The largest of the three well historical tea districts (chaya) in Kanazawa city.

Higashi Chaya Tea District is one of 3 tea districts in Kanazawa City, Japan. Established in 1820 during the Meiji period (1868–1912), it was established as a location for the geiko (the name for geisha in Kanazawa city) to entertain their customers through dance, music, games, and conversation. It is the largest of the historical teahouse districts in Kanazawa, Japan. While still maintaining the traditional atmosphere from its 200-year history, the Higashi Chaya Tea District today is home to many cafes, restaurants, craft shops, and more. You can also find many shops selling products using Kanazawa, Japan’s famous gold leaf.

There are 2 teahouses (chaya) still operating in Higashi Chaya Tea District. The Shima Teahouse has been converted into a museum dedicated to geiko culture in Kanazawa city, where you can see the various rooms the geiko would perform and entertain as well as instruments and other items used by the women. The Kaikaro Teahouse is open exclusively by invitation and referral during the evening time, but opens its doors to the general public during the daytime.

Though Kanazawa, Japan has three historical teahouse districts, Higashi Chaya Tea District is by far the most lively and popular to visit. When planning your Kanazawa itinerary and deciding on things to do in Kanazawa, be sure to check the hours of operations of the shops, cafes, and restaurants you plan on visiting. Although the area is free to enter and exit at anytime, most businesses in Higashi Chaya Tea District operate from 10:00AM to 17:00.

We also recommend being sure to keep your eye out for Kanazawa, Japan’s many traditional crafts while in Higashi Chaya Tea District. Kanazawa is famous even in Japan for beautiful traditional crafts, many of which can be found right here in Higashi Chaya Tea District. They include crafts such as Kutani-yaki, Kaga Yuzen, Kanazawa Shikki, and Wajima-nuri.  

Higashi Chaya District is a quick bus ride from Kanazawa Station. Take the Kanazawa Loop Bus to Hashibacho (Koban-mae) Bus Stop, approximately 10 minutes. From there, the Higashi Chaya Tea District is just a 5 minute walk away.

You can also combine your Kanazawa travels to easily include the Kazuemachi Chaya District, which is less then 5 minutes on foot from Higashi Chaya District.

For easy access to Higashi Chaya Tea District and the rest of Kanazawa City, we recommend staying at an accommodation in the heart of Kanazawa!

To truly experience the city of Kanazawa, we recommend staying at a traditional Japanese holiday house, or machiya.  With locations throughout Kanazawa City, you can choose the machiya house that best fits your travel needs. Each machiya accommodation has been carefully renovated to maintain the traditional design, while updated for modern comfort.

A fresh take on traditional and contemporary design, this accommodation has something for everyone.  Each stylish suite has a piece of Kanazawa history, and the tea lounge located on the first floor is perfect for relaxing after a long day of sightseeing. Located in a traditional teahouse district, SAIK offers the perfect starting point to discover the dynamic seaside city of Kanazawa.