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City Spotlight: Kanazawa

A Travel Guide to the Gold Leaf Capital of Japan

Pop quiz: What do you get when you cross samurai swagger with avant-garde art, and sprinkle it all with gold leaf? No, not a lost level of Super Mario Bros. – welcome to Kanazawa. This coastal charmer on the Sea of Japan is the Goldilocks of Japanese cities – not too big, not too small, but just right for those seeking a perfect blend of tradition and innovation.

A Gilded First Impression

Let's start with the obvious, shall we? Kanazawa literally means "marsh of gold," and trust me, this city lives up to its name. The crown jewel is Kenroku-en, one of Japan's "Three Great Gardens." This horticultural masterpiece is so meticulously crafted, it makes the Gardens of Versailles look like a hastily assembled IKEA flat-pack.

Pro tip: Visit early in the morning to catch the mist rising off the ponds. It's the closest you'll get to being in a real-life Miyazaki film without the risk of being turned into a pig.

Where Samurai Meets Art So Contemporary, It Hasn't Happened Yet

Kanazawa's Nagamachi district is where the samurai once roamed, and you can still feel the weight of history in its narrow streets. The restored Nomura Samurai House is a must-visit – it's like stepping into a period drama, without the cheesy dialogue.

But Kanazawa isn't just about the past. The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art is like the TARDIS of museums - it seems to defy the laws of space and time. Don't miss Leandro Erlich's "Swimming Pool" installation – it's an optical illusion that'll have you questioning reality faster than a night of sake and karaoke.

Culinary Gold Rush

Speaking of sake, Kanazawa's food scene is nothing short of spectacular. The Omicho Market, aka "Kanazawa's Kitchen," has been feeding locals since the Edo period. It's a sensory overload of sights, smells, and tastes that'll make your local farmer's market like a wilted lettuce convention.

For a true taste of luxury, splurge on some gold leaf ice cream. Yes, you read that right – Kanazawa produces 99% of Japan's gold leaf, and they're not afraid to put it on everything.

Glimpses of Geisha and Grace

If you thought geisha were just for Kyoto, think again. Kanazawa's Higashi Chaya District is one of the best-preserved geisha districts in Japan. Wander the lantern-lit streets at dusk for a magical experience.

For a more hands-on cultural experience, try your hand at gold leaf application or traditional tea ceremony. It's a humbling reminder that some things are better left to the professionals.

The Golden Rule

Kanazawa is the Japan you've been dreaming of – it's a city that respects its past without being stuck in it, where tradition and innovation coexist as harmoniously as wasabi and soy sauce.

So the next time someone suggests yet another trip to Tokyo, gently steer them towards Kanazawa instead. Just remember to pack your sunglasses – all that gold can be blinding.

Wander well,

Olivia Columba

Quick Look at Kanazawa: What You Need To Know Before You Go

• 🗺️ Location: Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan

• 📍 Coordinates: 36.5613° N, 136.6562° E

• 🕰️ Time Zone: Japan Standard Time (JST), UTC +9 hours.

•  📅 Founded: 1583 by Maeda Toshiie

• 👥 Population: Approximately 450,000

• 🗣️ Language: Japanese

• 💱 Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY)

Did you know?

The D.T. Suzuki Museum is not only a shrine to the man who served Zen to the West on a silver platter of enlightenment, but it was also designed by Yoshio Taniguchi - the same architectural wizard who waved his stylish wand over New York's MoMA.

Local Cuisine: What to Eat & Drink in Kanazawa

• Kaga ryori: A traditional multi-course meal featuring local ingredients

• Jibuni: A hearty duck stew with vegetables and wheat gluten

• Kabura-zushi: Pickled turnip stuffed with yellowtail and fermented rice

• Gori: Small river fish typically deep-fried as tempura

• Kanazawa curry: A local style of curry rice with a thick, rich sauce

Best Teahouse in Kanazawa

🍵 Ochaya Shima is a beautifully preserved Edo-period teahouse built in 1820, offering visitors a rare glimpse into authentic geisha culture. Enjoy traditional sweets with green tea in the "Kanson-an" tearoom.

Best Hot Dog in Kanazawa

🌭 Street Vendor: This hidden hot dog stand offers freshly made Kanazawa-style, pork and chicken sausage, and Philly-style dogs, all with crispy buns and unique toppings.

