Kanazawa - Japan

shigetam

Last updated at 10:18 15 April 2005


The city of Kanazawa, the seat of prefectural government of Ishikawa in the middle of Japan, may not be as famous as Kyoto, but it is a good place to get a sense of the country's traditions.

And to get a more unusual, and stunningly beautiful view of the city, you should aim to go in winter.

The city was once a castle town, and you can still see the remains of the castle, which was built in the 16th century for Maeda Toshiie.

There are also temples, beautiful Japanese gardens and the traditional houses of the samurai called Buke-yashiki, in which descendants of the samurai still live.

The city's best hotel is Hakucyoro hotel, just a short hop from the remains of Kanazawa castle and within easy reach of the other tourist attractions.

During the winter, when temperatures hover around 1°C, the hotel's thermal spring is the best way to recover after a cold day's walking in the city.

On New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, the hotel offers special Japanese food and drink, such as buckwheat noodles, rice cake, and sake in the lobby. If it happens to snow during your stay, make sure you get to Kenroku-en Garden, one of the three most beautiful gardens near Kanazawa castle. You'll have the place to yourself, at its most stunning.

Most visitors arrive during the summer, but winter offers some magical opportunities to experience something rare and interesting.

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