Kanazawa, a castle town on the coast of the Sea of Japan, is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture and the largest city in the Hokuriku district

Kanazawa emerged as a local power as centralized power of feudal era Japan waned, and retained its strength throughout the Edo period of Shogunal rule. Many of Kanazawa’s older buildings have remained intact because the city was not targeted, like other castle towns, during World War II. As a result, the atmosphere of its geisha and samurai districts has been preserved, and draws many visitors.

Kanazawa is a hub of culture and artistic creativity. Skilled tradesmen employ methods hundreds of years old in the creation of crafts. Throughout the city you will find Kaga Yuzen, Kutaniyaki and Shikki products. Kaga Yuzen is the art of painting on silk, used for kimonos as well as smaller items such as scarves and handkerchiefs. Kutaniyaki is colorful ceramic, and Shikki is lacquer ware. Kanazawa produces 99% of the gold leaf used in Japan. Gold leaf is gold beaten into paper thin sheets, and used to decorate cloth, lacquer work, pottery and temple altars. Some gold leaf shops in Kanazawa sell green tea and candy with gold leaf in them.

The most popular attraction of Kanazawa is Kenrokuen Garden, which has more than 25 acres of streams, waterfalls, bridges, walkways, and ponds. Kenrokuen used to be the garden of Kanazawa Castle, and is considered one of Japan's “three most beautiful landscape gardens.” Kenrokuen means “Garden of the Six Sublimities” and includes the essential attributes of Chinese landscape theory: seclusion, spaciousness, antiquity, artificiality, abundant water, and broad views.

Kanazawa Castle Park is adjacent to Kenrokuen. Throughout its history the castle repeatedly suffered fire damage. The last fire in 1881 was devastating: all that survived was the castle's Ishikawa-mon Gate, which dates from 1788. Since the early 1990’s three buildings have been completely rebuilt and appear as they did in the 1850’s. A turret, called Hishi Yagura, overlooks the northern approach to the castle. Hashizume-mon Tsuzuki Yagura, another turret, guards the entrance to the central area of the grounds. Gojukken Nagoya, a long storehouse, connects the turrets. A castle moat has been restored, and reconstruction of the castle's former main entrance, the Kahoku-mon Gate, was recently completed.

While in Kanazawa you may want to visit Myoryuji, which has the facade of a temple but in reality is a military defense post. Commonly known as Ninjadera (“Ninja Temple”), Myoryuji was designed to serve as a hideout or escape route in the event of an attack. It includes an ingenious layout of secret rooms, traps, hidden tunnels and a maze of corridors and staircases.

The Nagamachi Samurai District is located at the foot of the former Kanazawa Castle, and is where samurai and their families lived. The atmosphere of this historic area has been preserved and has many interesting sites. One of the most popular destinations within the district is Nomura-ke. This former samurai residence keeps artifacts on display, allowing visitors a glimpse into the samurai lifestyle. A local museum features samurai armor and other relics of the powerful Maeda Clan. A restored shop depicts the lives of merchants. Two reconstructed homes illustrate the austere lifestyle of the lowest ranked soldiers of the samurai class, the ashigaru, or foot soldiers.

Kanazawa has three chaya (geisha) districts: Higashi Chayagai, Nishi Chayagai, and Kazuemachi. You will find tea houses open for business as well as those that have been converted into museums. Recognizable by their colorful kimonos, hairstyles and makeup, Geisha, trained in traditional song and dance, perform for guests at chaya, or tea houses.

Kanazawa's largest fresh food market, Omicho, has about 200 shops and stalls of fresh seafood, produce, flowers, clothing and kitchen utensils. Omicho gets especially busy around noon, when locals and tourists come to have lunch at restaurants inside the market.