This area of Kanazawa is really interesting, and there are a number of houses, including geisha houses, that you can visit. It is interesting just to walk along the streets and appreciate the architecture. There are also plenty of tea houses/cafes to get a snack. More

The houses are well preserved and you can visit the Shima Tea House which is interesting. There are excellent craft museums in the district as well. More

While pretty and contains tea houses still in use, we found this area to be more commercialised and full of bus tours-other areas such as Kazue-machi seemed more atmospheric to us- as lived in residential areas. More

I remember years ago when a guy called Toffler wrote a book called Future Shock. One of his predictions was that the future included theme parks where people could leave ordinary life and lose themselves temporaraily in an artificial world created for their enjoyment. His prediction has come true with the success of massive theme parks all over the world... More

Old area... Traditional machiyas most converted to shops, museums etc.. Interesting for an hours walk. More

I was briefly in Higashichaya during a trip to Japan last year and was especially honored to be allowed to visit a Geisha house therein. Like the samurai district, this preserved district is a fraction of old Japan, exactly as you imagine it looked, and therefore all the more reason to visit. Not at all like "old west towns," merely... More

In the Edo Period this was the high society drinking area featuring geisha, teahouses and bars. The old buildings are now tourist shops selling fine wares. One shop sells goods, incuding food, incorporating gold leaf. This is not to be confused with the Kanezawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum which is nearby. The Gold Leaf Museum is also interesting and while... More

I wish I'd had more time to spend here! It was lovely! Fun little shops, very touristy. More

The old houses are very nice to look at, but besides taking pictures, there wasn't much too do. More