Higashi Chaya District is famous for its chaya, or traditional tea houses, which have been well preserved since the Edo period (1603–1868), and today stands as one of the largest teahouse districts in Kanazawa.
Many of these historic wooden buildings have been transformed into cafés, shops and other local businesses while preserving the district’s traditional atmosphere.
For travelers wishing to explore Kanazawa’s tea culture, Higashi Chaya District is an ideal place to experience authentic tea ceremonies, visit historic museums, find ceramics, lacquerware, and Japanese sweets made by local Kanazawa artisans.
After exploring the district, spend your evening enjoying a kaiseki dinner, a traditional Japanese multi-course dining experience that celebrates seasonal ingredients showcased through carefully prepared and well-presented dishes.
In this blog, we introduce ways to experience Kanazawa’s distinctive tea culture, along with local kaiseki restaurants in and around the Higashi Chaya District, selected by MACHIYA LOCALS.
- Shima Teahouse (志摩)
- A Private Kanazawa Tea Ceremony Experience
- Where to Find Kaiseki Dining in Higashi Chaya District?
- Local Tips
Shima Teahouse (志摩)
Shima is a historic teahouse built in 1820 in the Higashi Chaya District and designated as a National Important Cultural Property. Shima Teahouse is a public museum that allows visitors to explore spaces where geigi (Kanazawa’s term for traditional female performers, also known as geisha) entertained through music, dance, Japanese poetry, and more for over a century. Admire its Edo-period interiors, gold-leaf partitions, and displays of traditional musical instruments.
Afterward, continue to the Kanson-an tea room, and enjoy matcha and Japanese sweets while overlooking a teahouse garden.
Shima Teahouse Website: http://www.ochaya-shima.com/english/index.html
A Private Kanazawa Tea Ceremony Experience
Stay at MACHIYA RESIDENCE INN KANAZAWA and experience a private tea ceremony in your reserved traditional Japanese machiya holiday home (vacation rental).
Guests staying at one of the 20+ machiya holiday homes in Kanazawa can reserve a private tea ceremony experience with local Kanazawa tea master Yuta Takahashi.
Watch as he prepares matcha, learn to whisk your own bowl of green tea, and enjoy it with traditional Japanese sweets all in the comfort of your private machiya home.
Where to Find Kaiseki Dining In and Around Higashi Chaya District
After the tea houses and local shops close at around 5 pm, the traditional stone-paved alleys of the Higashi Chaya District offer a different side of the neighbourhood. With fewer crowds and a quieter atmosphere, enter a kaiseki restaurant for a refined Japanese dining experience.
1. Tempura Miyashita
Located just a 1-minute walk from Higashi Chaya District
At this intimate tempura specialty restaurant, Chef Miyashita offers a tempura kaiseki dinner with only eight counter seats, using locally sourced ingredients from Kanazawa and the Hokuriku region.
He blends sesame and corn oil to create light and crispy tempura, along with a selection of Japanese sake and wine served with the kaiseki meal.
Book 7-Course Seasonal Tempura Kaiseki
2. Ebisu Sushi
Located just a 9-minute walk from Higashi Chaya District
Open for over 50 years, this restaurant has the nostalgic atmosphere of a long-established local sushi shop. Master sushi chef Wajima-san brings more than 30 years of experience to each dish, and uses fresh ingredients carefully selected from local fish markets.
Choose from a sushi omakase dinner, a Japanese sake tasting with sushi, and other Kaiseki courses.
Book Sake & Sushi Omakase: 5-Course Kaiseki
3. Busaku
Located just a 2-minute walk from Higashi Chaya District
Experience unique kaiseki at this Japanese-French fusion restaurant that blends traditional Japanese food with French influences. The chef has over 20 years of experience in French cuisine while preserving the traditions of his family run soba restaurant.
He creates each kaiseki dish by balancing innovation and tradition, using fresh ingredients sourced from Kanazawa and across Japan.
Book Sake & Sushi Omakase: 5-Course Kaiseki
Local Tip
After a kaiseki meal, stroll through the softly lit, lantern-filled alleys of Higashi Chaya District at night, where you may even have a chance to hear geigi performers singing to the sound of the shamisen, a three-stringed Japanese instrument.
We hope this blog has piqued your interest in Kanazawa’s tea culture and inspired you to enjoy kaiseki cuisine in and around Higashi Chaya District. Book a dining experience through MACHIYA LOCALS for an authentic local kaiseki dinner and seamless reservation experience. We wish you a wonderful time exploring Kanazawa!
