The Japanese aesthetic is one of refined luxury and attention to detail. Artisans hone their crafts, seasonal ingredients are skillfully prepared, historical architecture is lovingly preserved and traditions are honored. Ishikawa offers Japanese luxury at its most elegant.
Feast on multi-course kaiseki cuisine and stay in quaint onsen ryokan. Shop for Japanese pottery and lacquerware, intricate silk kimono and shimmering gold leaf produced by Ishikawa’s artisans and wander the charming, cobbled streets of Kanazawa’s samurai district, lined with earthen-walled houses. Ishikawa ticks all the boxes for understated elegance.
During the Edo period (1603–1867), present-day Ishikawa was part of the richest domain in Japan. The Kaga domain’s yearly income was one million koku, a measurement of rice used to rank the wealth of the lords. Today, visitors will still hear the term “hyakumangoku” (“one million koku”) used to reference quality goods and luxury experiences around Ishikawa.
“Hyakumangoku” evokes much more than an impressive financial figure. It refers to natural wealth—fresh seafood, fertile fields, and abundant mineral hot springs—and to the cultural riches that blossomed.
The Maeda family, who ruled the Kaga domain, invested heavily in art, theater, crafts, cuisine, and hospitality. These values continue to permeate Ishikawa’s culture. From sumptuous dishes and exclusive crafts to luxurious onsen resorts, the heritage of the Kaga domain continues to make the area perfect for a sublime getaway.