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Historic places

http://www.kanazawa-kankoukyoukai.gr.jp/kanazawa_e/city.htm

1 Kenroku-en Garden 2 Ishikawa-mon Gate Kanazawa Castle Park 3 Oyama Shrine 4 Nagamachi 5 Higashi Chaya District 6 Kazue-machi Chaya District 7 Omicho Market .8 Seisonkaku Villa 9 Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Arts 10 Ishikawa Prefectural History Museum 11 Ishikawa Prefectural Noh Theater 12 Ishikawa Museum for Traditional Products and Crafts 13 Kaga Yuzen Products Display Hall 14 Gyokusen-en(The Nishida Family Garden) 15 Ishikawa Local Products Shop 16 Honda Museum 17 Nakamura Memorial Museum 18 Kanazawa Folklore Museum 19 Ishikawa Modern Japanese Literature Museum 20 Kanazawa Shinise (Old Merchant House) Memorial Hall 21 Nomura Family Buke Yashiki 22 Nagamachi Yuzen-kan (Formerly Saihitsu-an) 23 Saigawa River 24 Teramachi Temples 25 Myoryuji Temple 26 Shima Geisha House 27 Kaikaro 28 Shamisen no Fukushima 29 Asanogawa River (Ume-no-Hashi Bridge) 30 Ohi Museum 31 The Old Site of Mr.Kurando Terashima's House 32 Citizens' Culture Museum 33 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa

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1 Kenroku-en Garden Kenrokuen is known as one of the three most beautiful gardens in Japan.It is called Kenrokuen because it combines the six attributes(kenroku) that a garden should have:spaciousness, seclusion, human ingenuity, antiquity, water and panoramic views.It contains roughly 12,000 trees of 150 varieties, which achieve beautiful harmony with the garden's meandering streams, ponds and bridges.15 minutes by bus from Kanazawa Station. Open every day. TEL234-3800

2 Ishikawa-mon Gate Kanazawa Castle Park Kanazawa Castle has been the residential castle of the Maeda family since Toshiie Maeda first entered the castle in 1583 and basic fortifications began.In 1881 all the castle walls apart from ishikawa-mon Gate,were destroyed by fire.Finally,over a period of 3 years and 4 months from March 1998, three structures Hishi-yagura, Gojikken-nagaya, and Hashizumemon Tsuzuki-yagura were restored. They are the largest scale wooden castle structures built since the Meiji era in Japan.

3 Oyama Shrine Dedicated to Load Maeda Toshiie. The entrance gate, with its stained glass window, was designed with the help of two Dutch instructors and completed in 1875. The shrine is also known for its Edo-period garden, arranged on a musical theme. Between Korinbo and Musashi-ga-tsuji.

4 Nagamachi A section of town with a well-preserved castle town atmosphere, complete with earthen walls and picturesque canals. Behind Korinbo.

5 Higashi Chaya District Narrow winding streets, latticed windows:Higashiyama is the heart of old Kanazawa. Much old architecture is lovingly preserved by the people who live there.

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6 Kazue-machi Chaya District An old geisha district along the banks of the Asanogawa River. Many restaurants typical of Kanazawa overlook the river.

7 Omicho Market "Kanazawa's kitchen". With its reputation for offering the freshest seafood, fruits and vegetables at the best prices, Omicho has been a favorite destination for Kanazawa shoppers since the feudal period.

8 Seisonkaku Villa A villa, located inside the Kenrokuen grounds,built by the 13th lord Maeda for his mother. The villa and its garden are beautifully preserved, every corner provides a treat for the eye. Some special features are the large spaces unobstructed by support posts, sliding doors with Dutch painted glass insets, and strikingly colored transoms. Closed Wed. TEL221-0580

9 Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Arts Contains masterpieces of Kutani and other Kaga arts, as well as treasures of the Maeda family and works by modern Ishikawa artists. Hosts many travelling exhibits. Across from Kenrokuen. Closed from Dec. 29 to Jan.3. TEL231-7580

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10 Ishikawa Prefectural History Museum The red brick buildings, housing the History Museum, were first army barracks and later the original site of Kanazawa College of Art Displays explain Ishikawa history. Ask to see the English explanational booklet. Near the Art Museum. occational unscheduled holidays. TEL262-3236

11 Ishikawa Prefectural Noh Theater The Ishikawa Prefectureal Noh Theater, located up the hill from Kenrokuen, is the center of Kanazawa's Noh culture. It is used for the study of Noh, and sometimes performances are held. There are occasional displays of Noh costumes and art objects. Closed Mon and holidays. TEL264-2598

12 Ishikawa Museum for Traditional Products and Crafts There are displays of Kutani and Ohi pottery, Kaga Maki-e, Kaga Yuzen and other arts of the Hyakumangoku legacy. Many displays include an explanation of craft techniques. Next to Kenrokuen. Closed Thurs. TEL262-2020

13 Kaga Yuzen Products Display Hall Next to Gyokusen-en, the Exhibition Hall offers visitors the chance to learn about and experience the yuzen process, and there is a shop selling a variety of Yuzen products. Near kenrokuen. Closed Thurs in the winter. TEL224-5511

14 Gyokusen-en(The Nishida Family Garden) Named for Gyokusen-en, wife of the second lord Maeda Toshinaga, Gyokusen-en is a lovely garden maintained by the Nishida family. Its water is from Kenrokuen, and the trees from Kenrokuen provide a rich backdrop for the garden's pond. Japanese tea and sweets, served in the formal tea ceremony manner, are available with advance reservations. Near Kenroku-en Garden. Closed in the winter. TEL221-0181

