Kanazawa

Took the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo across the country to Kanazawa. Very efficient two and a half hour trip. After a coffee and cake in a coffee house owned by an expat from Seattle we were picked up for an afternoon tour. First stop (extra 1) was at Nomura-ke which is an ancient Samurai house and garden (map reference). Then on to the Kenrokuen garden (extra 2). Final stop was the Higashi Chaya district which is a traditional neighbourhood with teahouses and geisha performances (none on today). Extra 3 shows one of the side roads where people actually live, the main thoroughfare was mostly restaurants and gift shops.