Nagamachi Samurai district
Posted on 01/07/2015
After leaving Kenrokuen, we again took the Kanazawa Loop Bus with our day pass and headed to the Naga-machi Samurai district, where I used to cycle to work along the long mud walls. Samurais of the feudal times used to live in this area around 400 years ago. Their houses are well preserved and their ancestors still live here. Although there are new shops open alongside the Onosho canal bringing more tourists, it still retains its tranquil and peaceful atmosphere and brings back memories. You won’t believe it’s only a few minutes’ walk from the bustling town of Kata-machi. One of the main attractions in the district is the house of the Nomura Samurai family. The house is open to the public and the picturesque garden is a must-see.
We walked past the Nagaya-mon Gate of row houses. You can’t see through the gate to the inside but security guards standing inside the gate used to look out between the lattices in the walls. Next to the local community center, we found a rental bike docking station. It’s a new self-service bike-sharing scheme called “Machi-nori” (town-ride). I would definitely have tried it if I’d known it was there because Kanazawa is a compact city and it’s easy to get around by bike.
Nomura Samurai Family Residence
Opening hours: 8:30 - 17:30 from April to September, 8:30 - 16:30 from October to March
(Closed on Dec 26 and 27)
Address: 1-3-32 Naga-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Post code: 920-0865
Admission: Adult 550 yen, High school student 400 yen, child 250 yen
Closest bus stop: Korinbo (香林坊)