Higashi Chaya District: Where Kanazawa’s Teahouse Culture Lives On

Higashi Chaya District

(Kanazawa City, Ishikawa)

【Ochaya（お茶屋）】 is a traditional establishment—literally a teahouse—where female entertainers known as ‘geiko‘ entertain guests by playing traditional instruments, performing classical Japanese dance, singing, and engaging guests in elegant parlor games, all while serving food and drinks. Today, you can find ochaya only in a few traditional areas, such as Kyoto and Kanazawa. ’Geiko’ are not only trained in classical performing arts but are also refined and well-educated entertainers who know how to keep their guests engaged. Guests, in turn, are expected to conduct themselves with a sense of stylish sophistication. It is also worth noting that many ‘ochaya’ do not accept first-time visitors without an introduction from a regular patron.

One of the places where ‘ochaya’ culture still remains is the Higashi Chaya District in Kanazawa. Stretching along the Asano River, this area is the most vibrant of Kanazawa’s historic teahouse districts, lined with traditional Japanese wooden houses. It has been designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

As you enter the district, the asphalt roads give way to stone-paved streets, and rows of historic wooden houses with distinctive latticework line both sides of the path. The latticework, a hallmark of traditional Japanese house architecture, is made of thin vertical wooden slats that function like blinds—allowing air and light to pass through while obscuring the view from outside. If you peer closely, you can glimpse the interior through the gaps, but when you walk past, the slats overlap from an angle, making it difficult to see inside. In Kanazawa, this style of lattice is known for its thin slats, resembling an insect cage, and its trapezoidal shape, which further blocks visibility from outside.

Along the streets, you’ll find shops selling traditional crafts, as well as cafés where visitors can enjoy ‘matcha’ (Japanese green tea), Japanese sweets, or ‘sake’. At a Japanese sweet shop that was founded over 160 years ago, you can enjoy a traditional sweet called ’fu,’ which is made from wheat flour and glutinous rice flour. Its small, pure-white pieces have a soft, springy, silky texture that pairs wonderfully with ‘kinako’ (toasted soybean flour), or sweet red bean paste. There is also a liquor shop offering a wide selection of local sake, where you can casually enjoy seasonal new brews while standing at the counter. In addition, the district features gold-leaf crafts and accessories—glittering yet understated pieces that contribute to the refined, serene atmosphere of the townscape.

Higashi Chaya District is the kind of place where you can stroll through historic streets, relax in a Japanese‑style café, and create lasting memories of your journey.

Please visit the Higashi Chaya District website.