Higashi Chaya District

Kanazawa, Japan

A beautifully preserved geisha entertainment district of wooden teahouses, now home to gold-leaf shops and cafes.

Places in Higashi Chaya District

Higashi Chaya gold-leaf cafes Cafes in the geisha district serving gold-leaf soft serve and matcha in a historic teahouse setting.

Best time to visit: March to May and October to November bring cherry blossoms or autumn colour to Kenroku-en, the city's signature garden.
Getting around: Kanazawa's core sights are connected by a loop bus; the historic districts (Higashi Chaya, Nagamachi) are best explored on foot.
Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY)
Language: Japanese. English signage is common in tourist areas.
Timezone: JST (UTC+9)
Current trends: A new wave of concept dining, blending traditional Kanazawa cuisine with interactive formats like build-your-own sushi rolls, is drawing a younger audience alongside the city's historic ryokan and kaiseki dining scene.

Nagamachi Samurai District — A quarter of preserved samurai residences with earthen walls and canal-side lanes.
Omicho Market area — Kanazawa's largest fresh food market, dense with seafood stalls and small eateries.