History
Kanazawa was, by Edo-period standards, an unusually rich domain that deliberately avoided looking like a threat to the shogunate — the ruling Maeda clan reportedly poured resources into gardens, crafts, tea ceremony, and the arts rather than military buildup, a strategy that kept them wealthy and largely undisturbed for over two centuries. That same instinct arguably saved the city again in the 20th century: Kanazawa avoided the heavy Allied bombing that leveled most of Japan’s other major castle towns, leaving its historic districts intact in a way few Japanese cities can match today.
Ishikawa and the wider world
That preserved craft culture has become Kanazawa’s most concrete modern connection to the outside world. The city was designated a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art in 2009, and its gold leaf — nearly all of Japan’s total output — has found its way into international luxury goods: gold-leaf-flecked sake, desserts, and cosmetics sold well beyond Japan often trace back to workshops here.
Ishikawa’s Noto Peninsula, the prefecture’s northern arm, was struck by a major earthquake on January 1, 2024, causing significant damage and loss of life in fishing and farming communities along the coast. Recovery has been ongoing since; check current official guidance before planning travel specifically to the Noto Peninsula, as conditions continue to change.
Neighbors: Ishikawa and the rest of Hokuriku
Ishikawa sits between Toyama and Fukui as the middle prefecture of the Hokuriku region, and its capital, Kanazawa, is by far the region’s largest and most historically significant city — a status Toyama and Fukui’s own capitals don’t quite match.
Getting there and getting around
Kanazawa Station is a Hokuriku Shinkansen terminus, about 2.5 hours from Tokyo. The city center is walkable or served by a loop bus; a car is more useful for reaching the Noto Peninsula.
.jpg)
.jpg)