Ishikawa Prefecture: Best Attractions and Things to do

Ishikawa Prefecture faces the Sea of Japan. Ishikawa Prefecture, together with Toyama Prefecture and Fukui Prefecture, is often called “Hokuriku Region”. Kanazawa city with the prefectural office in Ishikawa prefecture is the biggest tourist city in the Hokuriku region. Traditional Japanese townscapes and stunning Japanese gardens “Kenrokuen” are left here. The above picture is the Japanese garden “Kenrokuen” of Kanazawa. At Kenrokuen, in the winter, branches are hung with rope as seen in the picture so that the branches of the trees will not break with the weight of the snow.

Outline of Ishikawa

Features

Ishikawa Prefecture is located on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu Island. The District has the following features: (1) you can experience a variety of traditional cultures from the Edo period (1603-1867), (2) you can enjoy beautiful snowy scenery in winter, and (3) you can enjoy delicious seafood dishes from the Sea of Japan. A typical tourist destination is Kanazawa City, the capital of the prefecture. Another popular destination is the Noto Peninsula, home to the nationally famous Wakura Onsen.

history and culture

Ishikawa Prefecture was governed by the Maeda family (Kaga clan), the number two feudal lord after the Tokugawa shogunate family during the Edo period (1603-1867). The Maeda family put more emphasis on culture than on the military in order to appeal that it was not a feudal clan against the Tokugawa family.

As a result, Ishikawa Prefecture has nurtured a rich traditional culture that represents Japan. Those cultures are especially preserved in Kanazawa, the prefectural capital of Ishikawa. If you visit Kanazawa, you will surely enjoy Japanese traditional culture, second only to Kyoto and Nara.

Climate

Since Ishikawa Prefecture is located on the Sea of Japan, it often snows in the winter. During the winter months, there are fewer sunny days. The Noto Peninsula, located in the northern part of Ishikawa Prefecture, has a particularly strong seasonal wind. In other seasons, the climate is relatively similar to that of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.

 

Kanazawa

Kanazawa City, the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, is one of Japan’s leading tourist cities. In Kanazawa, as in Kyoto and Nara, traditional Japanese townscapes have been preserved. At the same time, the unique culture of gold leaf and lacquerware is still richly preserved today.

For more information on Kanazawa, please refer to the articles below.

 

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