Nishi Chaya District: A Glimpse into Kanazawa's Geisha Past
Explore Kanazawa's Nishi Chaya District: a historic geisha district with preserved teahouses, museums, and traditional charm.
Nishi Chaya District, one of Kanazawa's three preserved teahouse districts, offers a serene glimpse into the city's Edo-era entertainment culture. Established in 1820, it once thrived as a place where geiko (Kanazawa's term for geisha) entertained wealthy patrons. Today, its main street, lined with traditional wooden teahouses, exudes a nostalgic charm, housing sweet shops, cafes, and operating geiko parlors.
A brief summary to Nishi Chaya District
- 2 Chome-25-18 Nomachi, Kanazawa, 2 Chome Nomachi, Ishikawa, 921-8031, JP
- +8176-232-5555
- Visit website
Local tips
- Visit the Nishi Chaya Museum to learn about the district's history and geisha culture.
- Stroll along the main street in the early evening to experience the district's enchanting atmosphere and possibly hear the sound of shamisen music.
- Combine your visit with a trip to the nearby Ninja Temple (Myoryuji), a short walk from Nishi Chaya.
Getting There
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Walking
From the Myoryuji (Ninja) Temple, walk east along the main road. Turn right at the first major intersection. Walk straight; Nishi Chaya District will be on your left in about 5 minutes. No costs involved.
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Public Transport
From Kanazawa Station, take the Kanazawa Loop Bus (Left Loop), Hokutetsu Local-Line Bus, or West JR Bus to the 'Hirokoji' bus stop. From there, it's approximately a 3-minute walk to Nishi Chaya District. The fare for the bus is a flat rate of ¥210 for adults and ¥100 for children. Alternatively, the Kanazawa Flat Bus Nagamachi route stops directly at the 'Nishi Chaya District' bus stop.
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Taxi
From Kanazawa Station, a taxi to Nishi Chaya District will take approximately 10-15 minutes. Taxi fares in Kanazawa start at ¥690 for a small taxi, with additional charges of ¥80 for every 277 meters. The ride should cost under ¥1000.
Discover more about Nishi Chaya District
Iconic landmarks you can’t miss
Dolls Museum
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Yoshiro and Yoshio Taniguchi Museum of Architecture
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Shinise Kinenkan Museum
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Kaname Inn Tatemachi
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Naga-machi Buke Yashiki Rest House
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Northwest Turret Remains
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Kaiseki Pagoda
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Kinjo Reitaku Sacred Well
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Gojukken Nagaya - Kanazawa castle
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Hishi Yagura
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Kahoku-mon Gate
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Unmissable attractions to see
Kanazawa Nishi-chaya Museum
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Ninja Weapon Museum
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Myouryuji
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Saigawa-Ōhashi Bridge
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Kanazawa Shinise Memorial Hall
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Nagamachi District
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Kanazawa Tours
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Nomura-ke Samurai Residence
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Takada Family House
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The Fourth High School Memorial Park, Ishikawa
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Kanazawa City Ashigaru Museum
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21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
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Hirosaka Park
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Shofukaku garden
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Essential places to dine
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Iwashigumi
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Genzaemon
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Uchuken Syokudo
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Sushi Ippei
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Grill Otsuka
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Tawara Restaurant
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Markets, malls and hidden boutiques
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Katamachi Kirara
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UNDERCOVER Kanazawa
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Essential bars & hidden hideouts
Sturgis
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JIGGER BAR St.Louis
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THE HIDEOUT
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Bar Spoon
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Music Bar JealousGuy
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The Londonya Bar
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Orbital bar
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Bar Tobira (Door)
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Bar Quinase
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Nightclubs & after hour spots
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Apstage (フィリピンパブ)
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Bespa
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Eight Hall
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倶楽部金澤
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Club Harlem
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Thai Club LANNA（タイクラブ らんな）
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Club Crystal
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Universe
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Main
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Amore
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Ann'z bar
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tricky
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Ichie
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