Kanazawa

Kanazawa is the capital of Japan's Ishikawa Prefecture on Honshu Island and is famed for its Edo-era districts, art museums, and vibrant arts and crafts community. Among the local attractions, Kenrokuen Garden stands out as a must-visit location. This 17th-century landscape is celebrated for the way it incorporates local geography into its design. Just next to it, Kanazawa Castle has stood since the 16th century and was built following the defeat of the only Buddhist fiefdom in Japanese history, the Peasants' Kingdom.

More modern attractions in the city include the sleek, modern 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. The museum's mission is to keep in step with the contemporary art scene, so you can expect to find exhibits from recent artists. You can also walk the Nagamachi District, formerly the home of samurai nobles; sit down at a historic teahouse in the Higashi Chaya District; or shop the 160-plus vendors at the Ōmichō Market.