Kanazawa city [金沢]
Tourist Attractions in Kanazawa
Kanazawa city is the most popular city in Hokuriku Region among tourists, and more than 6 million tourists visit here a year.
The current population of Kanazawa is about 465 thousand and is one of regional hub citied in Japan.
Because it has traditional industries and some old districts remain, it has been sometimes called "Little Kyoto".
But Kyoto was the town of court nobles.
On the other hand, Kanazawa was the town of samurai.
So Kanazawa city government stops using the word "Little Kyoto" for promotion.
Kanazawa is located nearly in the center of Hokuriku Region.
Toyama city is about 60 km east of Kanazawa, and Fukui city is about 70 km southwest of Kanazawa.
In 1580, Kanazawa Castle was built and Maeda Family had governed this region since that.
Maeda Family became one of the greatest feudal lords, and the town of Kanazawa developed around the castle.
Various cultures also developed. They are the attraction of Kanazawa.
Tsuzumimon & Motenashi Dome
The center of the city is between Sai River and Asano River flowing to the northwest.
Kanazawa station is located about 2 km northwest of the central town.
By the way, there are a big wooden Tsuzumimon gate and a huge dome of glass Motenashi Dome at Kenrokuen Exit (east exit) of Kanazawa station.
They are the symbol of the station.
And the station was selected as one of World’s Most Beautiful Train Stations by "TRAVEL+LEISURE" in 2011.
To travel around Kanazawa city, the route buses for tourist (Kanazawa Loop Bus, Kenrokuen Shuttle) are operated.
The bus stops at main sightseeing spots and is operated every 15 or 20 minutes.
How to get here
By Hokuriku Shinkansen, about 2.5 to 3 hours from Tokyo.
Or, from Osaka, by limited express of JR Kosei and Hokuriku Lines, to Kanazawa, about 2 hours and 45 minutes.
