In Kanazawa’s Higashi Chaya District, “Shima” refers to Ochaya Shima, a historic building designated by the Japanese government as a National Important Cultural Property.
This teahouse was built in Bunsei 3 (1820) and is one of the buildings that has stood here since the Higashi Chaya District was first established. It is also one of the few teahouse buildings in the area that fully preserves its original appearance from the late Edo period. During the Edo period, teahouses were luxurious entertainment venues where wealthy merchants and aristocrats enjoyed geisha performances, including dance and music. Ordinary people were not allowed to enter.
Highlights of visiting Shima:
Experience the atmosphere of the Edo period: The interior has remained almost unchanged, preserving the original layout, including the second-floor banquet hall, guest rooms without closets, the geishas’ preparation room, and an elegant small garden.
Cultural exhibits: The museum displays instruments used by geishas, such as shamisen, as well as grooming items, lacquerware furniture, and other objects from that time, offering a glimpse into the glamorous world of geisha culture.
Enjoy matcha: Visitors can enjoy matcha and wagashi at the first-floor tea room, Kanson-an, while looking out at the small garden and spending a peaceful afternoon. An additional fee is required.
Practical information:
Hours: Usually around 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., open year-round.
Admission: General admission is approximately JPY 500.
Address: 1-13-21 Higashiyama, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture.
Visiting Shima is one of the best ways to gain a deeper understanding of Kanazawa’s distinctive teahouse culture and history.
National Important Cultural Asset Ochaya SHIMA | Review by Norton Liang
Other Reviews by Norton Liang
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Korinbo ATRIO
A multi-purpose complex located in Korinbo, Kanazawa City’s bustling downtown district lined with hotels, department stores, and fashion buildings. Its bright, open atrium space from the basement 1st floor to the 4th floor is home to a wide variety of shops, including international brands such as Gucci, Coach, and Vivienne Westwood, as well as sophisticated, high-quality fashion and lifestyle brands. You can move between each floor and the Daiwa Department Store. On the basement 1st floor, there are also cafes such as the locally popular Ham&Go and Kajitsuen Liber, known for its carefully selected fruit, making it a great place to take a break while shopping.
Korinbo in Kanazawa is the busiest commercial and shopping district in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, just a 10- to 15-minute walk from Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle, and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art.
Korinbo’s enchanting illuminated tree-lined streets: Every year from November 1 to mid-February of the following year, the zelkova-lined streets around Korinbo are lit up with approximately 110,000 LED lights. -
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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 (ひがし茶屋街) is one of the most representative historic and cultural districts in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. It is also the largest of Kanazawa’s three major teahouse districts.
Key features and history
• Historical background: It was established in 1820 (Bunsei 3), when the domain government brought together the teahouses that had been scattered throughout the castle town for centralized management. It has since been designated a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
• Architectural style: Two-story wooden machiya townhouses dating back to the Edo period line both sides of the street. The first floors feature finely crafted wooden lattice windows known as kimusuko, while the second floors contain traditional Japanese-style rooms. -
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Drum Gate and Hospitality Dome (Kanazawa Station)
Kanazawa Station, the gateway to Kanazawa, is bustling with visitors as the Hokuriku Shinkansen arrives and departs, making it a hub for Hokuriku tourism. The eye-catching Drum Gate and Hospitality Dome, completed in 2005, are located at the Kenrokuen Gate (East Exit) facing the city center.
The Kanazawa Station Drum Gate is a landmark structure located at the Kenrokuen Gate (East Exit) of JR Kanazawa Station in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.
Basic Features and Design
• Design inspiration: Modeled after the traditional hand drums used in the Japanese performing art of Noh, specifically Kaga Hosho.
• Size: Standing 13.7 meters tall and supported by two massive wooden pillars, it showcases an aesthetic that blends tradition and modernity.
• Hospitality Dome (Motenashi Dome): The large glass structure behind and connected to the Drum Gate consists of more than 3,000 geometric glass panels. The design concept is “a large umbrella for travelers in rainy and snowy Kanazawa.”
• International recognition: In 2011, Kanazawa Station was selected by the American travel magazine Travel + Leisure as one of the “world’s most beautiful stations.”Visitor and Illumination Information
• Hours: Open all day; admission is free.
• Nighttime illumination: Lit daily from sunset until midnight.
• Hourly light show: After sunset, a two-minute “Five Colors of Kaga” light display takes place every hour on the hour (crimson on Monday, blue on Tuesday, green on Wednesday, ocher on Thursday, and ancient purple on Friday, with the five colors shown in rotation on weekends and national holidays).
• Location: Visible as soon as you exit JR Kanazawa Station through the Kenrokuen Gate. -
