Kanazawa: A Trip into the Past The city of Kanazawa, on the Sea of Japan in central Honshu, retains much of its past atmosphere as a castle town. The traditional tile roofs and colorful buildings in its old neighborhoods make visitors feel like they have gone back in time. Kanazawa is on the Noto Peninsula, a hilly region with an uneven coastline that is well known for its natural beauty. Fishing is a major industry on the peninsula, and there are also many hot spring resorts in the area. The region first became important for its mines, a source of gold used in many Buddhist temples and works of art. The city of Kanazawa was founded during the 15th century, and it blossomed under the rule of the powerful Maeda family in the late 1500s. This clan brought many artists to Kanazawa and made the city a place of beauty and color. Kenrokuen, a garden started by the Maeda family, features the oldest fountain in Japan. It's considered to be one of the nation's three finest gardens: It took close to 200 years for master gardeners to get all the ponds, trees, rocks, and streams just right. There are also many temples with unique histories. Myoryuji, for instance, is popularly known as Ninja Temple, and is filled with secret passages and traps. The Maeda family brought so many artists and craftspeople to the town that it became known as "Little Kyoto." To this day Kanazawa is known for products like Kutani porcelain, Kaga dyed cloth, and maki-e lacquerware decorated with sprinkled gold.

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