Best Bakery in Kanazawa

🥐 Hirami Pan is known for its Japanese-style bread and pastries, especially cardamom rolls. Housed in a renovated Taisho-era building.

Best Coffee Spots in Kanazawa

☕ Kaikodou Coffee: A cozy, nostalgic café offering carefully crafted coffee in a vintage atmosphere that invites relaxation and reflection.

☕ Curio Espresso and Vintage Design Cafe: Serves decadent espresso drinks, alongside breakfast options.

Best Ice Cream in Kanazawa

🍦 Hakuichi Gold Leaf Ice Cream in the Higashi Chaya district offers soft-serve topped with edible gold leaf.

Explore & Enjoy: What to do in Kanazawa

Free Things to Do in Kanazawa

🏯 Kenroku-en Garden: Explore on of the “Three Great Gardens of Japan” when free entry is offered.

🥷 Nagamachi Samurai District: Wander through the time in this unique space with its preserved architecture.

Best Local Market in Kanazawa

🐟 Omicho Market, "Kanazawa's Kitchen," boasts over 170 stalls of fresh seafood, local produce, and regional specialties, serving as the city's culinary heart for centuries.

Best Shopping Destination in Kanazawa

🛍️ The Katamachi and Tatemachi shopping streets offer a diverse mix of stores selling local crafts, pottery, silk, and gold leaf products alongside modern shops and department stores.

Best Independent Bookstore in Kanazawa

📚 Oyoyo Shorin is a charming bookstore with two locations, providing a cozy atmosphere for book lovers to explore various genres in the city known as "the library of Japan.”

Best Place for Recorded Music in Kanazawa

🎵 The Kanazawa Phonograph Museum houses over 500 phonographs and 20,000 LP records, offering a unique journey through recorded music history with live demonstrations, including a self-playing Mason & Hamlin Ampico piano from 1927.

Only in Kanazawa

🍂 Experience the art of gold leaf application at Gold Leaf Sakuda, this is a truly unique experience where you can try your hand at this traditional craft and enjoy tea with gold flakes.

Weather and Climate in Kanazawa

🌸 Spring (March-May): Mild and pleasant with cherry blossom season

☀️ Summer (June-August): Hot and humid with frequent rainfall

🍁 Fall (September-November): Mild temperatures with colorful foliage

❄️ Winter (December-February): Cold with heavy snowfall

🌡️ Coldest Month (January): 38°F (3.3°C) Hottest Month (August): 82°F (27.8°C)

☔ Annual Precipitation: Rain - about 98 inches (2,500mm), Significant winter snowfall averaging 68 inches (173cm)

🌦️Notable Weather Patterns:

• Winter sea effect snow from the Sea of Japan ❄️

• High humidity throughout summer months 💧

• Frequent cloudy days year-round ☁️

• Protected from typhoons by surrounding mountains 🗻

Origins & Influence: Connections to Kanazawa

The Story Behind the Name Kanazawa

Picture it: 1580, and the Maeda clan, clearly not ones for subtlety, christen their new digs "marsh of gold."

Now, legend has it this blingy title came courtesy of a chap named Imohori Togoro, who was digging for spuds and struck the jackpot instead – because who doesn't find flakes of gold while hunting for their carbs? But here's the juicy bit: Kanazawa's real treasure is in the absolutely fabulous artistry and culture that's been making jaws drop for centuries.

Kanazawa in Pop Culture

Look for the Pokémon-themed manhole cover (Pokéfuta) in front of the National Crafts Museum. The cover features the water-type Pokémon Milotic, symbolizing Kanazawa's beauty in both nature and art.

Fugitive Samurai, a popular TV series in Japan during the 1970s, used the Nagamachi Samurai District as a filming location.

Famous Personalities from Kanazawa

• D. T. Suzuki: Japanese Zen philosopher.

• Yoshirō Taniguchi: Architect. Father of Yoshio Taniguchi.

• Kyōka Izumi: Novelist and playwright

Sister City: Buffalo, New York

Kanazawa and Buffalo, New York have been sister cities since 1962, Who knew that Samurai spirit and Rust Belt grit could make such a devastatingly fabulous power couple?