ISHIKAWA PREFECTURE

ISHIKAWA MAIN CITIES and TOWNS

Kaga is a city in the most southern part of Ishikawa Prefecture in the Chubu region. Kaga is a historic city which still features many great attractions including Yamashiro Hot Spring with 1300 years of history, Kutani Kiln Museum, Dainichizakari Brewery Museum, Nakaya Ukichiro Museum of Snow and Ice, Kitamae-bune no Sato Museum, Zorokuen Garden and Kutaniyaki Art Museum. In addition there is the beautiful Katayamazu Hot Spring with its views of Lake Shibayamagata.

Kanazawa is a very attractive city with its famous Kenrokuen Garden (one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan), Kanazawa Castle, nostalgic Geisha town (second only to Kyoto), many museums and its food culture. Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, is located along the western coast of Honshu on the Sea of Japan.

Komatsu is the second largest city in Ishikawa Prefecture in the Chubu region. The name Komatsu has been made famous around the world as it is the brand of earth moving equipment, which is based in Komatsu city. The Komatsu company built a park on the site of its old factory, which includes a recreation of the original head office building and a model of the world's largest class of dump truck. The main airport for Ishikawa Prefecture, Komatsu Airport, is located on the edge of the city. Komatsu attractions include Nata -dera Temple which was established in 717AD, Motorcar Museum of Japan which is the largest car museum in Japan and has over 500 vehicles, and Rojo Koen, a beautiful traditional Japanese garden.

ISHIKAWA CASTLES

Ishikawa-mon Gate is the gate to Kanazawa Castle, a traditional Japanese Castle. The original Kanazawa Castle was destroyed by fire in 1888, but rebuilt in 2001.

Kanazawa Castle is a hilltop style Japanese Castle located in Kanazawa right next to Kenrokuen, which originally was the private garden of the castle. Kanazawa Castle was built in 1583 by the order of Maeda Toshiie who was a feudal lord of Kaga Clan. Kanazawa Castle was destroyed by fire in 1620, but was rebuilt by the end of 1621, only to be destroyed in the Great Kanazawa Fire of 1759. Kanazawa Castle was rebuilt in 1762 and the Ishikawa-mon Gate was rebuilt in 1788. In 1881 the castle was again destroyed by fire, however the Ishikawa-mon Gate was saved.

ISHIKAWA SHRINES and TEMPLES

Ishiura Shrine is believed to be built in the 8th century, that is the oldest shrine in Kanazawa.

Kanazawa Shrine was established in 1794 by the order of Maeda Harunaga, a feudal lord of Kaga Clan. It worships Sugawara Michizane who was a scholar, poet and politician in the 9-10th century. Kanazawa Shrine is located in Kanazawa .

Oyama Shrine is a beautiful shrine with distinctive main gate. Called Shinmon (God Gate), this main gate was designed by Dutch and has a mix of Japanese, Chinese and European architectural elements and is designated as a National Important Cultural Asset. Oyama Shrine of Kanazawa also features a beautiful garden.

Sugawara Shrine is located in the Higashi Chaya Geisha district of Kanazawa.

ISHIKAWA MUSEUMS and ART GALLERIES

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa offers both art and creations from wide-ranging fields related to art, including music, the performing arts, and film.

Ishikawa Prefectural History Museum (Kanazawa) showcases the history of Ishikawa from ancient time to modern time.

Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art (Kanazawa) showcases the fine arts and crafts of Ishikawa Prefecture. It exhibits paintings, oil paintings, sculptures, traditional arts and crafts whose artists have something to do with Ishikawa Prefecture including feudal Daimyo utensils using the Kaga Makie technique and a huge range of Kutani porcelain collection from Ko-kutani (Old Kutani) to Re-established Kutani.

Traditional Arts & Crafts of Ishikawa displays all the famous traditional arts and crafts of Ishikawa (Kanazawa region) and offers visitors an introduction to the process of making these craftworks.

ISHIKAWA LANDMARKS

Chamise-dori Street is a nostalgic street located between Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen. There are several souvenir shops and cafes on the street.

Former Nomura Samurai House (Kanazawa) is where the Nomura Family, who successively held executive posts from generation to generation under rule of the Maeda Family, lived. The house has a coffered ceiling totally made of Japanese cypress.

Former Tsuda Samurai House is located within Kenrokuen where it is now used as administration building for the park.

Higashi Chaya District (East Geisha District) where Geisha entertain people by dance and music since the 17th century. Kanazawa has the second most Geisha in Japan, second only to Kyoto. Higashi Chaya District is the biggest of the four chaya districts in Kanazawa.

Kinjo Reitaku is a well located within Kenrokuen Garden.

Motenashi Dome is a glass dome at the beautiful Kanazawa Station. Motenashi means welcome in Japanese.

Naga-machi Buke Yashiki District is a Samurai house district in Kanazawa where the top to middle class Samurai who served Kanazawa Castle lived from 1583 to 1868. Here you can still see the alleys and the mud walls of the old days.

Naga-machi Yuzen Center, in Kanazawa, also known as the Yuzen Silk Center. Yuzen refers to a traditional technique of dyeing silk fabrics for kimonos or products made with the technique.

Seisonkaku Villa in Kanazawa, which was built in 1863 for Maeda Family's wives.

Shima Geisha House built in 1820 when Kaga federal government established Geisha district in Kanazawa. Everything has kept as it was. Shima Geisha House is designated as a National Cultural Asset.

Yougetsu Inn is a tradtional style Japanese Inn located in the Higashi Chaya Geisha district of Kanazawa.

ISHIKAWA GARDENS and PARKS

Kenrokuen Garden is by far the most famous part of Kanazawa. Kenrokuen is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, maybe the best one of all as it is also designated as a "Special Place of Scenic Beauty". Kenrokuen was first established in the 17th century by the feudal lords of Kaga as their private garden.

ISHIKAWA TOURIST INFORMATION CENTERS

Shiinoki Cultural Complex was completed in 2010 after renovation of the Old Ishikawa Prefectural Government. The Shiinoki Cultural Complex features a tourist information center, restaurant, cafe, conference rooms and galleries.

ISHIKAWA THEATRES and CONCERT HALLS

Ishikawa Prefectural Noh Theater (Kanazawa). Noh is a classical Japanese musical drama that started in the 14th century. Many characters are masked, with men playing male and female roles.

ISHIKAWA TRAIN STATIONS

Kanazawa Station (JR) is one of the most beautiful train stations in Japan. A glass dome called 'Motenashi Dome' and a wooden gate called 'Tsuzumi-mon' welcome you to Kanazawa when you get off the train.

ISHIKAWA SHOPPING

Omi-cho Market in central Kanazawa was established in the middle of the 18th century. Omi-cho Market has been serving fresh food for both locals and tourists since. Here you can buy beautiful fresh seafood caught in the Sea of Japan.