OVERVIEW

Behold the architecture in two isolated villages that UNESCO found so unusual that it deemed them World Heritage sites. The villages of Shirakawago and Gokayama are in the remote Shogawa River Valley surrounded by high rugged mountains, a location that made them difficult to access for centuries. To cope with the abundance of snow that falls there, the residents constructed farmhouses with steeply pitched thatched roofs to reduce the amount of snow that accumulates on them. The roof design also allows for large attics, in which the residents rear silkworms, which they feed leaves from the surrounding mulberry trees. Only one other nearby village boasts this type of architecture known as gassho-zukuri, a style that means “constructed like hands in prayer.” Following free time in both villages, you will watch a demonstration of paper-making in Gokayama. The specialized washi paper is exceptionally colorful and patterned. The fiber for it comes from mulberry trees.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit two villages that UNESCO declared World Heritage sites for their architecture.
• Gain an understanding of why the buildings have such steep roofs.
• Explore the areas of most interest to you during free time in both villages.
• See how durable washi paper used for arts, crafts and writing is made from mulberry bark.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Gain a remarkably comprehensive understanding of Kanazawa through a wide diversity of attractions, beginning with the Omicho Market. Established in 1721, Omicho is the city’s largest and surely liveliest market with nearly 200 shops selling everything from seafood to flowers to confections. Best of all, many of the stores offer samples. The atmosphere will be more serene at Kenrokuen, an oasis that was once the outer gardens of Kanazawa Castle. It is a magnificent setting no matter what the season as you will discover while strolling the meticulously landscaped grounds. For a glimpse into modern Kanazawa, you will browse the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, an architectural masterpiece of minimalism that is as provocative as the artwork inside. Higashi Chaya is the city’s largest district of teahouses where geishas performed songs and dances. Although some of the teahouses are still active, the majority of them have been converted into fine restaurants and coffee shops.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See Kanazawa’s most quintessential attractions, including the vibrant Omicho Market.
• Stroll through the serene gardens that surround historical Kanazawa Castle.
• Browse a museum of contemporary art for a glimpse into modern Kanazawa.
• Explore a district full of teahouses where geishas performed songs and dances.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Visit several of the most definitive attractions in Kanazawa, which together will provide you with a historical perspective of this intriguing city. Considered one of the finest gardens in Japan, Kenrokuen was constructed over nearly two centuries by the ruling Maeda family. Designed to maximize its water features and scenic views, the gardens lie in the shadow of Kanazawa Castle. The Maeda family founded the castle even earlier and although it was destroyed by fire twice, much of it has been reconstructed using traditional techniques and materials. The turrets, the storehouse that connects them and the main gate are especially interesting as they now appear exactly as they did in the 1850s. Omicho Market is just as historically important as it was created 300 years ago. It remains one of the city’s liveliest markets with displays of every type of food imaginable, although seafood is the specialty. Be sure to try whatever samples are offered.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Meander through lush Kenrokuen Gardens, which lies in the shadow of Kanazawa Castle.
• Visit Kanazawa Castle, the former headquarters of the powerful Maeda clan.
• Browse Omichi, one of the prefecture’s top seafood markets for 300 years.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Spend hours in the mountain village Shirakawago, exploring at your own pace and staying as long as you like at the attractions you find most interesting. The village is best known for its farmhouses with thatched roofs that are so steep that they look like hands clasped in prayer. This gassho-zukuri style is more than an architectural curiosity; it keeps much of the heavy snow from accumulating, especially since the houses are oriented to maximize the sunlight. The roof design also leaves space for bigger attics, which the residents use to breed silkworms. As you meander about, you will see the mulberry trees that supply the silkworms’ preferred food of mulberry leaves. UNESCO declared Shirakawago a World Heritage site because of the rare architecture, which was created to adapt to the natural environment. If you wish to shop, Shirakawa Kaido Street is an excellent starting point as it is lined with stores selling merchandise unique to the village’s remote location.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore Shirakawago on your own with no need to rush from attraction to attraction.
• Marvel at the steep-roofed residences that UNESCO declared a World Heritage site.
• Learn about the silkworms that the residents breed in their attics to produce silk.
• Shop at your leisure on streets such as Shirakawa Kaido, a retail hub.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Tour the definitive landmarks in Kanazawa and come away with an overall historical and cultural understanding of this capital of the Ishikawa Prefecture. The city was mostly spared from destruction during World War II so many of its oldest attractions remain, including the Nagamachi Buke Yashiki district where the samurai and their families lived. Viewing the Nomura family home will lend great insight into the samurai lifestyle of the Edo Period. Kanazawa also boasts a district where geishas were trained and performed songs and dances in teahouses. As you will discover, some of the teahouses are still used for their original purpose, but most of them have been converted into restaurants and shops. The gardens at Kenrokuen are noteworthy for fulfilling the six characteristics of classic gardens: spaciousness, seclusion, antiquity, ingenuity, flowing watering and scenic views. Kenrokuen means the Garden of Six Qualities, and it will be a delight to stroll along the natural paths.

HIGHLIGHTS

• View restored homes an Edo Period district where samurai and their families lived.
• Follow a guide through a historical district full of teahouses where geishas once performed.
• Meander through lush Kenrokuen Gardens, which lies in the shadow of Kanazawa Castle.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Watch the traditional art of gold leaf-making, a process in which artisans pound gold into super-thin sheets that are used to decorate handicrafts, sculptures and even temples in larger installations. The production of gold leaf began in Kanazawa in the 16th century as part of the ruling Maeda family’s push to encourage the development of arts and crafts. It is still a thriving art, as you will see by watching artisans make gold leaf through a precise process that involves a rolling mill, special paper and instruments to pound the gold. The finished product is so thin that you can see light through it and so delicate that static electricity in the air can tear it. You can try your hand at making gold leaf and later at making wagashi, a traditional confection from bean paste that melts in the mouth. Wagashi is often shaped like animals and used in tea ceremonies, as it respects the balance of bitter and sweet.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Marvel at the skills of the artisans while observing them make super-thin gold leaf.
• Savor the delicate taste of traditional Japanese desserts made with a sweet bean paste.
• Learn hands-on the basics of making gold leaf and wagashi sweets.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Visit Kanazawa’s historical entertainment district to watch a traditional geisha performance and browse a public market that has been continuously operating for more than 300 years. As you walk through Higashi Chaya, the guide will describe how the district once supported a huge number of teahouses where geishas performed the classical Japanese arts of singing, dancing and playing musical instruments. Most of those teahouses have been converted into restaurants, but the geisha tradition lives on as you will discover at the Enyukai Hall cultural complex. There, rigorously trained geisha – also known as geiko in Kanazawa – will show off their legendary skills and invite you to join in fun party games. It will be an experience that harkens back to the heyday of geishas. Meandering through the Omichi Market will also reflect a former time period as it opened in 1721. Omicho remains the city’s largest and liveliest market with nearly 200 shops.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Follow a guide through a historical district full of teahouses where geishas once performed.
• Watch an authentic geisha performance at a cultural complex.
• Converse with the geishas, play entertaining party games and make a souvenir paper fan.
• Browse a vibrant city market that has been open continuously since 1721.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.