Higashi Chaya District

In Japanese culture, geisha houses have been traditional places of party and entertainment since the Edo period. Also known as "Chaya," in them geisha entertained the nobility and rich merchants by playing dances and playing traditional Japanese instruments. The centre of Kanazawa was splashed with geisha houses, but in 1820 they moved to three specific districts away from the city centre. The largest - and possibly the most popular - is the Higashi Chaya district where they have a captivating traditional look. These houses are characterized by the beautiful celosy on the outside of its ground floor, called "kimusuko," and the Japanese-style rooms on the first floor. During the Edo period, the construction of two-storey buildings was prohibited, except for geisha houses, making their appearance even more striking. These historic buildings, together with Gion, in Kyoto, and Kazue-machi, also in Kanazawa, have been designated as cultural assets. No other geisha neighborhood has been designated as a cultural good in Japan, making Higashi Chaya even more special. The neighborhood includes facilities where you can see the interior that was built almost 200 years ago, as well as many old buildings that have been renovated to make them restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops. It also takes just three minutes on foot to reach the banks of the Asano River from Higashi Chaya, so it is an excellent area to explore and walk. The Kanazawa City Tourism Association holds a geisha show in the three selected city neighborhoods, so be sure to plan your visit to enjoy them.

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