Forum: Chubu Topic: Kanazawa (Ishikawa-ken) [E] ----------------------------------- Alessandro: Location : Kanazawa (金沢) Prefecture : Ishikawa-ken Attractions :Kenrokuen park (兼六園), Myoryuji (妙立寺), Nagamachi Bukeyashiki-ato (長町武家屋敷跡) and also the fish market. When : The garden can be enjoyed all year round Opening Time : Kenrokuen park : approx. 7:00-18:00 (Mar. 1-Oct. 15), 8:00-16:30 (Oct. 16-Feb. 28 ). Admission 300yen. Myoryuji : 9:00-16:30 (9:00-16:00 from Dec-Feb.). Admission 700 yen, reservation in Japanese required (Phone: 076-241-2877) Access from Tokyo : by plane, 11 daily flights from Haneda to Komatsu airport (Kanazawa) with ANA and JAL; by train, take the Joestu shinkansen until Echigoyuzawa and change for the Limited Express "Hakutaka" until Kanazawa; by night train, connecting Ueno and Kanazawa - the Limited Express Hokuriku (7h20, 18770 yen, sleepers and private rooms) and the Express Noto (7h05, 9750 yen, seats only); by night bus, an attractive option as buses leave from Shinjuku in the evening and arrive in Kanazawa in the early morning. Access from Kyoto : by train, take the Limited Express Raicho and Thunderbird reaching Kanazawa in 2h05-2h22 (6510 yen). If you arrive early in the morning, note that the APA hotel, at the station's north exit, has an excellent breakfast buffet for 1365 yen, opening at 6:30 am. Going around : from the center of the Kanazawa city, all sites are readily accessible by foot or by bus; there is a possibility to rent bicycles from the Nippon car rental shop on the north exit. rail Kanazawa station F BLUE Fish market K BLUE Kenrokuen park (兼六園) N BLUE Nagamachi Bukeyashiki-ato (長町武家屋敷跡) M BLUE Myoruji-ji (妙立寺) C BLUE Kanazawa castle The most famous attraction in Kanazawa is the Kenrokuen Garden, but before coming to it, let's start with the Ninja-dera. Myoruji-ji (妙立寺) : also know as the Ninja Temple The third lord Maeda Toshitsune had Myoryu-ji temple moved from its former location near Kanazawa castle in 1643. In the Edo period, the Tokugawa shogunate demoted local lords and integrated them in order to unify the nation. In the Kaga clan, Toshitsune married a daughter of the Tokugawa family and sent his mother to the Edo castle as a hostage in order to maintain good relations with the shogunate. Meanwhile he constructed many temples around the castle so that many soldiers would be able to standby for battles. This temple, located in the center of this group of temples, was a lookout point from where enemies could be observed. The temple is also called the Ninja-dera, because of many trick staircases, a hidden room, a seppuku ritual suicide chamber, high roof and lookout. Really worth a visit, although we only have a picture from outside... Keep in mind that you need to reserve a slot far in advance to be able to enter the house. Kenrokuen park (兼六園) As said before, the most famous attraction in Kanazawa is the Kenrokuen garden. It is set on top of a hill beside the Kanazawa castle, and is a mossy, woodsy garden that feels very different from the brighter, more open gardens like Korakuen and Kairakuen. The word Kenrokuen can be translate by 'Garden of the six sublimities', or the six attributes of the garden : spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, water and beautiful views. Very few gardens in Japan can combine these six attributes. Once known as Renchi-tei, Kenrokuen was originally the garden of a tea house known as Renchiochin, and work on it first began by the daimyo Tsunanori in the 1620's. It was improved and expanded over the years. Just next to the garden is located the Kanazawa castle, which is not extremely attractive in comparison of more famous ones like the Odawara castle, or the Nagoya one. A visit to Nagamachi Bukeyashiki-ato (Nagamachi Samurai Residence Site 長町武家屋敷跡) is also recommended. There are still many old houses in this ancient samurai residential area, and walking around is really pleasant. Links : Information sheet (pdf file) from JNTO (Japan National Tourist Organization). Official town site of Kanazawa, in English, with some information for visitors. pekka: There's more to the Samurai houses area than just walking around. Some of these houses hide wonderful tiny japanese gardens. The picture on the right was taken in one of these houses, of which I can't remember the name, a couple of years ago. It's supposed to be one of the top 10 most beautiful private gardens in Japan. Ask the tourist information next to it, they'll know... fredayu: another site to be seen, the ruins of the castle which are beside the garden. There remain only some ruins of the imposing castle of Kanazawa. It was the one of most important fortresses of all the island, built in 1600 but it was entirely destroyed by a fire in 1881. It does not remain any more that the principal door, Ishikawa mon, of the pregnant first, as well as a building all in length located on the second enclosure. Nakaya pharmacy : Located at the entry of the district of Samouraïs, this old building sheltered a pharmacy. It was built in 1579, and is now transformed into small museum. The Nomura House : It's the most important samoraïs house in Nagamachi. Nagamachi Omicho market sanji: If you are in Kanazawa and travel a little around, you might want to check the Hoshi Ryokan (老舗旅館) at Awazu Onsen (粟津温泉). This ryokan is said to be the oldest inn still in operation in the world. In opened in 717, and features a hot spring. In is located about 30 km south of Kanazawa Address - Awazu Onsen, Komatsu-shi, Ishikawa-ken Telephone - 0761-65-1111 Reservation center telephone - 0761-65-1112 Internet - www.ho-shi.co.jp Location on google map : link