Ishikawa石川県

Places to seeWhere to go in Ishikawa

Start with the first of these. Each is worth half a day.

Kenrokuen兼六園

At its best under snow, with the pines roped against it. Free entry early in the morning.

Half a dayWinter

MAP

Higashi Chaya東茶屋街

A preserved district of wooden tea houses, some open to look inside, some serving gold-leaf sweets.

2 hoursBook ahead

MAP

Kanazawa Castle金沢城

Rebuilt gates and turrets next door to the garden, with wide grounds to walk.

2 hours

MAP

Noto Peninsula能登半島

Fishing villages, terraced rice fields above the sea, and lacquer made at Wajima.

A full dayWinter

MAP

What Ishikawa is

Kenrokuen is the garden that is best in winter — the pines are held up with rope cones against the snow, and it is the image the city is known by. The garden opens free of charge early in the morning, before normal hours, which is when it is empty.

When to comeThe same place, four different places

Pick the season first and the days will arrange themselves.

March – May

Cherry blossom around the castle in early April. Mild, and the crafts workshops are busy.

June – August

Wet in June. Humid in August, but the tea-house streets are shaded and cool early.

September – November

Autumn colour in the garden in November. Crab season opens, and the sea is generous.

December – February

Snow on the garden is the reason to come now. Grey skies, snow crab, and very few people.

Find it fastEverything in Ishikawa