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15 Ishikawa Local Products Shop All of the crafts, sweets, sake brands, etc. that Ishikawa is known for can be found here. The 1st floor are shops and a tourist information, the 2nd a restaurant featuring Kaga specialities, Near Kenrokuen. Closed every other Thurs. TEL222-7788

16 Honda Museum The Honda Museum has a collection of articles maintained by the Honda family, descendants of Honda Masanobu, who was an advisor to the Tokugawa Shogun and later Lord Maeda's highest vassal. Military articles as well as kimonos and objects of art presented to Honda by his lords. Between the Art Museum and the History Museum. Closed Thurs. TEL261-0500

17 Nakamura Memorial Museum The Nakamura family, local sake brewers, donated the home and tea ceremony art collection of a previous company president, Nakamura Eishun, to Kanazawa city. Among the many valuable pieces are prime examples of Kutani and Kaga Maki-e. Behind the Shakyo Center. Closed from Dec.29 to Jan.3. TEL221-0751

18 Kanazawa Folklore Museum A collection of tools, clothing, handicrafts and other articles of daily life in Kanazawa in past eras. Housed in a school building from the Meiji era. A 5 minute walk from Kenrokuen. Closed from Dec. 29 to Jan. 3. TEL222-5740

19 Ishikawa Modern Japanese Literature Museum This museum, housed in a 1891 school building, honors Kanazawa's three great men of letters: Izumi Kyoka, Muro Saisei and Tokuda Shusei. Displays of manuscripts and memorabilia pertaining to Ishikawa's literary culture. Next to Central Park. Closed from Dec.26 to Jan.5. TEL262-5464

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20 Kanazawa Shinise (Old Merchant House) Memorial Hall Nakaya, was reconstructed in Nagamachi and is now a museum. If gives visitors a feel for what shops were like in the feudal era. Behind Korinbo in Nagamachi. Open every day. TEL220-2524

21 Nomura Family Buke Yashiki A well-preserved samurai home with a lovely garden featuring a 400 year-old' tree. Behind Korinbo in Nagamachi. Closed from Dec.26 to 31. TEL221-3553

22 Nagamachi Yuzen-kan (Formerly Saihitsu-an) Visitors can see artisans and displays of silk products at this Kaga Yuzen workshop. In Nagamachi. Closed from Dec.29 to Jan.3. TEL264-2811

23 Saigawa River This beautiful river, originating from Mt.Hakusan, is a popular place for recreation among Kanazawa residents. The cherry trees lining its banks are especially beautiful in April, but in any season the Saigawa's banks provide a nice place to relax.

24 Teramachi Temples Over 70 Buddhist temples are concentrated in the Teramachi district, which overlooks Kanazawa from across the Saigawa River. Many of the temples, such as Shogetsuji Temple and Daienji Temple, house historic Buddhist statues and paintings.

25 Myoryuji Temple One of the temples frequented by the Maeda clan, it has many secret passageways and hidden rooms to allow sudden escapes. Its nickname is thus "Ninjadera" , or "Secret Agent Temple". Near the Hirokoji intersection. Occational unscheduled holidays. TEL241-0888 *Reservations recommended.

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26 Shima Geisha House At example of the architecture unique to Geisha houses, Open to the public. In the Higashi Chaya District. Open every day. TEL252-5675

27 Kaikaro A 180-year old building, in the Higashi Chaya District that has been refurbished in a modern style. A fine example of the undying beauty of Japan's tatami culture. A tea room has been added. Closed Tues. TEL253-0591

28 Shamisen no Fukushima A shamisen shop, in the Higashi Chaya District, where visitors are offered the chance to play a shamisen. Closed Sun and holidays. TEL252-3703

29 Asanogawa River (Ume-no-Hashi Bridge) This wooden bridge, once washed away by a flood, has been rebuilt in the original style. Watching the river flow by, and looking up at the foliage on Mt.Utatsuyama, visitors can experience the tranquil beauty of Kanazawa here.

30 Ohi Museum A museum established by the founder of Ohi pottery, Chozaemon. Historic pieces made by Chozaemon himself are among the objects on display. Near the Asanogawa Ohashi bridge. Open every day. TEL221-2397

31 The Old Site of Mr.Kurando Terashima's House Terashima Kurando was a young genius who was judged to be too brilliant by jealous clan elders and sentenced to exile. His memorial is housed in a preserved building built around 1780, which also boasts a lovely garden. Visitors are served green tea. Near the Ohi Museum. Closed from Des.29 to Jan.3. TEL224-2789

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32 Citizens' Culture Museum A 1907 building of considerable architectural interest, especially its rare black lacquerwork. Displays of young artists' work. Near Musashi-ga-tsuji. Closed from Dec.29 to Jan.3. TEL222-7670

33 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa The Museum will open in Autumn 2004. Situated in the center of the city, it is a radical venture in many respects.

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Kanazawa." Murataya Ryokan" Japanease Style Inn "Ryokan"

1-5-2, Katamachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. zip 920-0981Japan

telephone 81-(0)76- 263-0455; fax 81-(0)76- 263-0456

e-mail murataya@spacelan.ne.jp

2004 JUN 23, 4th edition
copyright (C) 2004 Murataya Ryokan murataya@spacelan.ne.jp