Kanazawa

Kanazawa is a historic city in Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. Kanazawa is one of the overlooked jewels of Japanese tourism - although not by the Japanese, who visit in droves. Its relatively remote location, off the beaten (shinkansen) track, has perhaps unfairly contributed to its low standing among Western tourists.

However for those travellers who want to see perhaps the best-preserved major Edo-period city in the country, it is hard to beat. Kyoto's offerings of temples and shrines are all very well, but Japanese history and culture is not just about them. The samurai, the merchants, the geisha, and the lords have all left their mark on Kanazawa in a compact, easily navigable central area.

The nearest airport serving Kanazawa is in the city of Komatsu (IATA: KMQ). JAL offers flights into Komatsu Airport from Tokyo Haneda Airport, and from Okinawa. ANA flies into Komatsu from Tokyo Haneda and Narita Airports, as well as Sapporo Chitose, Sendai and Fukuoka. Internationally, Komatsu serves Seoul and Shanghai.

From Komatsu airport, buses run directly to Kanazawa. Or you could take a bus to Komatsu Station and a JR train from there, which is somewhat cheaper and, depending on your luck with connections, not much longer. Taxis are frequent though not cheap, and there are several rental car places in the area.

Kenroku-en Garden is the most famous sight in Kanazawa, the Garden of Six Attributes is considered one of Japan's Top 3 gardens. Once the outer pleasure gardens of the Maeda Lords, it gradually expanded to take over the entire block. While not completed in its final form until the waning years of the Edo Shogunate, it still represents one of the peaks of Japanese strolling garden design.

The way in which water is piped from many kilometres upstream to fill its streams and ponds before going on to fill the castle moats is one of the great engineering feats of the Edo period. In part of the grounds, and with a steep separate 700 yen entrance fee, is the Seisonkaku Villa, build by a Maeda lord for his mother. Only part of it remains today, but is a rare example of existing daimyo palace architecture.

The upper floor, with its bright blues and reds, is in distinct contrast to the muted earth tones of Kyoto style. Admission is ¥300 for adults and ¥100 for children age 6-17. Open 7 AM to 6 PM daily. During cherry blossom season, entry to the park is free and it's open and lit up at night until 9 PM.