Walking the Path of the Heart in Kanazawa
Beyond the teahouse districts, a temple route reveals the history, faith, and hidden structure of an old castle town
Many people who visit Kanazawa head for Higashi Chaya District.
Near the Asano River, this area is lined with teahouse architecture with latticed facades, stone-paved streets, and shops selling gold leaf and traditional sweets. For those who want to take photographs that feel unmistakably Kanazawa, Higashi Chaya District is a very attractive place.
Higashi Chaya District was established in 1820, the third year of the Bunsei era, as a chaya district east of the Asano River with the permission of the Kaga Domain. Today, it is designated as the Higashiyama Higashi district of Kanazawa and has been selected as a national Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
The buildings facing the street have latticework on the first floor, while the second floors are built high. Rows of machiya townhouses with guest rooms, typical of a chaya district, still remain here. Many people may have seen this scenery before in articles or videos introducing Kanazawa.
Near the Asano River, there is another memorable chaya district. This is Kazuemachi Chaya District.
Teahouse buildings stand along the Asano River, giving the area a different expression from Higashi Chaya District. The sight of buildings continuing along the river has the beauty of a town shaped by the water beside it.
Kazuemachi is thought to have developed as a chaya district during the Meiji period. Today, it is designated as the Kazuemachi district of Kanazawa and has been selected as a national Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. The townscape, closely connected with the Asano River, creates a charm that belongs uniquely to this place.
I also enjoy spending time in well-known places. Popular sightseeing spots are popular for a reason. Both Higashi Chaya District and Kazuemachi Chaya District are places that make you want to walk through them when you visit Kanazawa.
At the same time, I feel that Japan’s deeper charm often remains in the alleys beside famous places and in the roads that receive less attention in sightseeing guides. This is exactly the kind of perspective I want to value in Spiritual Japan Journal. Along with well-known sites, I want to find the Japan that appears when you walk just a little farther, using my own feet to discover what lies beyond the usual landmarks.
