Kanazawa as we see it

(From Wikitravel): "Kanazawa is one of the overlooked jewels of Japanese tourism - although not by the Japanese, who visit in droves. Its relatively remote location, off the beaten (shinkansen) track, has perhaps unfairly contributed to a lower number of foreign tourists. However for those travellers who want to see perhaps the best-preserved major Edo-period city in the country (along with Takayama), it is hard to beat. Kyoto's offerings of temples and shrines are all very well, but Japanese history and culture is not just about them. The samurai, the merchants, the geisha, and the lords have all left their mark on Kanazawa in a compact, easily navigable central area. Kanazawa is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Crafts and Folk Art. Kanazawa cuisine is famous throughout Japan, particularly its seafood since it lies in the sweet spot of the hot south and cold north currents. The quality of food is so high, that essentially you'll eat good food whatever the price."

Hotel:

We will be staying at the Hotel Route Inn Ekimae.

The Kanazawa Festival

Our main reason for taking this extension to the core trip is to experience the Kanaawa festival. Here is some background information giving you an idea of what to expect:

• The Wikipedia article on the festival (the Hyakumangoku Matsuri)
• Some great pictures and more from the Japanese traditional festival calendar
• Excellent descriptions of the major events during the festival

Some other things to do in Kanazawa

Here is a list of suggested sites to see / things to do in Kanazawa. If you're not interested in the festival, you can ...

• Explore the wonders of the Kenrokuen garden, one of the top 3 gardens in all of Japan
• Walk the spiritual road.