‘Marsh of Gold’ paradise for an Artisan Gold is symbolic of the region. The name Kanazawa means ‘marsh of gold’ in Japanese. Believed to have originated from a legend about a peasant, Imohori Togoro who discovered gold dust as he was washing potatoes in a local marsh. Gold is found in Kanazawa and Ishikawa. This sacred […]
Beautiful Geisha – Tea House of the Geisha – Ochaya Shima
July 14, 2013 by
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1820 Higashi Kuruwa – a high-class eastern pleasure quarter After our visit to Nagamachi Samurai District we moved on to the Higashi Kuruwa, a high-class eastern pleasure quarter established by the Kaga Clan in 1820. Wealthy merchants and men of letters sought the upper circles of society and its pleasures. In particular the geisha performing the many Japanese […]
Samurai – Nagamachi Samurai District – Kanazawa a ‘Green City’
July 7, 2013 by
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Samurai – feudal times under the Kaga Clan I guess we have all read about the Samurai and seen movies over the years. The stories of the Samurai has a special attraction for different people of all different ages, a period of intrigue and drama in such a different culture. I was most interested to […]
Spectacular Cherry Blossom display – Kanazawa Castle/Park-Japan
June 10, 2013 by
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Kanazawa under the Maeda Family The Maeda family ruled the Kaga clan during the Edo period. The most famous of the Maeda family, Toshiie Maeda ruled the Kaga clan from 1583, with their headquarters in Kanazawa, at what is now known as Kanazawa Castle Park until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. The Meiji Restoration brought about a chain of […]
Perfect Landscaping – Kenrokuen Garden/Park – Kanazawa
May 24, 2013 by
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Magnificent Kenroku-en Gardens This magnificent Japanese garden developed over centuries; from about the 1620’s through to the 1840’s by the Maeda clan, the most powerful family under the Tokugawa Shogunate. Kenrokuen Park considered one of the three Great Gardens of Japan. The reflections in the streams and ponds are magic. Perfect Landscaping The name Kenroku-en […]
Kanazawa Shrine – Kanazawa|Marsh of Gold Kanazawa
May 16, 2013 by
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Kanazawa Shrine and purification fountain Our first stop is the Kanazawa Shinto Shrine in vivid vermilion with a beautiful entrance door in contrasting shades of blue, different from most shrines we visited recently. The symbol on the door is the Tokugawa Crest. The design work on the door reminds me of inlay work at the Toshugu Shrine. There […]
Kanazawa Railway Station – East Plaza – City Center
April 30, 2013 by
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Kanazawa ruled by powerful samurai families In contrast to our visit to Shirakawago in the mountainous region of the Gifu Prefecture, Kanazawa is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, a modern city of Japan, population 462,478 people. It lies on the coast of the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japanese Alps. The city sits […]
Doburoku Matsuri Festival|Gokayama Washi|Shirakawago Villages
April 20, 2013 by
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Shrines in the Villages – Shirakawago Gassho-zakuri – A-frame homes- Villages of Shirakawago Doburoku Matsuri festival Shirakawa Hachiman Shrine of Shirakawago Every year in mid October the Doburoku Matsuri Festival is held in Shirakawago at the Shirakawa Hachimen shrine. The festival has a parade heralded by an eight legged shishi, or Chinese lion, followed by bands playing music, people carrying banners and […]
Ancient a-frame Gassho-zukuri homes – Villages of Shirakawa-go
April 10, 2013 by
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View of Ogimachi Village from Shiroyama Viewpoint The Shiroyama Viewpoint was our first stop after the Toyama Farmhouse. The view of the village of Ogimachi was stunning from this lookout (imagine it covered in snow?) There are a number of “gassho-zukuri” traditional farmhouses, some 250 years old or more, quite picturesque in the afternoon light. […]
The Old Toyama Family Farmhouse | Shirakawa-go
March 15, 2013 by
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A Grand Farmhouse – typical Gassho-zukuri house Our next stop was the Folk Museum of the old Toyama family, a grand farmhouse in traditional style built around 1827. A typical Gassho-zukuri house. At one time the Toyama family home housed up to forty family members, this included the extended family with grandparents, aunts, uncles, nephews […]