Travel to Kanazawa and Gokayama Part 1: Kanazawa Station, Omi-cho Market and Oyama Jinja Shrine

[Introduction]

I traveled to Kanazawa (Ishikawa Prefecture) and Gokayama (Toyama Prefecture) for three days and two nights. This was my first visit to Hokuriku District and I felt unique atmosphere there. In this article, I will write about Kanazawa Station, Omi-cho Market and Oyama Jinja Shrine as part of Day 1.

[Visit Places (series of articles)]
* Day 1 (1) Kanazawa Station, Omi-cho Market and Oyama Jinja Shrine [This article]
* Day 1 (2) Buke Yashiki District, 21st Century Museum and D.T. Suzuki Museum
* Day 1 (3) Kanazawa Castle Park and Kanazawa Station (Illumination)
* Day 2 (1) Kenrokuen Garden
* Day 2 (2) Kanazawa Castle Park
* Day 2 (3) Higashi Chaya District and Kazue-machi Chaya District
* Day 2 (4) Higashi Chaya District and Kazue-machi Chaya District (Light-up)
* Day 3 (1) Gokayama: Suganuma Gassho-zukuri Village
* Day 3 (2) Gokayama: Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village
* Day 3 (3) Kanazawa Station

[Travel Date]
2016.0X5.14-16

[Main Part]

A new series of my travel blog started. One month after my previous trip to Kyoto, I traveled to Kanazawa and Gokayama.

Go to Kanazawa by Hokuriku Shinkansen

I moved from Tokyo to Kanazawa by Hokuriku Shinkansen.

Hokuriku Shinkansen has started its operation since March 2015, and it takes about 2.5 hours between Tokyo and Kanazawa.

Kanazawa station : Welcome gate and Tsuzumi-mon

Kanazawa station was chosen as one of the World’s Most Beautiful Train Stations in the US Travel Magazine” Travel Leisure”.

Welcome gate (Mote-Nashi Dome).

Tsuzumi-mon.

Moving to Omi-cho Market

Snaps between Kanazawa station and Omi-cho Market.

Omi-cho Market

Omi-cho Market is the largest fresh market that contains 180 stores such as seafood shop and restaurant. Omi-cho Market has started since 1721 and attracts both local residents and tourists.

In the market.

There are many restaurants that sell “Kai-sen Don” (bowl of rice topped with sashimi) in Omi-cho Market. I visited “Iki-Iki Tei” restaurant to have Kai-Sen Don for lunch.

Kai-Sen Don.

Other snaps in the market.

I left Omi-cho Market and then moved to the next destination.

Oyama Jinja Shrine

Oyama Jinja Shrine is dedicated to Maeda Toshiie, the ancient Lord of this area.

The main gate is a peculiar mix of traditional Japanese, Chinese, and European religious architectural elements.

Maeda Toshiie is enshrined in this shrine.

Autumn colors.

Traditional Japanese garden with pond and bridge.

I just happened to see a local mascot.

Then, I left Oyama Jinja Shrine and moved to the next destination.

[Closing]

That’s it for the article about Kanazawa Station, Omi-cho Market and Oyama Jinja Shrine as part of Day 1. Kanazawa Station and Omi-cho Market are more famous than Oyama Jinja Shrine in terms of tourist spots in Kanazawa, but I also like Oyama Jinja Shrine due to its unique architectural style (combination of Japanese and Western styles) 🙂

In the next article, I will write about Buke Yashiki District, 21st Century Museum and D.T. Suzuki Museum.

[Map]

[Related Link]
Kanazawa Tourist Information Guide