Kanazawa Kenrokuen

If you visit Kanazawa, you cannot miss Kenrokuen.  Kenrokuen is one of the top three gardens n Japan. (the other two are Kairakuen in Mito-city and Korankuen in Okayama-city.)

Kenrokuen was first started to be built in 1676.

This is the statue of Takeru Yamato, who is the hero as a great commander in Japanese legend.










 

Ken means combined, Roku means six, and En means park. So this garden has six attribution for perfect Japanese garden; seclusion, spaciousness, artificiality, antiquity, abundant water and broad views.

Ropes are installed for the trees in Kenrokuen before winter comes, the device is called Yokizuri.  Yukizuri is to hang the branch with the rope so that the branch should not be broken during winter.  

The plum trees are budding.

Snowman

This is the oldest fountain in Japan. The water is spouted by the power of natural water pressure, not by the pump or motor power. 

Admission fee is JPY300 for an adult. Let's breathe fresh air in classic nature.

Geisha town, Kanazawa

You can see Geisha town in Kanazawa.

Higahichayagai is classic narrow streets, which were established in 1820 as a centre for geisha to entertain wealthy patrons.

You walk through a path to the main street...

Many geisha houses are there.  There are about 20 geisha women working in this area.



Weeping willow. 

This is house is used for geisha dance and music lesson. You can hear melody of Japanese music instruments if you are a lucky.

Feel classic Japanesque!

Yellow tail at Himi town

If you love yellow tail, you MUST visit Himi town in winter.

 

As of Jan 13, 2011, the number of yellow tail caught and brought into Himi fishing port in this season is 39,663!

To go to Himi, you get on the local train from Takaoka.

It takes about 30 minutes to Himi from Takaoka.

The ocean view is so beautiful, but if it sunny day,



You can see more beautiful view, Japan Alps mountains across the ocean, this is unusual view!

But I could not see it in this time, this is the picture of flier... I hope you can see it.

Anyway, the purpose is yellow tail and other very fresh seafood. Let's eat.

  

About 10 dishes per person, you cannot eat all!

Samurai town, Kanazawa

Kanazawa city was prospered as a castle town in Edo period, and bountiful rice production made the region wealthiest. Even now, you can enjoy classic as if you slip back in time.

Kanazawa has so many temples everywhere.

And one famous temple is Myoritsuji.

This temple is also called as Ninja temple even though no Ninja was here.

  

This temple was built in 1643, and this temple's Buddhist priest was the counselor for the feudal lord. The temple was designed as a hideout in case of attack, or escape. This temple looks 2 floor house, but actually it has 4 floors inside. There are 23 rooms and 29 stairs, but many of them are hidden. You can also see trick doors and escape routes. That is why this temple is called Ninja temple. 

This is lighted stairs. Backside of this stairs is a room for servants. In daytime, they get light from this papered stairs. Or they could see enemys' steps from backside at night.


You can only see inside of the temple by tour only because you get lost if you go inside by yourself. Please make reservation first.
Admission is JPY800.

Next historical place is Nomura Samurai House, Michelin Guide 2 star spot, in Nagamachi district. It takes 15 min walk from Myojitsuji. This house is famous for its Japanese garden.

This Samurai residence was completed in 1583.

By the way, various Japanese sweet shops are around here...

You can enjoy tasteful Kanazawa even after you get home.

The Great Buddha at Takaoka

There are the three greatest Buddha statues in Japan. Two are very famous, one is in Kamakura, and one is in Nara. The 3rd one is not known well, it is in Takaoka-city, Toyoma prefecture.

It takes sooo long time to go to Takaoka from Tokyo, but you can enjoy looking at the scenery from the train window. First, getting on Joetsu Shinkansen for 1.5 hour. The train goes into mountains.










Then, transferring to Hakutaka (white hawk) Express at Echigoyuzawa station.
It takes 2 hours to get toTakaoka.

The train runs through snow mountains in winter, and after, runs along Japan sea.

Finally the train arrived at Takaoka station. You can go to the Great Buddha by street car or on foot.

After 10 minutes walk, you can see the Great Buddha!

Because Takaoka is the town of copperware, and is famous for its refined production techniques for copper products, this Great Buddha was produced in 1933.

He is 15m 85cm tall, 65 tonnes weight.  It is said that this Buddha is the most handsome Buddha in Japan.

I like his small beard.