Kanazawa: a compact castle town perfect for a weekend trip

I visited Kanazawa for a weekend trip in early December. It was the best time to see autumn colors. Including the famous Japanese garden Kenrokuen.

What I like about Kanazawa is that the city is compact and public transport is very convenient. Because of that, you can see most of the attractions within two days. I wasn't the exception. I could see most of the major attractions.

Beginning with 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art,

The signature piece of 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art is "The Swimming Pool." Reservation is required to get inside the pool.

Higashichaya District, which is a historic entertainment district with teahouses where geisha performed in the past, (now mostly turned into shops and restaurant/cafes)

Fukumitsuya sake shop in Higashichaya District

If you are Japanese sake enthusiast, Fukumitsuya sake shop is a must stop.

Nagamachi Samurai District, where samurai used to reside and now preserves traditional samurai residences very well,

Kanzawa Castle,

Omicho Market, etc.

A shop in Omicho market was selling fresh seafood

In terms of foods, Kanazawa's specialty is fresh seafood and sake.

Kanazawa oden is another local favorite! The ingredients are a bit different from Tokyo’s version, and the highlight is "Kani-Men", which literally means "Crab Face." It's a special winter treat.

Kanazawa Station is another fun destination with countless souvenir shops and restaurants. I bought a beautiful bento box which included several local cuisines, and a cup of sake to enjoy in the Shinkansen back home.

A beautiful bento box with Kanazawa local food

I had an amazing weekend trip.

Comments

Hiking Mt. Nabewari - walking up over 1,200 for a hot bowl of udon

As practicing hiking as my hobby, Mt. Nabewari was one of my top-list of trails that I had been willing to visit someday. Mt. Nabewari is not famous for its trails nor shrines; it's known for a hot bowl of udon noodles served at the rest house at the peak of the mountain. I waited until the beginning of December to fully enjoy a warm bowl of udon and leeches. Tanzawa Mountain Range, which includes Mt. Nabewari, is a habitat of leeches, and I heard many people bit by leeches during summer. So I decided to hike Mt. Nabewari on the first Saturday in December 2020. The weather forecast was sunny, but it turned out to be rain, which made it a tough hike. I left my house at 4:40 AM to catch the earliest bus from Odakyu Line Shibusawa Station to Okura Bus Stop. Okura Bus Stop is the most common bus stop to hike Mt. Nabewari. There is a building with a shop, benches, and restrooms near the bus stop where hikers can prepare to start hiking. You can also submit hiking registrati...

Kerun in Sakata, Yamagata - the birthplace of "Yukiguni," the most famous Japanese cocktail

I had a chance to visit a cafe/bar called Kerun in Sakata, Yamagata. The bar is the birthplace of a cocktail called "Yukiguni." I was amazed by the flavor of the cocktail. Its tender, sweet, yet cold icy feeling reminded me of Tohoku's snowy scenery. Yukiguni's recipe is very simple. Its ingredients are vodka, Cointreau, and lime juice, with a green cherry and sugar for the rim. This simplicity is the reason why it became one of Japan's most famous standard cocktails. You can order Yukiguni at most bars not only in Japan but also anywhere in the world. Keiichi Iyama, who owned the cafe/bar Kerun, created Yukiguni in 1959. He worked at the bar as a bartender until 2020, which was just a year before he passed away at 95 years old. I really would have loved it if I could see him in person. Kerun is now run by Keiichi's son, preserving the same atmosphere and flavor that has not changed since. Kerun https://goo.gl/maps/y3ic4NwPkYhWHLJUA A documentary film...

Hiking Mt. Fuji via Yoshida Trail - August 2022

Back in August, I hiked Mt. Fuji for the first time with my friends. Mt. Fuji is probably the mountain I’ve seen the most - it’s apparent from various places in the greater Kanto area. I was fortunate that I was able to hike in nice weather. The forecast did not look good until two days before the planned day, which made me worry, and I wasn’t sure if I could go until the day before. As a result, we could enjoy hiking in beautiful weather, which turned out to be one of the best hiking experiences ever. The hiking route was well-maintained with many signs, and every restroom was clean, as it’s a world heritage. I was surprised to see some mountain huts even sell clothes! I stayed at the closest mountain hut from the summit, called the eighth station Tomoe-kan. Although it was mostly cloudy, I could see the sunrise and hike around the Ohachi-Meguri trail to the highest point in Japan, Kengamine. Day1 We arrived at the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station around 11:00 AM wi...

Glimpses of Japan

Search This Blog