HIGASHI CHAYA DISTRICT Higashi Chaya-gai is a beautifully preserved historical area of Kanazawa with many traditional wooden buildings. This area was established in 1820 as an entertainment district for rich merchants and nobility. The name Higashi Chaya-gai literally means “Eastern Teahouse District,” because the chaya, or teahouses, were where wealthy customers would be entertained by geisha with traditional music, dancing, and drinking games. Many of these buildings have today been converted into restaurants or souvenir craft shops, but there are two geisha teahouses that are open to the public during the day. In this article we will introduce Higashi Chaya-gai’s chief highlights. Ochaya Shima is a historical geisha house which has been preserved as a museum and it is an essential stop when visiting this area. Here you can see how the geisha lived and worked and enjoy a cup of green tea with a sweet. The house is open daily from 9.00 – 18.00 and entry costs 500 yen. For more details see our article: Ochaya Shima Geisha House. Kaikaro is a working geisha house that is open to the general public during the day. At night it is an exclusive house of entertainment for wealthy patrons only. However, this house does host some special geisha events that anyone can attend. This house is open to the public from 9.00 – 17.00 and entry costs 750 yen. For further details see our article: Kaikaro Geisha Teahouse. Gold Leaf Sakuda sells many goods decorated with gold leaf, which is a traditional craft dating back 400 years in Kanazawa. At the main store you can take a tour of the factory, view the production process, and even try some gold leaf decoration yourself. The store is open from 9.00 – 18.00. For further details see our article: Gold Leaf Sakuda Main Store.
21
