Enjoy an authentic Japanese experience in Kanazawa. ~ Higashi tea house district and Kazuemachi tea house district~

Many people love to walk in these districts because there are traditional tea houses and small shops. Ochaya (tea house) is a sophisticated place of entertainment for people in high society. Geiko, who are dressed in Kimono, entertain guests by performing traditional dance and playing the Shamisen or by hosting Ozashiki-asobi (games with Geisha).

In Kanazawa three main tea house districts remain down to this day. The “Higashi tea house district”, the “Nishi tea house district”, and the “Kazuemachi tea house district”. These three teahouse districts are designated as Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Historic Buildings in Japan.

I stopped by at Yaoyoroz on the way to the tea house district. This shop is near the “Kazuemachi tea house district”.

Yaoyoroz is a shop that sells select goods from Ishikawa prefecture. The selection ranges from miscellaneous goods to gifts and sweets. They even run a cafe there. It is interesting to see masterpieces created by local artisans and tastefully selected “genuine culinary utensils”.

The biggest reason I visited was to see and take photos of “Hyakuman-san”! Hyakuman-san was created to promote Kanazawa station when they started to operate the Hokuriku Shinkansen in March of 2015.

One part of the cafe is used as an atelier to make Hyakuman-san goods. I took some snapshots of Hyakuman-san the making in progress.

Kazuemachi teahouse district offers traditional restaurants and teahouses. It was the narrow street which made it the less touristy comparing to the Higashi teahouse district later I visited.

This teahouse district which was formed in 1820, is the biggest in Kanazawa. It`s across the river from Kazuemachi teahouse district. A 5 minute walk will you get here from Kazuemachi teahouse district.
The main street is called 2 bancho street. Photos of this street are often used in guidebooks for Kanazawa. The photos below are of 2 bancho street.