The name Kanazawa, which literally means marsh of gold, is said to be originated from a legend that the peasant Imohori Togoro washed gold dust in a local marsh. It is also said that the name is originated from the fact that the present Kenrokuen Garden area was called Kanazawago and Kanazawanosho in ancient times. Around the middle of the 16th century, the Buddhist Ikko sect set up a religious government in Kanazawa. In 1583, Maeda Toshiie, the top retainer of Hideyoshi...

Yuzen refers to a traditional technique of dyeing silk fabrics for kimonos or products made with the technique. Kyoto Yuzen and Kaga Yuzen are famous. Miyazaki Yuzensai established the fundamental technique of yuzen at the beginning of the 18th century. Kaga Yuzen is characterized by designs of realistic natural beauties in five vivid tones called "Kaga gosai" (literary means Kaga five colors), and it frequently uses gradation dyeing called "bokashi." A roll of yuzen is...

Enjoy Geisha Performances to the fullest in the Higashi, Nishi and Kazue-machi chaya Districts Characterized by their lattice windows, these lovely old wooden Geisha houses have been well preserved. Geishas in Kanazawa value their customs and ceremonies, handed down from generation to generation since the feudal era. Refined dance performances and the playing of various musical instruments have also been handed down.　Usually almost every Chaya (Geisha house) will...

Kaga Cuisine: Kanazawa is blessed with a variety of foodstuffs, such as rice cropped in the Kaga Plain, Kaga vegetables, water of good quality in the Hakusan Mountains, and fish and shellfish caught in the Sea of Japan. Moreover, the production of soy sauce in the Ono area, advanced cooking techniques that was encouraged by the Maeda family, who ruled the Kaga Domain (the present Ishikawa and Toyama areas) in feudal times, and beautiful Kutani porcelain and lacquer ware raised...

Spring: Spring (March to May) Cherry Blossom Viewing (Cherry Trees in Bloom) : Early in April Japanese people realize the coming of spring with the blooming of cherry trees. Cherry trees are found everywhere in Kanazawa. When the cherry trees blossom out all at once in April every year, the streets are wrapped in light pink, and people beam excitedly and go out for cherry blossom viewing. Kenrokuen Garden is open to public free of charge for about two weeks...