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
A preserved tea house, which has been converted into a museum. The rooms where geisha would perform and the kitchen are on display along with various instruments and items used by the geisha.
Kaikaro Teahouse
100 meters down the south side of the street Hours: 10:00 to 17:00 Closed: No closing days Admission: 750 yen
The Kaikaro Chaya is still an operating tea house, but opens its doors to the public. Tea service is included with admission.
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
A shop selling gold leaf products, a specialty of Kanazawa. Inside the shop is a traditional Japanese warehouse which has been turned into a tearoom and completely covered inside and out with gold leaf.
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.
An authentic ryokan with 9 rooms in Tatsunokuchi Onsen, 30 min from Kanazawa. The karesansui garden boasting 6600sq meters and spacious rooms are well-reputed.
Established in Edo Period, Matsusaki is a secluded, traditional ryokan in Tatsunokuchi Onsen. Enjoy its masterpiece kaiseki cuisine. 30min from Kanazawa Sta.
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. Guests can use the hot tub, or enjoy garden views. At the hotel, all rooms include a balcony. All guest rooms in HOTEL 101 KANAZAWA are fitted with a flat-screen TV and free toiletries. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Kanazawa Station, Ishikawa Ongakudo and Kazuemachi Tea House Street. The nearest airport is Komatsu Airport, 32 km from HOTEL 101 KANAZAWA.
Offering a shared lounge and garden view, Machiya Guest House Carta is set in Kanazawa, 1.7 km from Kanazawa Castle and 1.3 km from Kenrokuen Garden. Featuring a garden, the 2-star guest house has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a shared bathroom. Private parking can be arranged at an extra charge. At the guest house, each unit is equipped with a tatami. At the guest house, the units include bed linen and towels. Popular points of interest near the guest house include Myoryuji - Ninja Temple, D. T. Suzuki Museum and Nakamura Memorial Museum. The nearest airport is Komatsu Airport, 32 km from Machiya Guest House Carta.
Situated within the historic Higashi Chaya District, Yamanoo boasts carefully prepared traditional local Japanese delicacies. Free WiFi access and free private parking are available on site. The ryokan is 900 metres from Kanazawa Castle in Kanazawa, overlooking a city of Kanazawa. Each guest room is in one of the annexes and features a private bathroom with a hot tub made from hinoki cypress wood. Bathrobes and slippers are provided. You will find a kettle in the room. Extras include free toiletries and a hairdryer. A flat-screen TV is offered. You will find luggage storage space at the property. Kenrokuen Garden is 1.2 km from Yamanoo, while Myoryuji - Ninja Temple is 2.6 km from the property. Komatsu Airport is 31 km away.
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. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Kanazawa Station, Ozaki Shrine and Kanazawa Phonograph Museum. The nearest airport is Komatsu Airport, 31 km from Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi.
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.
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.
Situated in Kanazawa, less than 1 km from Kanazawa Castle, THE HOTEL SANRAKU KANAZAWA 21th December 2022 OPEN features accommodation with a garden, private parking, a restaurant and a bar. With free WiFi, this 5-star hotel offers room service and a 24-hour front desk. The property is non-smoking and is located 1.1 km from Kenrokuen Garden. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms with a desk, a coffee machine, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. The rooms are equipped with a kettle, while certain rooms are equipped with a balcony and others also boast garden views. At THE HOTEL SANRAKU KANAZAWA 21th December 2022 OPEN rooms come with bed linen and towels. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Kanazawa Station, Ozaki Shrine and Kanazawa Phonograph Museum. The nearest airport is Komatsu Airport, 33 km from THE HOTEL SANRAKU KANAZAWA 21th December 2022 OPEN.
Set 2.5 km from Kanazawa Station, 3.7 km from Myoryuji - Ninja Temple and 200 metres from Utasu Shrine, UTAIMACHI offers accommodation located in Kanazawa. The 3-star ryokan has inner courtyard views and is 1.4 km from Kenrokuen Garden. Free WiFi is available throughout the property and Kanazawa Castle is 1.5 km away. The ryokan will provide guests with air-conditioned units offering a wardrobe, a kettle, a microwave, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a walk-in shower. There is also a dining area and a fully equipped kitchen equipped with a stovetop and kitchenware. At the ryokan, units are equipped with bed linen and towels. Popular points of interest near the ryokan include Tokuda Shusei Kinenkan Museum, Kanazawa Yasue Gold-Leaf Museum and Kazuemachi Tea House Street. The nearest airport is Komatsu Airport, 34 km from UTAIMACHI.
Offering a shared lounge and city view, Kanazawa Guesthouse Stella is situated in Kanazawa, 1.5 km from Kanazawa Castle and 1.5 km from Kenrokuen Garden. This 2-star guest house offers a shared kitchen, luggage storage space and free WiFi. The guest house has family rooms. Some units in the guest house have private entrance and are fitted with desk and tatami. All units are fitted with air conditioning, and some have a flat-screen TV, washing machine, a kettle, completed with a fully equipped kitchen. At the guest house, units have bed linen and towels. Guests at the guest house will be able to enjoy activities in and around Kanazawa, like cycling, hiking and walking tours. Popular points of interest near Kanazawa Guesthouse Stella include Kanazawa Yasue Gold-Leaf Museum, Utasu Shrine and Tokuda Shusei Kinenkan Museum. The nearest airport is Komatsu Airport, 34 km from the accommodation.
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.
Stroll freely in Takayama Ancient Street, which used to be called "Little Kyoto", visit the Yamen of the Edo Period, taste 5A-grade Hida Beef Sushi and Hida Beef Skewers, etc.