Introduction
Kanazawa is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture on Japan's Sea of Japan coast, a castle town with over 400 years of history often nicknamed "Little Kyoto." Known for its well-preserved samurai and geisha districts, Kanazawa Castle, and the famous Kenroku-en garden, it survived WWII air raids largely intact and offers a quieter alternative to Kyoto for experiencing traditional Japanese culture and crafts.