Kazuemachi Teahouse Street

Kazuemachi Chaya Gai (Teahouse Street) is located in Kanazawa City of central Ishikawa Prefecture. This historical entertainment district is situated along River Asano, and is one of the 3 major Kanazawa Teahouse streets, together with the East and West Teahouse Streets (Higashi and Nishi Chayagai).
Kazuemachi Chayagai was founded as a Hanamachi (Entertainment district) in the Meiji Era. This is the district where many Geiko (female entertainers) used to reside, and during twilight, you can still hear the sound of hand drums and Shamisen from their training rooms. Among all the Chaya Gai in Kanazawa Prefecture, Kazuemachi Chayagai is especially a quiet and relaxed spot. There are Japanese restaurants and teahouses alongside residential houses with Bengara-koshi (red color lattice) on the streets, and the streets are lit with warm orange colored street lights at night. If you walk on the scarcely populated back alleys, you will be able to feel the atmosphere of the ancient town, Kanazawa.
The back of Kazuemachi Chaya Gai is quite steep. There is a slope called Kuragari-zaka, where it is dark even during the day. When you climb up to the top of the slope, you will see the birthplace of a literary giant, Kyoka Izumi, which is now Izumi Kyoka Museum.