A Crafted Journey

Mikuni Minato was a bustling port of call for Kitamaebune (“northern-bound ships”) on the maritime trading route between Osaka, Hokkaido, and the coast of the Sea of Japan. The wealth trade brought the town is evident in the old homes and buildings that remain today in the preserved streets of the old town. Don’t miss the former Kishina Residence, a timber merchant’s house that gives a fascinating insight into life and business in the late Edo period.

The hot springs of Yamanaka Onsen have been a popular destination for weary travelers and sailors for some 1300 years—even the Edo period poet Matsuo Basho is said to have lauded the therapeutic waters. Nestled in beautiful natural surroundings along the picturesque Kakusenkei Gorge, the town charms visitors with its quaint historic streets and Edo period atmosphere and boasts a considerable legacy of craft and culture to explore. After a refreshing soak, head to one of the many traditional ryokans in the area to rest up for tomorrow.

Spend the morning exploring the stunning natural beauty surrounding Yamanaka Onsen. Wander along the scenic paths beside Kakusenkei Gorge, where waterfalls, rock formations, and historic bridges create a picture-perfect setting. Just a few minutes’ walk from the town center is Basho no Yakata, a beautifully preserved traditional building honoring Matsuo Basho’s visit and the haiku he composed here.

After lunch, make your way to Yamashiro Onsen, a nearby hot spring town that, like Yamanaka, has eased travelers’ aches and pains for over 1,300 years. Here you’ll find splendid communal bath houses dating back to the Meiji period that showcase the local traditional onsen culture.

Kanazawa is steeped in the legacy of the Kaga Domain. Wander through the picturesque Kenroku-en Garden, once the daimyo garden of the Maeda clan and now one of Japan’s most celebrated landscapes, then head across the street to Kanazawa Castle, the former seat of Kaga Domain lords. Nearby, you’ll find the Nagamachi Samurai District where higher-ranking samurai of the domain and their families lived. The beautifully preserved narrow streets and residences paint a striking portrait of the warrior class in the Edo period.

During the Edo period, the teahouses scattered throughout Kanazawa were consolidated into districts such as Higashi Chaya District and Nishi Chaya District. Among these, Higashi Chaya District, with its cobblestone alleys and beautiful teahouses featuring latticework windows lining the streets, still conveys how this area was once a vibrant social hub for townspeople and merchants.

Set deep in the mountains of Toyama, Gokayama is home to Ainokura and Suganuma, two idyllic villages that form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The villages are renowned for their steeply thatched gassho-zukuri farmhouses designed to weather heavy snowfall. Many of these houses date back to the Edo period and are still lived in, yet it’s easy to feel as though time has stood still. With isolation having kept the old ways alive, Gokayama offers a unique, living glance into rural Edo period life.

Kanaya-machi and Yamacho-suji districts were integral in forging Takaoka’s commercial and artisanal identity. Kanaya-machi began as a center for metal-casting, which subsequently developed into the copper industry the city continues to be known for today, while Yamacho-suji was a merchant quarter. The charming laneways lined with beautifully preserved homes and storehouses give a real sense of the prosperity of former times.