Known as the Little Kyoto, Kanazawa is the capital city of Ishikawa prefecture. Filled with beautiful historical houses, geisha and samurai districts, traditional arts and handicrafts and beautifully preserved gardens, Kanazawa is one of the most significant cities of the Edo period.

With the new shinkansen (bullet train) line directly linking Tokyo to Kanazawa, it is now so easy and (much faster) to travel to Kanazawa.

Kanazawa Gold Leaf

Did you know that Kanazawa produces 99% of all gold leaf in Japan, and 100% of domestic silver and platinum leaf?

Feather thin at 0.1 to 0.125 millionths of a meter, Kanazawa’s Gold Leaf is extremely well known for its superiority. It never oxidises or changes color, and so thin it will disappear when you rub with your fingers.

Once you arrive in Kanazawa, you will soon notice gold leaf being used in everything (almost), from food, arts and crafts to interiors.

And yes, Kanazawa is the only place you can enjoy gold-leaf-wrapped soft serve ice-cream, and even gold-leaf castella cake. These have been on my bucket list, ever since I read about them on a Japanese site.

For the gold-leaf-wrapped soft serve, highly recommend Haruichi located at Higashi Chaya district. The creamy milky ice cream is to die for, not to mention the opulence enjoyment of Japan’s finest gold leaf.

If you prefer something different, at Kanazawa station, a café retails silver- and gold-leaf wrapped soft serve ice-cream. 

The Gold castella cake is available at Kanazawa station too. You will see an entire hall filled with well-known omiyage, food and other souvenir stores selling Kanazawa products.

I was literally squealing in joy when I managed to get my hands on these cakes. They even come in limited time cutout shapes, like these ones I got.

Kagaonsen

To the south of Kanazawa city center, just 30mins’ train ride, Kaga Onsen (加賀温泉) is well-known for its collection of four hot spring towns. Highly regarded as the onsen destination by the locals, you can choose from a variety ryokan stays with baths.

It is a lovely experience for visitors and residents alike, and gives tourists with a local bathing experience that is one of a kind.

HigashiChaya and Samurai district

The best way to explore and experience the Edo history of Kanazawa is through a personalised tour with a local guide.

Through Expedia.com.sg, I booked the Samurai & Geisha Districts, Kanazawa Castle and Kenroku-en Garden Tour.

Taking a beautiful stroll along the well-preserved walls and entrances of Samurai family houses, I so wish I was dressed in Kimono. I would’ve gotten some seriously lovely pictures!

Our local guide also taught us how to recognise the architectural designs that marked these Samurai family houses.

Continuing our journey, we reached Higashi Chaya District, my favourite part of the tour.

Intimate streets with wooden lattice geisha houses, I enjoyed strolling through the geisha teahouses now filled with local stores selling Kanazawa products, wares, omiyage souvenirs and food.

We took a midday respite for lunch at Ushioya for their Fired Buri Yellowtail Sashimi bento, thanks to the recommendation by the local guide, Yamamoto san.

Kanazawa Castle Park and Kenroku-en Garden

The second part of our Samurai & Geisha Districts, Kanazawa Castle and Kenroku-en Garden Tour, was to see the beautifully restored 16th century Kanazawa Castle. 

Once home of the feudal lord Maeda Toshiie and his family, this white tile roofed castle is a beautiful sight to behold!

Nature lovers would also enjoy Kenroku-en Garden, for its lush greenery and peaceful tranquillity. 

Omicho Market

If you love local markets, fresh seafood and produce, then you must visit Omicho Market.

Omicho Market is the largest fresh food market of Kanazawa. I really liked how it had all the right vibes without being overly crowded, unlike Kyoto’s Nishiki market or Tsukiji in Tokyo, which can be teaming with tourists and overwhelming for any traveller.

Like all fresh food markets, the market is lined with speciality stores selling the freshest local seafood and produce; you can even find kitchen tools, clothing and flowers. Store owners and workers cheerfully shouting out the best deals to attract customers, locals buying produce home, here is where you can experience the real hustle and bustle of Japanese market activities.

Also spot seasonal produce such as these Matsutake mushrooms, the most expensive mushrooms known for its earthy flavour. One of the hardest to cultivate, these mushrooms are only available during the autumn season.

