Kanazawa Castle: Hokuriku’s Horizontal Hold

15.02.2023

Sightseeing Spots

Kanazawa Castle is an impeccably restored wooden fortress, a marvel of carpetntry, stone masonry and defensive capabilities, and a history of war with fire.

The busy square in Higashi Chaya, the eastern most geisha district in Kanazawa, Japan

The 3 Geisha Districts of Kanazawa

15.02.2023

Districts and Areas

It's not enough to say, "I want to visit Kanazawa's geisha district," as the Japanese castle town has three! Here's how best to enjoy each one.

Maki-e: powdered metal painted onto lacquerware, a traditional craft of Kanazawa

Step Inside the “City of Crafts,” Kanazawa

07.01.2023

Sightseeing Spots

A shinto gate of hand drums, the prestige of Japan's only national crafts museum, and the connection to nature and history make Kanazawa a "City of Crafts."

Shirasagi no Yu, public onsen in Yuwaku, Kanazawa

Yuwaku Onsen: A World Away in Kanazawa

06.12.2022

Districts and Areas

What do you get when you cross Shirakawa-go with Yamanaka? The 1300-year-old Yuwaku Onsen, a sleepy village set deep in the mountainous forests of Kanazawa.

Dinosaur skeleton on display at the Fukui Dinosaur Museum

The Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum

22.11.2022

Day Trips from Kanazawa

For the dinosaur lover, young and old, no visit to Japan is complete without a day trip from Kanazawa to the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum.

Nishida Kitaro Philosophy Museum, Tadao Ando, Kanazawa architecture

Kitaro Nishida Museum of Philosophy

08.11.2022

Day Trips from Kanazawa

The Kitaro Nishida Museum of Philosophy, designed by Tadao Ando, is one of Kanazawa's architectural marvels. The man it honors was often controversial in his lifetime for incorporating Western with Eastern ideas. Nishida lived in the same …

snow traditional japanese gasshou farmhouse at shirakawago

Shirakawago & Beyond: Farm Villages of the Japanese Alps

21.10.2022

Day Trips from Kanazawa

From the convenient and historic castle town of Kanazawa, visiting Shirakawago and other Japanese mountain farm villages is any easy trek and a winter must.

Toyama, for Crafts & Nature Lovers

20.05.2021

Day Trips from Kanazawa

There are many charming spots in Toyama, but from here I want to share everything that appeals to my craftwork-loving heart! So let's start...

A palace hidden by pine trees, Seisonkaku is notable for the red gate facing Kenrokuen.

Seisonkaku Villa & the Last Days of its Lord and Lady

28.04.2021

Sightseeing Spots

Seisonkaku, a carefully preserved Japanese villa and home to a lady whose house served the imperial aristocacry, stands today as a house museum in Kanazawa.

Nomura Samurai Family Residence Museum in Nagamachi, the Samurai District in Kanazawa

The Samurai District of Kanazawa: Nagamachi

09.04.2021

Districts and Areas

Home to samurai soldiers of Edo era Kanazawa, the fortified walls now surround samurai museums, craft shops, unique cafes and Japanese gardens.

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art Main Hall, Kanazawa

To Go or Not to Go? Kanazawa’s 21st Century Museum

02.04.2021

Art & Culture

One of Kanazawa's biggest draws is the 21st Century Museum. While world-famous, it often receives mixed reviews. Why is this, and is it worth visiting?