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.

OMICHO FISH MARKET

Omicho Ichiba is a lively covered food market which has been in operation since 1721. Nicknamed “Kanazawa’s kitchen”, here you will find 186 different stores, selling seafood, fresh fruit and vegetables, and confectionery. There are also a number of grocery stores, clothing stores, flowers stalls, and restaurants. The market has a very cheerful atmosphere and is a great place to explore Kanazawa’s food and drink culture.

As Kanazawa is situated on the Japan Sea coast it is famous for its seafood. A stroll through Omicho Ichiba will give you an idea of the incredible and colorful variety of marine products available in this town.

Crab, shrimp, and yellowtail amberjack are particularly known for their quality, but look out for edible seaweed too. Strips of sweet wakame seaweed are commonly used to flavor soups, and stringy mozuku seaweed is served in vinegar. Both are renowned for their health benefits! Many stalls have food samples you can taste, and others sell snacks you can eat as you walk around, with fresh oysters fried, broiled, or eaten raw being an especially tasty treat.

No trip to Omicho Ichiba is complete without stopping at one of the many restaurants and enjoying a bowl of kaisendon, or sashimi style raw fish on a hot bowl of rice. Though the 2nd floor of

the market has a special restaurant section, all the best kasiendo places are on the 1st floor.

There are many popular restaurants here, but searching for one in the market’s maze of alleyways will only leave you frustrated. Better to put your map away, and if you find a friendly looking restaurant with empty seats and reasonable prices just go in. You won’t be disappointed at all.

In addition to seafood, Kanazawa is known for its sweet rice which is Wthat the town also has three very well established sake (rice wine) breweries: Fukumitsuya, Yachiya and Nakamura Shuzou. You can find these and other brands of sake from around Ishikawa Prefecture at Sake no Ohzawa Jizake Ichiba.

This is a 100-year-old shop in Omicho Market which boasts the best range of local sake and it has a nice range of local craft beers too. Ask the staff for their latest seasonal recommendations.

Omicho Ichiba market is a 15 minute walk from Kanazawa Station. You can also take the Loop Bus there for 200 yen and be there in 5 minutes. Get off at Musashigatusji bus stop.