Before you leave, remember to try the popular Kaisendon (sashimi seafood rice bowl) at Omicho Market, almost every single sushi restaurant serves this popular dish.

We went for the well-known Yamada Sushi and queued for about 20mins before we got a seat. Just look at this overflowing bowl of sashimi! 

Shirakawa-Go Tour (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

If you are in Kanazawa, it is also a good opportunity to visit its UNESCO world heritage site – Shirakawa-go. Famous for their traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some are over 250 years old!

Gassho-zukuri means “constructed like hands in prayer”. You would notice the signature steep thatched roofs, resembling the hands of Buddhist monks pressing together in prayer. And because of this unique architecture, these roofs can withstand large amount of heavy snow during winter. 

Visiting during winter and snowy season is popular for that dreamy picturesque view of the thatched roofs covered with thick layers of snow.

If you want a fuller experience, you can even choose to do a short stay at Shirakawa-go at one of their farmhouses serving as minshuku.

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Many thanks to Expedia.com.sg for the experience!

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7 best things about Nagoya

Earlier on, when I first shared with a few friends of my planned Expedia trip to Nagoya, many gave me the puzzled look, or asked “where is Nagoya?”, “what’s so special about Nagoya?”

Located in the center of Japan, and easily accessible via shinkansen or direct flight to Nagoya’s Central Japan International Airport, this vibrant city is often overlooked. 

Singapore has direct flights to Central Japan International Airport of Nagoya, or you can easily get here via bullet train from/to Kyoto (a mere 30mins ride) or about 1hr 40mins from/to Tokyo. 

With a long history since the feudal lords era, Nagoya went through the Edo period to being one of the key modern cities of Japan, while retaining strong traditions and its own Nagoya-meshi (local cuisines). 

So if you are thinking about what to do, here is rounding up the 7 best things about Nagoya!

Enjoy Onsen ryokan away from the City

This is omotenashi (Japanese hospitality) at its very best. If you love traditional accommodation, impeccable service, onsen, ocean views, amazing food (the list goes on), then you just need to venture out of Nagoya city central a little to Wakamatsu Chita Hot Spring Resort located at Utsumi. 

With a personalised ferry service from the train station, a phone call to the ryokan brought me and my hubby to the door of this beautiful ryokan. Greeted by the sweetest ladies in Kimono, we were brought their in-house matcha tea, wagashi sweets as well as a warm foot soak at the lobby, coupled with ocean view.

After choosing 3 of my favourite yukata robes (one for each night I stayed there), we went to our room. Extremely spacious with the biggest bed I have ever seen (seriously, larger than king), we had the most gorgeous room of tatami flooring, and the scent of cedar wood filled our nostrils as we took in the setting of our accommodation. 

With two private onsen baths (one outdoor and one indoor), and two public onsen baths (one for male and one for female), it’s time to enjoy onsen.

During night time, it might be better to enjoy the indoor private onsen, especially during colder months. But in the mornings, the rooftop private onsen boasting an unobstructed view of the ocean was heavenly. 

A hungry man is an angry man. Trust me, you will never be angry here at Wakamatsu Chita Hot Spring Resort. They served the most beautiful and sumptuous Japanese breakfast ever. Breakfast is served in your room, like private butler style. Each day, you can indicate the time you would like them to bring the food to you. 

Frankly I have nothing but good things to say about this place. My hubby literally didn’t want to go back to the city at the end of our stay :P

Eat the cutest omiyage at Nagoya station

One of the most well known edible omiyage (souvenir) is the Pyorin cake from カフェ　ジャンシアーヌ at Nagoya station. 

Shape as a cute chick, Pyorin represents the kochin chicken by using the kochin eggs in its production.  

You would love the pudding and vanilla mousses shaped like cute baby chicks and covered with a thin layer of sponge cake crumbs. 

Pyorin offers seasonal specials. Since it was autumn and nearing Halloween, they had the pumpkin version too. I even spotted sakura ones in some of the older IG postings by other users. 

Pyorin is sold only at the Cafe Gentiane at Nagoya Station for 320 yen a piece.

Go early, these cuties do get sold out on peak days. 

Get a stunning photoshoot in kimono

When in Japan, wear Kimono. One of my personal mantra. 

While you are in Nagoya, why not get fitted in a traditional Japanese kimono for a stunning photo shoot in a professional studio.

