7.25.2012
woke up at 9, started my full day schedule with super energy~~~
since my travel buddy and i like to explore the city by walking, we pretty much walked everywhere, luckily it's a small town to walk around, but, still, toward the end of the day...... felt like putting salonpas allover my legs.... LOL
for someone who prefer to explore the city by transportation, i would suggest to get one day loop bus pass for 500 yen, it takes you to all the attractions in downtown city... quite worth it...
http://www.hokutetsu.co.jp/bus/loop/e_pamphlet.pdf
oh oh, one great thing for the trip is to have 3G navigator, ipad save us sooo much time finding our way around. :)
Nomura Family Samurai House, 武家屋敷跡 - 野村家 located at Nagamachi (長町) district.
http://www.nomurake.com/
Hours: 8:30 to 17:30 (until 16:30 from Oct through Mar)
Closed: December 26 and 27
Admission: 500 yen
The area preserves a historic atmosphere with its remaining samurai residences, earthen walls, private entrance gates, narrow lanes and water canals. Nomura-ke is a restored samurai residence displaying the lifestyle and artifacts of the era when samurai were prosperous.
there are few other attractions near by Nomura House, just walk along the water canal and pretend you were back in Edo period...
Ashigaru Shiryokan Museum, 足軽思慮間
The ashigaru, or footsoldiers, were the lowest ranked soldiers of the samurai class. This small museum consists of two reconstructed homes, which illustrate the relatively austere lifestyle of the ashigaru.
Shinise Kinenkan Museum, 老舗記念館, a restored pharmacy of Edo Period displaying the lives of the merchant class.
Lunch Time!!!!
M is always into eating, to confess, while i was visiting above sites, i had already ate a big cup of green tea ice cream as my breakfast... NOW, can't wait to go Omicho Ichiba, 近江町市場 for CHIRASHI!!!!!
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4207.html
it' has been the largest fish market in Kanazwa since Edo period, but base on what sushi ojisan told us last night, this market is no longer the source they get their fresh fish... it's more of a tourist attraction now...
there are so many restaurants there.. but we found one that only japanese goes to, which i think should be better... :p and it does taste yummy~~~
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| on the left 2200 yen, right 1700 yen(smaller portion) |
after big lunch, i started craving for dessert... plan my next stop to
Higashi Chaya District, 東茶屋
where is the largest and by far most interesting area for old buildings, tea houses and shops compares to other Chaya Districts.
there are few shops that stands out among all for me
Hakuza Gold Leaf Store
a shop selling gold leaf products, a specialty of Kanazawa. Inside the shop is a traditional Japanese warehouse which has been turned into a tearoom and completely covered inside and out with gold leaf.
randomly went into this dessert place across street form Hakuza, i can't say i like it.. it's good, but not the kind of anmitzu i was craving for.. :p
Kihachi Web, 喜八工房
first time saw his work was in a Kyoto shop, it was a love at fist sight w his wooden dish ware, and found his shop by accident in Kanazawa.. (will give more details on Kaga trip)
Besides Nishichaya and Higashi Chaya, another small chaya district to mentioned is Kazuemachi Chaya District, 和会町, it's located a short walking distant across the river from Higashi Chaya, where has small amount of old buildings and tea houses.
on our way back to central area, there are lot of preserved architectures along the way..
by the time we finished tour around eastern part of Knazawa, it was about 4pm, still have 2 more places i wanted to hit.
Oyama-Jinja, 尾山神社
and last, Kanazawa Castle, 金沢城, unfortunately, the visting hour has passed, i could only observe the castle from far far outside....:( should've planned better... totally missed it when we were at Kenrokuen, it was just right next to it...
http://www.pref.ishikawa.jp/siro-niwa/kanazawajou/
