Higashi Chaya District
It is one of Kanazawa's representative tourist attractions. The townscape with its beautiful Degoushi (latticed window) and the stone pavement has been selected as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings by the national government.
Higashi Chaya District is full of history and culture. Visiting here really let me feel the charm and elegance of traditional Japan.
Sensoji Temple
This iconic destination in Asakusa sees as many as 30 million visitors each year. It stands as a well-loved mainstay in Tokyo, all while hosting a number of annual traditions like the first temple visit at New Years, Setsubun and more across the year.
Ningyo-yaki and senbei 🍘 are must-buys when you come to Asakusa.
Kawasaki Daishi Heikenji Temple (Kongosan Kinjoin Heikenji)
Kawasaki Daishi is considered the birthplace of the "Hatsumode" tradition. Every year during the first three days of the New Year, approximately 3 million people visit for worship.
I really enjoy strolling around the shopping street nearby and grabbing some food.
Tsuru-no-Mai Bridge
This is a 300 meter-long triple-arched wooden bridge over Lake Fujimi. The bridge is known as "Nagaiki-no-Hashi" (bridge of long life) and is popular for its longevity blessing. The bridge is also renowned for "Tsugaru no Sakasa Fuji" (Mt. Iwaki reflected on the lake surface), which can only be seen on clear, windless days and was used in a JR East TV advertisement. Near the bridge are Crane Nature Park and Fujimi Lake Park, which are also good places for a stroll.
The weather was perfect and the scenery looked just like a painting.
Eiheiji Temple
The head temple of Soto Zen Buddhism in Japan. It was established by Zen Master Dogen in 1244 as a place to practice zazen. The vast site of 330,000 square meters is lined with more than 70 halls and buildings of various sizes, centering on the seven halls of the temple, where more than 100 monks practice asceticism every day.
The atmosphere inside the temple is very solemn. You can barely hear any conversations. The training here is known to be really strict.
Kurayoshi Shirakabe Dozo Gun
This is a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, where old merchant houses and storehouses built between the Edo and Taisho periods are lined up along the Tamagawa River. The area flourished as the castle town of Uchibuki Castle in the Muromachi period (1336-1573), and during the Edo period (1603-1868), samurai residences were built around the camp, making it a historical area with a beautiful townscape, also known as "Little Kyoto”.
The street was pretty quiet and a lot of shops weren't even open. I finally found a café and ended up staying there all afternoon.