I made a special trip to Oyama Shrine this time to fulfill a vow. The day before, I had briefly lost my wallet. There were two police stations nearby, and one happened to be close to Oyama Shrine, so I decided to report it there and visit the shrine afterward. As it turned out, I actually got my wallet back at that police station, so I wanted to make time the next day, no matter what, to return and thank the deity.
Oyama Shrine itself was also more worth exploring than I expected. Its most famous feature is, of course, the gate at the entrance, which blends Japanese, Chinese, and Western styles. The top level is fitted with stained glass, and the roof even retains the oldest existing lightning rod in Japan, making it one of Kanazawa's most iconic landmarks. On the other side of the grounds, the East Gate was originally the Chinese-style gate of the Ninomaru Palace at Kanazawa Castle and was later relocated here. From the rear of the shrine, you can also connect to Kanazawa Castle via the Nezumitamon Bridge area, so it works well to visit both attractions together.
I also really liked the garden on the shrine grounds. It's a pond-centered strolling garden, with islands designed in the shapes of gagaku instruments. You can also spot some frog-shaped decorations and details nearby, which add a touch of cuteness to the solemn shrine.
I originally came back specifically to fulfill my vow after finding my wallet, but after walking around, I realized that Oyama Shrine itself has a lot of distinctive features. It really is an attraction with a character that's uniquely Kanazawa.
Oyama Shrine | Review by Holly
Other Reviews by Holly
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Sora no Eki Komatsu
A souvenir shop on the first floor of the Komatsu Airport Terminal Building, this antenna shop is packed with the charms of Komatsu. Inside, you’ll find processed foods made with locally grown barley and tomatoes, traditional crafts such as Kutani ware, long-established Japanese sweets, and a wide variety of local sake, all featuring specialties unique to Komatsu.
Sora no Eki Komatsu is on the first floor of Komatsu Airport and is probably the most prominent souvenir shop as you enter the terminal. The store mainly carries food, sweets, alcoholic beverages, and household goods from Komatsu and the Ishikawa area. If you didn't have time to buy everything earlier in your trip, it's convenient to stock up here at the airport. If you collect goshuin-style airport stamps, you can buy one here. I bought mine here as well.
The capsule toy machines near the entrance are also interesting, but the machine I encountered didn't take coins directly. You had to exchange money for tokens inside the store first. I didn't know that the first time and put yen directly into the machine, but it wouldn't turn. After asking a staff member for help, I learned that I needed to get tokens first.
Buses connecting Komatsu Airport to the surrounding area don't run very frequently. If you miss one and have to wait at the airport for a while, you can buy some snacks and drinks here to tide yourself over. -
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Komatsu Airport
Komatsu Airport serves as the largest airport in the Hokuriku region from its perch in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture. The airport offers convenient access to southern Ishikawa and northern Fukui, including Kanazawa and Fukui cities, and is also close to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gassho-style villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, making it a key gateway to the Hokuriku area.
Komatsu Airport itself isn't large, but because it is a joint military-civilian airport shared with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's Komatsu Air Base, you can find JASDF-related merchandise inside. For example, there are Kutani ware capsule toys featuring unit emblems such as that of the 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Komatsu Air Base. Although the terminal is small, it still tries to bring together as much of the Hokuriku region's character as possible. There's even a moving Fukui raptor on the first floor, and the souvenir shops sell specialties from Ishikawa and Fukui as well as dinosaur merchandise.
Personally, I think the biggest drawback is still the transportation to and from the airport. Buses to Kanazawa and Komatsu Station don't run as frequently as they do in big cities. Most services are scheduled around domestic flights, but if you're flying Tigerair, you should basically be prepared to miss the bus because Tigerair is delayed so often. I even skipped checking luggage and cleared immigration in under 10 minutes, but I still didn't make it. That time, I waited about an hour for the next bus. This was the most inconvenient part of using Komatsu Airport for me, and it really made me miss how considerate Okayama Airport is toward Tigerair passengers. -
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Sanja Matsuri
Sanja Matsuri is around the 3rd Saturday in May, lasting from Friday to Sunday in Asakusa, Tokyo. Residents call it Sanja sama. Each year, about 1.8 million visitors watch this prominent 3-day festival in Japan.
While staying in Asakusa this time, I unexpectedly came across the annual Sanja Matsuri, held in May. Since I hadn't planned for it, I couldn't make time to attend any of the related events, but as long as you're in the Asakusa area, it's actually hard to miss the festival entirely. While walking around Asakusa and Kappabashi, I would occasionally come across mikoshi processions and local residents wearing happi coats and other festival attire. The atmosphere was completely different from Asakusa during a typical sightseeing visit.
I happened to be staying on the outskirts of Asakusa, and after returning to my hotel one evening, I noticed a mikoshi procession passing nearby, so I followed it for a short while. It unexpectedly became a fun memory from the trip. During the festival, many nearby hotels and shops also put up Sanja Matsuri decorations, and throughout the neighborhood, you could really feel that the local residents were involved. It was very interesting for a foreign visitor. -
