Discovering Kanazawa: A Journey Through the Castle Town
Exploring Kanazawa, the Castle Town of Kaga Hyakumangoku (March 30-31, 2022)
Day 1
Departing from Osaka Station: 09:12 on Thunderbird No. 11
Arriving in Kanazawa: 11:58
Kanazawa was established as a castle town when Maeda Toshiie entered Kanazawa Castle in 1583. The Maeda family was the largest daimyo, ruling over three provinces—Kaga, Noto, and Etchu—across present-day Ishikawa and Toyama Prefectures, with a territory of 1.2 million koku. Additionally, Kenrokuen, one of Japan's three great gardens, was created as a garden for the Maeda family.
Upon arrival, I had a light lunch at Kanazawa Hyakubangai, located inside Kanazawa Station. I then started my sightseeing by taking a local bus from the east exit of Kanazawa Station. The buses run every 15 minutes or so, and you can choose between clockwise (platform 6) and counterclockwise (platform 7) routes, so there's no need to rush. I first took the clockwise bus, got off at Hashiba-cho, and explored Higashi Chaya District. As soon as I got off, I noticed many young women in traditional kimono walking around.
Higashi Chaya District retains its historic charm with beautiful latticework buildings and old streets. Today, it is popular for its souvenir shops selling gold leaf, traditional sweets, and cute Kanazawa-themed items, as well as stylish cafes. After a brief visit, I walked about 10 minutes to Kenrokuen.
Kenrokuen is designated as a special place of scenic beauty and, along with Okayama’s Korakuen and Mito’s Kairakuen, is one of Japan’s three great gardens. Entrance is usually charged, but as a senior (65 and older), I showed my driver’s license and entered for free from the Katsurazaka entrance. I enjoyed viewing the snow suspension on "Takasaki Pine," "Hanami Bridge," "Fountain," and "Meiji Commemoration Marker," and walked almost entirely around the garden. I then wandered through Kanazawa Castle Park, connected to Kenrokuen by an overpass, and walked to Omicho Market.
Unfortunately, the market was closed on the 30th (Wednesday), with only a few shops open. I planned to visit again the next day, and had a sirloin steak set meal at the steakhouse "Daizen" located in the basement of Kanazawa M’za directly across the street. This concluded my sightseeing for the day. The weather was clear and warm, with a high of 22 degrees Celsius.
【Hotel: Trifyt Kanazawa】
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