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A chaya (lit. teahouse) is an exclusive type of restaurant where guests are entertained by geisha who perform song and dance. During the Edo Period (1603 - 1868), chaya were found in designated entertainment districts, usually just outside the city limits. Kanazawa has three, well preserved chaya districts: Higashi Chayagai (Eastern Chaya District), Nishi Chayagai (Western Chaya District) and Kazuemachi.

Of the three districts, the Higashi Chaya District (“Œ’ƒ‰®ŠX, Higashi Chayagai) is the largest and by far the most interesting. Two chaya, the Shima Teahouse and Kaikaro Teahouse, are open to the public. Other buildings along the central street now house cafes and shops. One of the shops, Hakuza, sells gold leaf products, a specialty of Kanazawa, and displays a tea ceremony room which is completely covered in gold leaf.

Shima Teahouse

30 meters down the north side of the street
Hours: 9:00 to 17:30 (until 17:00 from December to February)
Closed: No closing days
Admission: 500 yen

Kaikaro Teahouse

100 meters down the south side of the street
Hours: 10:00 to 17:00
Closed: No closing days
Admission: 750 yen

Hakuza Gold Leaf Store

A few steps from Shima Teahouse
Hours: 9:30 to 18:00 (until 17:30 in winter)
Closed: No closing days

Getting there and around

The Higashi Chaya District can be accessed by the Right Loop of the Kanazawa Loop Bus in about 10 minutes from Kanazawa Station. Get off at Hashibacho (Koban-mae) bus stop (number RL5), from where the district can be reached in a five minute walk.

