An Untouched Road Behind the Tea House District

This is the path that takes you to Utatsuyama from the Higashi Chaya district, where my shop is located. The slope, rich in greenery, will take you to the wildflower garden of Utatsuyama Park, and uphill beyond the park is Iris Garden. I often notice the shift in seasons through the changing mountain landscape, which may be filled with cherry blossoms or autumns leaves.

Kanazawa is known as a thriving town for crafts. When general Maeda Toshiie became in charge of the Kaga Domain during the Edo period, he brought craftsmen with him from Nagoya to energize the region’s cultural industry. The arts and crafts of Kanazawa began not with objects for everyday use, but with the arts and crafts of the Kaga Domain’s purveyors. That is why there is a lot of decorative craftwork such as Kutani-yaki and Wajima-nuri. When I work in the studio, I often need to reset my mind. For that, I take breaks outside and prefer to stroll on a path that hasn’t been overly well-kept. Although the wildflower garden at Utatsuyama Park is well-maintained, I like how it is not obtrusive. Perhaps because I work with ornate decoration, I am attracted to the beauty of a natural state.

Since its designation as a historically preserved district by the Landmark Preservation Commission in 2001, the Higashi Chaya district has been popular among tourists. However, not many people wander out to this path, which is just behind the main street. If you wander out just a little beyond the main tourist street, I believe you can discover a special path that is unique to this place.