories, enhancing the sightseeing experience.
Departures: Every hour and half past during opening hours. (10:30pm)
Duration: 45 minutes
Cost: Adult JPY 8,240 (12,000 total)
🚩 Prior Reservation is Recommended - To be booked by Japan Junket
Please inform drivers that you have booked with Ramanya Rickshaw to ensure you are at the correct location as there are other Rickshaw tour operators in the immediate area, and occasionally the incorrect Rickshaws are boarded.Hakuichi Higashiyama store – Eat gold leaf soft-serve ice cream
7 minutes by car from Kenrokuen - directions
Open: 9:00am ~ 6:00pm
Closed: No ClosuresThe Hakuichi Higashiyama store in Kanazawa is renowned for its extensive range of gold leaf products, reflecting Kanazawa’s history as Japan’s leading producer of high-quality gold leaf. Located in the Higashi Chaya District, the store offers visitors the chance to see intricate gold leaf craftsmanship applied to a variety of items, including cosmetics, jewelry, and traditional crafts.
🍴 Kazu Nakashima - Traditional Sweets
19m / 1 minutes on foot from Hakuichi Higashiyama Store - directions
Open: 10:00am ~ 6:00pm
Closed: ThursdaysKazu Nakashima is a renowned shop in Kanazawa, celebrated for its exquisite traditional sweets. One of their standout offerings is the fresh fruit encased in mochi, a delightful treat that showcases seasonal fruits wrapped in a soft, chewy rice cake. This combination not only highlights the natural sweetness of the fruit but also offers a unique texture that is beloved by locals and visitors alike.
🍴 Kaikaro Teahouse Cafe - Largest Teahouse in Higashi Chaya
100m / 1 minute on foot from Geisha House Shima - directions
Open: 10:00am ~ 5:00pm
Closed: WednesdaysKaikaro Teahouse is one of the largest and most renowned teahouses in the Higashi Chaya district of Kanazawa, known for preserving the traditions of geisha culture. This elegant teahouse dates back to the Edo period and offers visitors a glimpse into the world of traditional Japanese tea ceremonies and geisha entertainment.
Check out their menu
Make a reservationHakuza Hikari-gura - See Kanazawas Gold House
41m / 1 minute on foot from Kaikaro Teahouse Cafe - directions
Open: 9:30am ~ 5:30pm
Closed: No ClosuresHikazu Hikari-gura store features a range of HAKUHIN metal leaf products, crafted from a unique gold-platinum alloy, but it’s wares aren’t it’s only draw. The store’s exterior boasts a stunning outer wall covered in platinum leaf, while the inner walls of “The Golden Storehouse” are adorned with 24K pure gold leaf, creating a visually striking atmosphere.
🍴 Roku Musubi - Onigiri Specialist Restaurant (temporarily closed)
39m / 1 minute on foot from Hakuza Hiakri-gura - directions
Open: 10:00am ~ 5:00pm
Closed: No ClosuresRoku Musubi is a specialty shop located in Kanazawa, Japan, that focuses on traditional Japanese rice balls (onigiri). The shop is known for using high-quality, locally sourced rice from the Ishikawa region, paired with fresh and flavorful ingredients for fillings such as pickled plums (umeboshi), grilled fish, and seasonal vegetables. Each rice ball is carefully crafted to showcase the simplicity and deliciousness of authentic Japanese cuisine.
Higashiyama Shuraku - Try 120 different types of Ishikawa local sake
directions
Open:
Closed:?
YAMATO Soy Sauce and Miso Higashiyama Store
directions
Open: 10:00am ~ 12:00pm / 1:00pm ~ 5:00pm
Closed: WednesdaysThe Yamato Soy Sauce & Miso Higashiyama Store is a charming specialty shop located in Kanazawa's historic Higashi Chaya District. Established in 1911, Yamato is renowned for its traditional, additive-free fermented products made from domestically sourced ingredients. Visitors can sample and purchase a variety of items, including soy sauce, miso, amazake, and the regional fish sauce known as "Ishiru." A highlight for many is the unique soy sauce soft-serve ice cream, offering a delightful blend of sweet and savory flavors.
