Kenrokuen Garden, Omicho Market & Geisha Street
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Port
Kanazawa, Japan
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$119
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Kenroku-en -- one of the three celebrated 'Great Gardens of Japan' -- welcomes you today. The great daimyo of Kanazawa Castle originally developed this 25-acre landscaped garden. It boasts Japan's first fountain, a teahouse dating to 1774, and a pagoda donated to the Maeda clan by the great warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The celebrated Ganko-Bashi is a bridge comprised of 11 red stones laid out to resemble a formation of flying geese.
Continue to the Omicho Market where you will soak up 270 years of history at the largest market in Kanazawa. With over 170 shops and stalls selling almost anything you can imagine, it’s no wonder this busy network of covered streets was dubbed the "Kitchen of Kanazawa."
Cross the Asano River to the Higashi Chayamachi -- one of the city's four pleasure districts established in 1820, during the late Edo period. The district is home to traditional 'tea houses' where wealthy merchants and artisans held drinking parties, and geisha performed just as they still do today. Explore the narrow streets and the two-story pleasure palaces before you return to the ship.
Notes:
Some of the paths are with gravel. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring local currency, as many vendors do not accept credit cards or US dollars. Tour order may vary.