Article Kanazawa Travel Guide

[JREF]

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Kanazawa Travel Guide

Kanazawa (金沢) is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture and the political, economic, and cultural centre of the Hokuriku Region. Kanazawa developed in the 15th century as a de facto autonomous temple town of the Ikkō sect. In 1580, the Ikkō movement was destroyed by Sakuma Morimasa, who built Kanazawa Castle. Later, the city was ruled by the powerful Maeda clan under whose rule the arts and learning prospered. Kanazawa is still famous for its Kutani ware (九谷焼 Kutani-yaki), maki-e (蒔絵, Japanese lacquerware), and Kaga yūzen (加賀友禅, printed silk fabrics). Kanazawa was not destroyed in World War II and retained its unique character as a castle town.

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JR Kanazawa Station (Photo credit: Ame Otoko -...

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[JREF]

The article Kanazawa Travel Guide has been updated:

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[thomas]

National Geographic and Conde Nast Traveler, renowned for their captivating photography and luxury travel content, respectively, both featured Kanazawa, the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, in their autumn articles. City officials expressed their delight, noting that Kanazawa was the sole East Asian destination selected by either publication.

At a November 18th press conference, Mayor Takashi Murayama stated that the city was honoured to be recognized by such prestigious media outlets and affirmed their commitment to sustainable tourism. Kanazawa was included in National Geographic's "25 Best Places in the World to Travel to in 2025" list, published in late October. The magazine praised the city as an ideal destination for those seeking an authentic Japanese experience without the throngs of tourists.

The Kanazawa government's tourism policy section shared that Ishikawa Prefecture has seen around 1,116,000 non-Japanese travelers stay at lodgings with 10 or more staff during the first eight months of 2024. This figure from the Japan Tourism Agency's Overnight Travel Statistics Survey already exceeds 933,000 tourists fo all of 2023. "So many travelers from overseas have said they wish to experience Japanese culture," said a member of the Kanazawa government's tourism policy section. Visitors from Western countries, such as Italy, France and Spain, account for about half of those numbers. This makes Ishikawa an outlier as those from Western nations make up only about 25 percent of visitors to other prefectures; officials said this was also reflected in Kanazawa. Over the course of about 10 years, the city government has poured its efforts into promoting tourism in Western countries. According to officials, this involved participating in travel industry expos in Italy and elsewhere for business negotiations and inviting travel agency representatives on people on tours, among other pursuits. Kanazawa continues to aim higher, with its mayor in support of refining its offerings further.

Kanazawa makes two top travel global destination lists | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Links:

How to spend a day in Kanazawa, Japan's garden city

Forged by samurai, geishas and Edo-era feudal clans, the elegant garden city of Kanazawa is a quieter alternative to Kyoto for those seeking traditional Japanese culture.

www.nationalgeographic.com

The High-Speed Train Trip from Tokyo to Take Now

A new extension of Japan's bullet train connects Tokyo to the West Coast city of Kanazawa, Japan—here's what to see and do in the charming, quiet city.

www.cntraveler.com

 

[johnnyG]

...without the throngs of tourists.

Uh, excuse me but...