✦ Kenroku-en Gardens
8 minutes by car from Nishi Chaya District - directions
Kenrokuen Parking Lot - directions
Open: 7:00am–6:00pm (8:00am–5:00pm from October 16th to end of February.
Closing time is extended to 9:30pm. to allow visitors to enjoy ‘yozakura’, or night cherry blossom viewing after the official announcement of the start of the cherry blossom season in Kanazawa, typically late March ~ Early April
Closed: No Closures
Justifiably classified as one of Japan's "three most beautiful landscape gardens" alongside Mito's Kairakuen and Okayama's Korakuen. The spacious grounds used to be the outer garden of Kanazawa Castle and were constructed by the ruling Maeda family over a period of nearly two centuries.
Cost: Adult ¥320
Kaga-Yuzen Kimono Center
270m / 5 minutes on foot from Kenrokuen Garden - directions
Open: 9:00am ~ 5:00pm
Closed: Wednesdays
The history of Kaga Yuzen dyeing dates back 500 years, to when Umezome (plain dyeing) was the distinctive dyeing technique of the Kaga district. In the mid 17th century, pattern and picture dyeing were introduced to produce elegant designs, and those techniques evolved into today’s Kaga Yuzen dyeing technique. In 1712, Yuzensai Miyazaki, a noted designer of fans, came to Kanazawa from Kyoto as a designer and dyer of the Tarodaya dyeing house. With his outstanding skill in dyeing using paste, he contributed greatly to the development of Kaga Yuzen dyeing. Kaga Yuzen dyeing flourished in Kanazawa under the patronage of the feudal lords of the Kaga district, and the city produced many outstanding dyers and designer.
Kaga-Yuzen Dyeing Experience
Try you hand at Kaga-Yuzen. Kaga Yuzen uses five basic colors; indigo, crimson, ocher, dark green and royal purple, and the designs depict beautiful elements of nature such as flowers, birds and landscapes. The dyeing style is characterized by the technique of shading from the outside to the inside of the patterns, and by realistic motifs such as plants and flowers with leaves bitten by insects.
Duration: 20 ~ 60 minutes
Cost: ¥1.650 ~ ¥2,750 - dependant on item and dying method chosen
Walk-in experience
✦ Kanazawa Castle - Seaat of the powerful Maeda Clan
900m / 12 minutes on foot from Kaga Yuzen Kimono Center - directions
Open: 7:00am ~ 6:00pm
Closed: No Closures
Kanazawa Castle is a historic landmark that once served as the seat of the powerful Maeda clan during the Edo period. Originally built in 1580, the castle has been reconstructed several times due to fires and other damage. Today, its impressive stone walls, restored gates, and wooden structures like the Ishikawa-mon Gate and Gojikken Nagaya storehouse offer a glimpse into feudal architecture.
Cost: Entry to the Hishi Yagura, Gojuken Nagaya, and Hashizume-mon Tsuzuki Yagura : Adult ¥320 / Child (6~17) ¥100
🍺 Kanazawa Chuo Mishokugai - Bar Alley
1.1km / 15 minutes on foot from Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa - directions
Open: Monday ~ Saturday 5:00pm ~ 11:00pm / Sunday 6:00pm ~ 9:00pm
Closed: No Closures
Kanazawa Chuo Mishokugai is a hidden gem nestled in the backstreets of the Katamachi district, offering a nostalgic glimpse into Japan's Showa era. This compact alleyway is lined with approximately 20 tiny bars and eateries, each exuding a retro charm with low ceilings and vintage decor. Most establishments accommodate only a handful of patrons, fostering an intimate and friendly atmosphere where locals and visitors alike can engage in casual conversations over local dishes and drinks.