My jaw dropped with I saw the hundreds of kimonos varying in style, period, and colour at Kyoto haregi J STYLE (京都晴れ着 J STYLE).

As the lovely ladies fuss over me to get me dressed up, dolled up to into a convincing Japanese beauty, I headed into the photo studio for my shoot. 

No worries if you are not sure about poses or props. These experienced experts will guide you through everything, from where are hands would be to your facial angle to ensure you look the best. 

Hehehe…. revealing some of my photos :)

Enjoy the traditional Shodo, Japanese calligraphy

A firm believer of experiencing culture of the cities I visit, Shodo – Japanese calligraphy is a way you can discover the beauty of writing and Japanese characters. 

In the intimate class session I had, I was taught how to handle the tools and pick up the techniques and posture to grip my fude (brush) to paint the brushstrokes. 

Step by step, stroke by stroke, we (I) moved on to write “love,” while my hubby picked “samurai”.

I liked how the class is kept intimate so we get alot of personal attention from the teacher and got to take home our own calligraphy as a one-of-a-kind souvenir.

Taste the allure of Nagoya-Meshi

”Nagoya-Meshi”is a term meaning the local cuisine in Nagoya. Known for their harmonious flavours of sweet and salty that is unique to Nagoya, found neither in other cities like Tokyo or Kyoto.

Let’s start off with Ogura toast – that is azuki red beans on thick toast.

Regarded as a food invention conceived in Nagoya, it comprises of buttery toasted bread topped generously with ogura-an (sweet red bean paste). A heavenly combination. 

This toast is well known to be served at coffee houses at Nagoya, and is so popular that you will find many other snacks or omiyage with the ogura toast flavour. 

I visited Kihachi Cafe for their famous Matcha ogura toast. 

Love the addition of delicate whip and the generous azuki beans! so yummy!

Recommended by my Japanese friend, I visited Misokatsu Yabaton – Yabacho Restaurant (みそかつ 矢場とん 矢場町本店) for their Misokatsu(Pork Cutlet with Thick Miso Sauce).

Their pork cutlets, crispy on the outside and tender inside, are all made with pork from southern Kyushu. Their traditional aka-miso sauce, made from natural soybean miso that takes 3 years to ferment!

So many more Nagoya-meshi I wanted to try (not enough time!!), I managed to eat Hitsumabushi (Grilled Eel on Rice) a style of cooking eel that is unique to Nagoya. Visited the over 140 years old Atsuta Horaiken – Main Restaurant (あつた蓬莱軒 本店) for their trademark Hitsumabushi dish. 

Sitting in a tatami room, the tray came with freshly grilled-upon order eel sliced up and served on rice in a wood tub. 

Oh, did you know that there is actually a special procedure to eat and enjoy this dish?

To start, put a quarter portion of the eel rice into your bowl and enjoy as it is. 

Then you have the second serving and this time, add in the condiments including wasabi, seaweed and spring onions to your liking. 

For the third portion, you add the dashi broth over it, like o-chazuke soup with rice. 

For the final portion, enjoy the best of the 3 ways you liked the most!

Experience the magic of food samples

I think many people including myself are always amazed at how realistic and delicious looking the Japanese food sample displays are. 

This round, I got the chance to try making these tasty looking wax and plastic food samples. 

Just a stone’s throw from Nagoya station on the Higashiyama line, I arrived at Chukyo Shokuhin Sample Shop (#中京食品サンプル) and made tempura and ice cream parfait with my hubby. 

We even got a tour after the workshop to see the real master craftsmen at work creating the food samples!

Visit Satsuki and Mei’s House from the movie My Neighbor Totoro. 

Ghibli fans out there, this is something you do not want to miss out. 

Added this in, even though I didn’t manage to make it at the end. 

Located at Morikoko Park (Ai-chikyuhaku Kinen Koen) in the Nagakute-cho region of Aichi, which is only about 40 mins out of Nagoya city, visit the recreation of Satsuki and Mei’s House from the movie My Neighbor Totoro. 

Do note that to enter the house, tickets are required. It is recommended to get the tickets prior at Lawsons (in case they run out when you arrive at the park). 

Do get more details at their English site here. 

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Many thanks to Expedia.com.sg for the experience!

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