kanazawa historic center

7 days in Japan- 10/20/2023-10/26/2023

Day 4- Kanazawa -10/23/2023

Higashi Chaya area

Kanazawa has three well preserved chaya (Teahouse) districts: Higashi Chayagai (Eastern Chaya District), Nishi Chayagai (Western Chaya District) and Kazuemachi. Of the three districts, the Higashi Chaya District is the largest of Kanazawa’s three historic entertainment, or “teahouse,” districts. It was established in 1820 as a place for geiko (the local name for geisha) to entertain wealthy merchants with music, dance, and games. The district’s traditional wooden buildings and lattice-work windows retain the atmosphere of their 200-year history. Today, many of these buildings function as cafes, restaurants, sweet shops, and craft shops, but some are still geiko teahouses. Although the world of geiko entertainment is exclusive and access must be gained by referral, general visitors can tour some teahouses and see a geiko show.

Higashi Chaya district is about 15 minutes walk east of Omicho Maket. The name Higashi Chaya-gai literally means “Eastern Teahouse District,” because the chaya, or teahouses, were where wealthy customers would be entertained by geisha with traditional music, dancing, and drinking games.

One of the street in the Higashi Chaya district

Ladies in traditional Japanese outfit walking around town.

A japanese art & craft store

A restaurant at the end of the street.

It was closed and people are peeking inside.

The Higashi Chaya District is one of the most visited and photographed streets in Japan.

The street is full of charming machiya wooden houses.

Machiya are Japan's traditional wooden townhouses that functioned as both a residence and a place of business.

This is the main square in the Higashi Chaya District.

This area has the most teahouses.

Pretty ladies in kimonos.

One of the main streets with beautiful wooden houses.

Geisha show in one of the biggest Teahouse in Kanazawa

The Higashi Chaya District is really well preserved.

We are just wandering through the narrow streets of Higashi Chaya District and enjoying the view.

Strolling among traditional buildings you get the feeling of what it was like during the Edo period. .

One of the teahouse in Higashi Chaya District. During the Edo Period, it prospered as a district with many chaya, or teahouses, which offered exclusive entertainment by geisha.

Another teahouse that is converted into a restaurant.

Sun set on the horizon.

Toward the end of the Higashi Chaya District is Sugawara Jinja Shrine

The shrine is really small and is often missed by visitors.

It is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane seen as a god of scholarship

Main gate to Utsasu Jinja Shrine located near the center of Higashi Chaya District

Stairs leading to the main shrine

Toshiie Maeda was enshrined here under the name Utatsu Hachimangu Shrine, and it was highly revered as a place of prayer for generations of domain lords.

In 1599, this shrine “secretly” deified the spirit of the first Maeda lord. Located north east of Kanazawa castle, an ominous direction according to Onmyodo mysticism, they enshrined his spirit here to protect the family from evil. The hold object housed here was later transferred to Oyama-Jinja shrine in 1873. Utasu-Jinja is now famous as one of five great shrines in Kanazawa.