Kanazawa’s Higashi Chaya District and the Ishikawa Akarenga Museum: Walking the Morning Teahouse Streets and a Former Army Arsenal

The Higashi Chaya District in Kanazawa is one of the city’s best-known sights, where streets of teahouses from the Edo period still remain. The Ishikawa Akarenga Museum, south of Kenrokuen Garden, is a museum housed in former army arsenals built in the Meiji and Taishō periods.

In this article, I introduce the history and highlights of the Higashi Chaya District, the Ishikawa Akarenga Museum (Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History), and the neighboring National Crafts Museum, with photos from my own walk. I have also put the opening hours, admission fees, and access into tables.

On September 16, 2024, I walked through the Higashi Chaya District a little after 7 a.m., and from around 9:40 a.m. I visited the Akarenga Museum and the National Crafts Museum. All photos were taken at that time.

1. What Is the Higashi Chaya District? | Teahouse Streets Dating Back to the Edo Period

The Higashi Chaya District is a teahouse district on the east side of the Asano River, which flows through central Kanazawa. It was created in 1820 (Bunsei 3) as the “Higashi” (east) teahouse district, together with the “Nishi” (west) district on the west side of the Sai River.

In 2001, it was selected by the national government as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings under the name “Kanazawa-shi Higashiyama Higashi.” It was the first district in Ishikawa Prefecture to be selected. Teahouse buildings with fine wooden lattices line both sides of the stone-paved street.

Walking the Higashi Chaya District in the Morning

I walked here a little after 7 a.m. The street is busy with tourists during the day, but at this hour there was almost no one around.

If you go early in the morning, there are hardly any people, so if you want to take photos, I recommend going early in the morning.

How to Get to the Higashi Chaya District

Location	Higashiyama, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture (east side of the Asano River)
Bus	From Kanazawa Station, take a local bus or the Jōkamachi Kanazawa Shūyū Bus (Kanazawa castle town loop bus) to “Hashiba-chō,” then walk about 6 minutes
Car	The surrounding roads are narrow, so public transportation such as buses is recommended

【要確認：「城下まち金沢周游バス」の公式の英語名が確かめられませんでした。案1：このまま「Jōkamachi Kanazawa Shūyū Bus」／案2：公式の英語名に直す】

2. Ishikawa Akarenga Museum | A Museum in Former Army Arsenals

【要確認：「いしかわ赤レンガミュージアム（石川県立歴史博物館）」の公式の英語表記が確かめられませんでした（公式サイトが開けませんでした）。案1：このまま「Ishikawa Akarenga Museum (Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History)」／案2：公式の英語表記に直す】

“Ishikawa Akarenga Museum” (akarenga means “red brick”) is the nickname of the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History. Its three red brick buildings were built from 1909 (Meiji 42) to 1914 (Taishō 3) as arsenals of the former Imperial Japanese Army. They were designated as a national Important Cultural Property in 1990.

Inside, you can follow the history of Ishikawa Prefecture in order, from ancient times to the modern era.

Inside the Brick Buildings and the Exhibits

Inside the building, there is a wide staircase with wooden handrails, and a chandelier hangs from the ceiling.

When I visited, suits of armor were lined up in front of curtains bearing family crests, and spears and swords were also on display.

The Courtyard and the Red Brick Buildings

The buildings surround a courtyard with a lawn and a water channel. After seeing the exhibits, you can take your time looking at the red brick buildings from outside.

Opening hours	9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30)
Closed	Year-end and New Year holidays, and periods for changing exhibits and organizing materials
Admission	Permanent exhibition: general 300 yen, university students 240 yen, high school students and younger free (separate fees for special exhibitions)
Address	3-1 Dewa-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Access	From bus stop No. 6 at the East Exit (Kenrokuen Exit) of Kanazawa Station, take a bus to “Dewa-machi,” then walk about 5 minutes. Free parking (shared with the nearby cultural facilities)

3. The Neighboring National Crafts Museum | An Art Museum in Relocated Meiji-Era Western-Style Buildings

Right near the Akarenga Museum is the National Crafts Museum, a national art museum specializing in crafts. Its buildings are the former Army 9th Division Headquarters, built in 1898 (Meiji 31), and the former Army Kanazawa Kaikōsha (officers’ club), built in 1909 (Meiji 42), which were relocated here. Both are Registered Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan, and their exteriors recreate the colors they had when they were first built.

Inside, there is a lounge in the former division commander’s office, where you can see what the interior of a Meiji-era Western-style building looked like.

Opening hours	9:30–17:30 (last entry 17:00)
Closed	Mondays (open on national holidays, closed the next weekday instead), periods for changing exhibits, and the year-end and New Year holidays
Admission	Varies by exhibition (please check the official website)
Address	3-2 Dewa-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Access	From bus stop No. 6 at the East Exit (Kenrokuen Exit) of Kanazawa Station, take a bus to “Dewa-machi,” then walk about 5 minutes. Parking is shared with the Akarenga Museum (free)

4. How to Visit the Higashi Chaya District and the Akarenga Museum

The Higashi Chaya District and the Akarenga Museum are on opposite sides of Kenrokuen Garden. I walked through the Higashi Chaya District in the quiet morning, moved to the Akarenga Museum in time for its opening, and then visited the National Crafts Museum.

In the early morning, the shops in the teahouse district are not open yet. If you want to visit the shops or cafés, plan your visit for their opening hours.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. When was the Higashi Chaya District created?

A. It was created as a teahouse district in 1820 (Bunsei 3). In 2001, it was selected as a national Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

Q. Are the “Ishikawa Akarenga Museum” and the “Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History” the same?

A. Yes, they are the same. “Ishikawa Akarenga Museum” is the nickname of the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History.

Q. What were the red brick buildings originally?

A. They were arsenals of the former army. The three buildings were built from 1909 (Meiji 42) to 1914 (Taishō 3) and are designated as a national Important Cultural Property.

Q. Are the Akarenga Museum and the National Crafts Museum close to each other?

A. They are right next to each other and share a parking lot. The nearest bus stop for both is “Dewa-machi,” so you can visit both in one trip.

6. Summary

• The Higashi Chaya District is a teahouse district created in 1820 (Bunsei 3) and a national Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings
• A little after 7 a.m., there were few people, and I could take my time looking at the stone-paved street and the teahouses
• The Ishikawa Akarenga Museum is the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History, housed in former army arsenals (a national Important Cultural Property)
• Together with the neighboring National Crafts Museum, it can be visited on foot from the “Dewa-machi” bus stop

If you visit the Higashi Chaya District on an anime pilgrimage in Kanazawa, please also read our article on Hasunosora Girls’ High School pilgrimage spots in Kanazawa. For Kanazawa food, see our article on Kanazawa curry (Japanese), and for more articles on Ishikawa Prefecture, visit our Ishikawa page.

【要確認：リンク先の英語の記事（3612）は「Hasunosora Academy」「Hasunosora Girls’ Academy」と書いていて、この記事の「Hasunosora Girls’ High School」とそろっていません。公式の英語表記も確かめられませんでした。案1：このまま／案2：リンク先にそろえて「Hasunosora Girls’ Academy」にする】

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References (checked on October 21, 2026)

• Kanazawa-shi Higashiyama Higashi | Cultural Heritage Online (Agency for Cultural Affairs) (Japanese)
• Higashi Chaya District | Hot Ishikawa Tabi Net (official Ishikawa Prefecture tourism website) (Japanese)
• Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History (Ishikawa Akarenga Museum) official website (Japanese)
• National Crafts Museum official website (Japanese)