Higashi Chaya District

Higashi Chaya District in Kanazawa City is a teahouse town that was born in the Edo period when the Kaga domain gathered teahouses in the castle town, and historical buildings and streetscapes remain as they were at that time. While strolling through the old town, you can enjoy cafes, galleries, and select shops that handle traditional crafts. At night, it is lit up, creating a fantastic atmosphere. When sightseeing in Kanazawa, be sure to visit this area.

At Hakuichi Higashiyama Store in Higashi Chaya District, the gold leaf soft serve ice cream has become a specialty. You can enjoy the gold leaf soft serve ice cream in the eat-in space while shopping for Japanese miscellaneous goods. The gold leaf used in the ice cream is a traditional craft of Kanazawa, and the appearance is beautiful and luxurious. In addition, there is a gold leaf pasting experience corner in the store, where you can make your own original gold leaf goods.

In the Chaya district, there are many sweet shops and cafes. There are shops where you can enjoy Japanese sweets and matcha, as well as Western-style cafes. It's also recommended to explore the area by bicycle. Bicycle rental services are available, making it easy to use. There are also tourist spots such as Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle Park in the surrounding area, so you can enjoy yourself all day long.

In the Chaya district, there are many spots where you can experience Kanazawa's traditional culture. Many shops offer gold leaf pasting experiences, fitting for Kanazawa, which has the highest gold leaf production in Japan. Other shops offer experiences in making small items using Kaga Yuzen dyeing, Kaga Mizuhiki, and Kaga embroidery. It's also a great idea to try making your own original work as a memory of your trip to Kanazawa. Take a stroll through the old streets and experience Kanazawa's traditional culture.

Higashi Chaya District is a must-see tourist spot in Kanazawa travel. It has been designated as an Important Traditional Building Preservation District, with about two-thirds of the buildings in the preservation district being traditional buildings. In addition, there are many other tourist spots in the area, such as Kenrokuen Garden and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. You can access it by bus or on foot. Enjoy the old townscapes and gourmet food while fully enjoying Kanazawa tourism.