Higashi Chaya District

6 minutes by taxi from Mitsui Garden Kanazawa - 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 Closures

  Kinpakuya 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 - booking link - Payment: CASH on the day
    

• Ramanya Rickshaw Tours - Kanazawa Sightseeing

  directions
  Open: 10:00am ~ 4:30pm
  Closed: No Closures

  Departures: Every hour and half past during opening hours.
  Duration: 45 minutes
  Cost: Adult ¥8,000
  You can book ahead of time - booking link (I recommend 10:30am)

• 🍴Grab a lunch recommendation from your guide

• Hakuichi Higashiyama store – Eat gold leaf soft-serve ice cream

  7 minutes by car from Kenrokuen - directions
  Open: 9:00am ~ 6:00pm
  Closed: No Closures

  The 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: Thursdays

  Kazu 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: Wednesdays

  Kaikaro 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 reservation

• Hakuza Hikari-gura - See Kanazawas Gold House

  41m / 1 minute on foot from Kaikaro Teahouse Cafe - directions
  Open: 9:30am ~ 5:30pm
  Closed: No Closures

  Hikazu 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.

• YAMATO Soy Sauce and Miso Higashiyama Store

  directions
  Open: 10:00am ~ 12:00pm / 1:00pm ~ 5:00pm
  Closed: Wednesdays

  The 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.

• Tea Ceremony SOYU

  directions
  Open: 11:00am ~ 5:00pm
  Closed: No Closures

  Tea Ceremony SOYU is a traditional tea ceremony experience housed in a preserved Edo-period machiya townhouse. It offers visitors an authentic immersion into Japanese tea culture and guests can participate in ceremonies featuring both koicha (thick tea) and usucha (thin tea), accompanied by seasonal sweets, all within a serene tatami-floored tea room. The experience is led by a certified Urasenke tea master, ensuring an educational and culturally rich encounter.

  Duration: 40 ~ 60 minutes
  Session Times: 11:00 / 12:30 / 14:00 / 15:30 / 17:00
  Cost: Shared Table ¥6,600 per person / Private sessions also available
  Prior Reservation is Required - reservation by email

• 🍴 Perche - Pizza Restaurant

  directions
  Open: 6:00am ~ 12:00am (11:00pm on Sundays)
  Closed: Wednesdays

  Pizzeria Perché (ペルケ) is a cozy, high-level Neapolitan-style pizzeria hidden in a historic machiya (traditional townhouse) alley off the main street. Founded in March 2014, its owner-chef Ryōta Nakamura trained in Naples and bakes large, authentic pizzas (about 33 cm, 250 g) in a sky-blue wood-fired oven imported from Italy.