Away from the mainstream Japanese cities that tourists flock to, Kanazawa and Fukui offer a respite from the hectic hustle and bustle of the typical tourist hotspots. Kanazawa is best known for being a beautifully preserved historic city, while the coastal Fukui is uniquely home to views of both the mountain and the sea!

Kanazawa

Kanazawa has over the years earned itself the reputation as being a mini Kyoto and a beautiful historical town. Spared from the destruction of World War II, it is one of the best-preserved castle towns in Japan and a must-see when you find yourself in the Ishikawa prefecture. 

Higashi Chaya District

No trip to Kanazawa is complete without stopping by the Higashi Chaya district. It is lined by rows and rows of charming and rustic wooden houses typical of the Japan of yesteryear. Visitors will feel like they have stepped back in time.

Because of how picturesque the district is, it is not uncommon to see locals and tourists alike dressed up in traditional garb!

Higashi Chaya is peppered with tea houses and shops selling gold leaf crafts, along with pottery and other crafts. After all, Kanazawa is known for being the site of 99% of Japan’s gold leaf production. For an otherworldly experience? Try the gold leaf ice cream sold in many cafes in the district - a definite Kanazawa specialty. 

As the sun sets in Higashi Chaya, keep your eye out for Geisha. Higashi Chaya is one of two geisha quarters recognised for its cultural importance. The other is Gion in Kyoto. (If you want to know how to tell between a fake and real geisha, check out our post here!)

Kanazawa Castle & Kenrokuen Gardens

When in Kanazawa, make a stop at Kanazawa Castle and its adjacent Kenrokuen Gardens.

The combo-ticket that allows you access to both areas is inexpensive and worth every penny! Kenrokuen is known as one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. It was created over hundreds of years by the Maeda family and features everything you’d imagine in a Japanese garden: ponds, streams, artificial hills, flora, stone paths and quaint bridges.

Though I visited in winter when quite a number of the trees had lost their leaves and looked less vibrant, I can still imagine how the gardens would have looked like in spring or summer when the plants and flowers are in full bloom! No matter the season you choose to visit, Kenrokuen will delight you with a spectacularly different sight. Speaking from personal experience, it is entirely possible to spend hours in the gardens and completely lose track of time!

Cross the road and you’ll get to Kanazawa castle. Despite being built without screws or nails, its foreboding structure is incredible tall (and perfect for a photo opportunity)! I couldn’t stop snapping photos of the castle from different angles and locations because every shot seemed so perfect!

Kanazawa Castle

Omicho Fish Market

For the perfect lunch, drop by the Omicho market, Kanazawa’s largest seafood market serving the freshest seafood. The queues for the different restaurants can get incredibly long, so one must definitely be patient. See different stalls showcasing a large array of fresh seafood & sashimi. The seafood bowls can be pricier than average, but definitely worth the splurge as the sashimi is incredibly fresh and just the right level of chewy.

Nagamachi Samurai District

History buffs should also drop by the Nagamachi Samurai District. The main attraction? The restored Nomura-ke House. It once belonged to the high-ranking Nomura samurai family.

Visitors should keep an eye out for a small but lush garden tucked in the house.

The garden, complete with stone lanterns, mini waterfalls and a koi pond, only brings to mind the word “zen”.

For SGD 3-4 bucks, visitors can also look forward to being served a traditional cup of matcha in the tea room on the second floor of the house. Exactly the kind of tranquil & relaxing holiday I was looking for!

Despite spending only a day and a half in Kanazawa, I dare say that it was one of the most memorable parts of my trip. I would personally liken Kanazawa to a quieter version of Kyoto that has not suffered the woes of overtourism! A definite must-go for those who want to have an unruffled experience of a Japanese old town!

Fukui

Fukui is the capital city of Fukui prefecture and is unique in being both a coastal city and a mountainous region. It has received worldwide recognition for being the site of many dinosaur bone excavations and the dinosaur museum. I didn’t know much about Fukui before I visited, but Fukui did not disappoint!

