Zenigame may be a more recent addition to Kanazawa’s lineup of ryokans, but the property it was refurbished from had been around for over 300 years since the Edo Period. Originally, the building served as the residence of the village headman or chief, and at certain times also as accommodations for members of the Maeda Clan during their hunting and falconry trips.

Zenigame opened as a restaurant which uses seasonal produce sourced from local farms and picked from the mountains, as well as freshly caught marine delicacies from the rivers. Due to requests from patrons and travelers, the property was transformed into the ryokan that it is today. Zenigame also took advantage of the valley’s rich geothermal springs, soon opening an onsen facility within the inn.

Despite being over 300 years old, Zenigame’s traditional architecture is quite well-preserved. There’s certainly a more rustic quality to the ryokan’s exterior as it originally served as a rural village chief’s residence. Other notable aspects that denote its history include the tall ceilings with raised timbers and beams in some interior areas, implying a practical use such as for storage.

For guest accommodations, the ryokan boasts well-appointed Japanese rooms with shoji screens and tatami floors. The furnishings and accouterments are unmistakably of contemporary make, but they still adhere to traditional conventions. The same could be said for the Zenigame’s onsen baths, as the large bathing pools are made with ancient cypress wood.

Because Zenigame actually opened first as a restaurant before becoming a ryokan, its food has a well-regarded reputation cultivated by the owners. They’ve developed several signature meals and dishes that guests should definitely not miss out on.

River fish are a key ingredient in many of their dishes, including their special Seiryuu Meal course, as well as the trout rice pot meal and the river fish sushi set. Another regional delicacy is wild boar meat, which you can try with their wild boar hot pot. The signature Zenigame Course features a little bit of everything from their delicacies and specialties, though diners leery of boar meat will have the option to swap the boar hotpot into a river fish rice pot or river fish sushi instead.

As much as how fun falconry sounds like it would be, it is no longer an activity practiced here in Kanazawa. There are still plenty of interesting things to do while here, however, so you’ll still have a full itinerary. The nearest attraction you can use for selfies or group photos are the three giant cedars of Hachiman Shrine, a designated natural monument located just across the street from Zenigame. Kanazawa Yuwaku Edomura is just about five minutes by car from the ryokan, and features a collection of historic Edo Period houses that have been moved and reconstructed for preservation. Another local attraction is Kanazawa Yuwaku Sousaku no Mori, a kominka renovated into a series of workshops and galleries where visitors can try hands-on experiences with local crafts such as indigo dyeing and printmaking.

Other Celebrations

Since Zenigame features an on-site restaurant, you can try getting in touch with the management for assistance regarding a small private celebration. They may agree and even prepare special dishes for your special day. If you can’t use part of the ryokan as a venue, they may still be able to assist you in finding a place for your planned commemoration.