Handsmill on Lake Wylie
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Kanazawa,
What It Is Like to Retire in Kanazawa
Kanazawa is a beautiful city on the northeast coast of Japan's Honsu Island. The centre of the original town was the castle. While many castle towns in Japan had the castle placed to one side of the city, Kanazawa spread out concentrically from the castle site. The city is very wealthy from a cultural and economic viewpoint. There are numerous parks, shrines, and museums of the first order. The downtown is modern and walkable with numerous modern buildings with occasional ancient Bhuddist or Shinto shrines. For a Japanese retiree looking for a manageable city with extensive resources this would be a great choice. Obviously, retirement to Japan for non-Japanese would be very difficult, both from a legal and a social viewpoint.
Where to Retire in Kanazawa and Home Prices
You could live in an apartment within the city or just out of it. We are not aware of any 55+ communities. It looks like you could rent a small apartment starting at $1000/month.
What Is Special about Kanazawa
Kanazawa is a beautiful city with great public transportation. Its parks are incredibly beautiful, as are its musuems. The Higashi Chaya Geisha District is extremely well-preserved and an important source of tourism.
What Is Not Special about Kanazawa
Like just about everywhere in Japan, life is expensive here. It is also next to impossible for a non-Japanese to get legal immigration stature.
Who Will Like Retirement in Kanazawa
Japanese people looking for a mid-sized city or westerners who love Japan might like it here. There is plenty to do and the lifestyle is easy.
Local Economy Is Driven by
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Climate and Physical Environment
Kanazawa is located on the west coast of Japan's main island, about midway north and south. Mountainous areas are just east of the city. It can snow here in winter, summers are pleasant. A major earthquake hit here in 2007.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
Kenrokuen Garden in the Kanazawa Castle Park is by far the most famous part of the city. Originally built as the outer garden of Kanazawa castle, it was opened to the public in 1875. It is considered one of the "three most beautiful gardens in Japan". There are numerous good restaurants in the city, although some of the most authentic and best food can be had in the vast central Omi-Cho market that runs for blocks. The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art is spectacular and well worth a visit (if you are tired of Japanese food enjoy an excellent western lunch here).
Crime
Crime rates are very low, as it is in much of Japan.
Medical facilities
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Transportation
Public transportation is excellent, including bullet trains (Shinkansen) to Tokyo and other cities.
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