Eiheiji Temple

The first stop? The Eiheiji temple. Eiheiji is a temple complex of more than 70 buildings tucked away in the mountains and has almost 800 years of history. In the fall, the maple trees that surround the temple shower the temple grounds in a vibrant red and yellow hue. Today, the Eiheiji is a temple school, with short overnight stays available for curious tourists.

Visiting in winter revealed a different landscape. A soft dusting of white snow on the otherwise dark wooden structure of the complex gave it an appearance of being a winter wonderland tucked away in the mountains. It was a sight to behold!

Maruoka Castle

Stop by the Maruoka Castle just north of Fukui city, one of the oldest remaining castle keeps in Japan. Scale the extremely steep wooden stairs within the castle and be greeted by a panoramic view of the surrounding plains. I would recommend visiting in the spring as the castle park is the perfect location to view cherry blossoms away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

Asuwayama Park & Asuwa River

For other great landscapes, be sure to visit Asuwayama Park offering gorgeous views in downtown Fukui. Along the banks of the Asuwa river stand countless of cherry blossom trees which turn the park into a scene straight out of magazine in the Spring. As night falls in April, the cherry blossom trees are illuminated in a dazzling and luminescent spectrum. The best (and only) way to appreciate the lush sights? A trip to Fukui. Pronto.

When I went in early January, Asuwayama Park without its canopy of blush-pink was quite a different sight, but nonetheless peaceful and beautiful. With many couples and families taking a stroll through the park, it is safe to say that it is a choice location for locals for their day out on the weekends!

Tojinbo Cliffs

No trip to Fukui is complete without stopping by the coastal regions. The Tojinbo cliffs are found just north of downtown Fukui and a designated national monument. These basaltic rock formations are incredibly rare and only found in two other places in the world.

The cliffs themselves stretch over a kilometer along the Sea of Japan and visitors can be treated by a capacious view of the sea.

Don’t be swept away by the gorgeous view! Many shops in the area are quick to sell fresh seafood as well as souvenirs to the increasing number of visitors that want to catch a glimpse of these rugged cliffs, so you must make a stop! The seafood doesn’t get any fresher than this.

Hearing the waves crashing against the rock and looking out towards the glittering ocean is an auditory and visual treat. One wouldn’t typically associate these scenes with Japan, but driving along the coast rewards you with the full experience.

Drive across a vermillion bridge and you’ll find yourself in Oshima Island. Known as the Island of the Ojima gods to the locals, the island is home to multiple torii gates and the Ominato Shrine. It is largely untouched and quiet - perfect for a brief respite for a traveller on a whirlwind journey.

Overall, the Tojinbo Cliffs were definitely a very underrated attraction!

Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum

Lastly, complete your time in Fukui at the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum. A short drive from Fukui city will bring you to the world-renowned dinosaur museum.

Multiple unique dinosaur skeletons have been found in Fukui, and this has resulted in some of those fossils being named after the prefecture!

Be greeted by a larger-than-life model of a T-Rex the moment you step into the exhibition and take in the plethora of various dinosaur fossils. There is even a hands on zone for visitors to pick up and hold real fossils. The child-friendly museum is a not-to-be missed for families with little ones!

EXTRA TIP: Rent a car in Fukui like I did to get around the city. Trust me, it’ll be worth it. Driving along the highways and coastal regions will reward you with so many beautiful landscapes. You’d never be able to see these sights in a travel itinerary or from typical travel websites or blogs. Check out these stunning scapes I snapped when my friend took over the wheel - effortlessly beautiful!

And that’s a wrap! Thanks for coming along with us around Kanazawa and Fukui! We hope you’ve enjoyed both our posts (check out our previous one here) about Chubu. Be sure to drop by any one of these places the next time you are planning to tour Chubu region!

We are down to the last 3 days of our Japan Virtual Travel Contest! If you have not yet participated, be sure to send us pictures of your favourite memories of Japan. We can’t wait to see and read about them and satisfy our wanderlust! Amazing prizes await, so don’t miss out on this opportunity!