How to get to and around Kanazawa

Hotels around Kanazawa

Top rated in Kanazawa
Budget:
    • HOTEL 101 KANAZAWA
      Luxury
      Set in Kanazawa, 2 km from Kanazawa Castle, HOTEL 101 KANAZAWA offers accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a terrace and a restaurant. The 4-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom and free WiFi. The property is non-smoking and is located 2.5 km from Kenrokuen Garden. At the hotel, all rooms include a balcony with a garden view. All guest rooms in HOTEL 101 KANAZAWA are fitted with a flat-screen TV and free toiletries. Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a continental breakfast. HOTEL 101 KANAZAWA offers 4-star accommodation with a hot tub. Popular points of interest near the hotel include Kanazawa Station, Ishikawa Ongakudo and Kazuemachi Tea House Street. The nearest airport is Komatsu Airport, 32 km from HOTEL 101 KANAZAWA.
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    • Machiya Guest House Carta
      Budget-friendly
      Featuring 2-star accommodation, Machiya Guest House Carta is set in Kanazawa, 1.7 km from Kanazawa Castle and 1.3 km from Kenrokuen Garden. With a garden, the 2-star guest house has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a shared bathroom. The accommodation offers a shared kitchen and a shared lounge for guests. At the guest house all rooms have bed linen and towels. Popular points of interest near Machiya Guest House Carta include Myoryuji - Ninja Temple, D. T. Suzuki Museum and Nakamura Memorial Museum. The nearest airport is Komatsu Airport, 32 km from the accommodation.
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    • INOVA Kanazawa Station Hotel Suite
      Luxury
      INOVA Kanazawa Station Hotel Suite is located 600 metres from Kanazawa Station. Free WiFi is provided in all rooms. The property offers private parking. Featuring a balcony, all rooms have a flat-screen TV, washing machine and a kitchen with an induction stove, a fridge and a microwave. Each room has a living room, toilet and private bathroom with a TV. The nearest airport is Komatsu Airport, 29 km from INOVA Kanazawa Station Hotel Suite.
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    • Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi
      Luxury
      Set in Kanazawa and within 1.4 km of Kanazawa Castle, Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi has a shared lounge, allergy-free rooms, and free WiFi throughout the property. This 4-star hotel offers luggage storage space. The property is non-smoking and is situated 1.7 km from Kenrokuen Garden. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms with a desk, a kettle, a fridge, a minibar, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. At Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi all rooms have bed linen and towels. Guests at the accommodation can enjoy an Asian breakfast. Popular points of interest near Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi include Kanazawa Station, Ozaki Shrine and Kanazawa Phonograph Museum. The nearest airport is Komatsu Airport, 31 km from the hotel.
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    • Sumiyoshiya
      Mid-range
      Offering free Wi-Fi and free-use bicycles and in-room Japanese meals, Sumiyoshiya is a traditional Japanese-style hotel. It features a garden, hot public baths and coin-operated laundry facilities. A free-use internet PC is available at the lobby. Rooms feature paper sliding doors, Japanese futon bedding and a seating area. All come with an LCD TV, a tea/coffee maker and a sink, and some have a private bathroom. Sumiyoshiya offers laundry services, luggage storage and free parking. A Japanese and a Western breakfast are served in the hotelfs dining room, while Japanese dinners featuring local ingredients can be enjoyed in either the guest room or the dining room. Sumiyoshiya is a 10-minute walk from Kenroku-en Garden, and a 15-minute walk from both JR Kanazawa Stationfs East exit and the historical Higashi Chaya-machi district. Omicho market is only a 1-minute walk.
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    • so, KANAZAWA
      Mid-range
      Featuring 3-star accommodation, so, KANAZAWA is situated in Kanazawa, 1.9 km from Kanazawa Castle and 600 metres from Kanazawa Station. The 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom and free WiFi. The property is non-smoking and is located 2.3 km from Kenrokuen Garden. All units at the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV and a kitchen. At so, KANAZAWA each room includes bed linen and towels. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Ishikawa Ongakudo, Ozaki Shrine and Kanazawa Phonograph Museum. The nearest airport is Komatsu Airport, 31 km from so, KANAZAWA.
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    • Ryokan Yamamuro
      Mid-range
      Located a 5-minute drive from JR Kanazawa Station, Ryokan Yamamuro offers Japanese-style guestrooms with free WiFi. Omicho Market and Kanazawa Castle Park can both be reached with a 5-minute walk. Guests can stroll around the Higashi Chaya District, a historical entertainment district with various shops, located a 8-minute walk away from Yamamuro Ryokan. Kenrokuen Garden is 10-minutesf away on foot while the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art is a 15-minute walk away. Myoryuji - Ninja Temple is a 10-minute drive from the property. With heating and air-conditioning facilities, rooms are fitted with tatami (woven-straw) flooring and feature Japanese futon bedding. One room comes with a private bathroom. Free services offered at the property include luggage storage, newspaper and daily maid services.
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    • UTAIMACHI
      Mid-range
      Featuring 3-star accommodation, UTAIMACHI is located in Kanazawa, 1.4 km from Kenrokuen Garden and 2.5 km from Kanazawa Station. With free WiFi, this 3-star ryokan offers luggage storage space. The property is non-smoking and is set 1.5 km from Kanazawa Castle. The ryokan will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a wardrobe, a kettle, a fridge, a microwave, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. At UTAIMACHI all rooms include bed linen and towels. A continental breakfast is available every morning at the accommodation. Popular points of interest near UTAIMACHI include Utasu Shrine, Tokuda Shusei Kinenkan Museum and Kanazawa Yasue Gold-Leaf Museum. The nearest airport is Komatsu Airport, 34 km from the ryokan.
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    • UAN kanazawa
      Luxury
      UAN kanazawa is located a 5-minute walk from Musashigatsuji/Ohmicho Ichiba Bus Stop and Omicho Market. JR Kanazawa Station is 12 minutes by bus from the property, while Kanazawa Castle is 13 minutes on foot. Free WiFi is available throughout the entire property. A wheelchair accessible room can be found at this property. Each room at this hotel is air-conditioned and is fitted with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. There is a complimentary handy Smartphone and desk in all the rooms. Enjoy a cup of tea from your terrace or patio. Every room comes with a private bathroom with a bath and high-tech toilet, with slippers provided. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hairdryer. Yukata robes are also provided for the comfort of guests. A Japanese or Western-style breakfast featuring local specialities is available upon prior request. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar. The property offers free soba noodle at night. You will find a 24-hour front desk at the property and free luggage storage is available. Guests can work out free of charge at the hotel's fitness gym. Kenrokuen Garden is a 15-minute walk from UAN kanazawa, while Myoryuji - Ninja Temple is a 15-minute bus ride away from the property. The nearest Airport is Komatsu Airport, a 55-minute bus away.
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    • K's House Kanazawa - Travelers Hostel
      Budget-friendly
      Set in Kanazawa and with Kanazawa Castle reachable within 1.8 km, K's House Kanazawa - Travelers Hostel offers a shared lounge, non-smoking rooms, free WiFi throughout the property and a terrace. The property is close to Nakamura Memorial Museum, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art and Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art. The accommodation features a shared kitchen and luggage storage space for guests. The hostel provides certain units with city views, and every room includes a kettle. The units feature bed linen. Popular points of interest near K's House Kanazawa - Travelers Hostel include Kenrokuen Garden, Myoryuji - Ninja Temple and D. T. Suzuki Museum. The nearest airport is Komatsu Airport, 32 km from the accommodation.
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