Nishi-Chaya-gai was one of the Hanamachi(areas where Ochaya and geisha-houses were clustered) streets officially licensed by the Kaga Clan in 1820. The name "Nishi-chaya-gai" comes from its location to the west, as seen from Kanazawa Castle. Lined with beautiful two-story Chaya buildings: traditional and unique structure architecture) It is a pleasant place to stroll while stopping at cafes and stores with protruding latticework. It is the place where you can feel Kanazawa, the town of traditional entertainment, the most in Kanazawa's Ochaya district, and at dusk, you may see Geiko dressed up in gorgeous costumes.
The Nishi-Chaya Museum, which stands on a corner of the teahouse street, is a recreation of a building on the site of the Chaya "Yoshiyonero" associated with Seijiro Shimada (1899-1930), the author of the bestseller "Terrestrial" in the Taisho Period.
Seijiro Shimada was raised by his mother, who ran a rented tatami room here, and grew up watching the adults and young people around him. It is said that this experience inspired his bestseller. On the first floor, there is an exhibition of materials related to Shimada Seijiro. On the second floor, the interior of the luxurious teahouse is recreated with gold folding screens and lacquered ornaments.
The Nishikanban Office ( It was training halls and administrative offices for Geiko) in Nishi-Chaya-gai, located in the corner of the teahouse district, has a Western-style appearance not found in other teahouse districts. Built in the Taisho era (1912-1926), it is designated as a national tangible cultural property.
Highlights
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The most significant number of Geiko belong to this Ochaya-gai district in the three Ochaya districts in Kanazawa.
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The Ochayas are dotted with stores and cafes that have been remodeled into modern Japanese-style teahouses.
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The Nishi-Chaya Museum offers free guided tours of the museum by volunteer guides.
