Kanazawa Travel Guide - How to Plan Your Trip to Kanazawa

Just a 2.5-hour train ride from Osaka, Tokyo, or Nagoya, you'll arrive in Kanazawa - a city that condenses traditional Japanese culture and is known as a great alternative to Kyoto.

Here you can stroll through the old tea house districts, visit the exquisite Japanese gardens, experience samurai culture, enjoy onsen, and taste authentic Kanazawa food.

Let's explore this travel guide to find out amazing things to do in Kanazawa! Get ready for a peaceful and leisurely travel experience!

Top Things to Do in Kanazawa

Kanazawa's main highlight is the Kanrokuen Garden, one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan. The city also offers a glimpse into the Edo-era lifestyle through remnants of the Kaga domain, the Nagamachi Samurai District, Higashi Chaya, and Geisha districts. For a modern touch, visit the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. 

Kenrokuen Garden

When you visit Kanazawa, you can not miss Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens. Built in 1676, it was the private garden of the Maeda family, lords of Kaga, and was officially opened to the public in 1874.

As you stroll through Kenrokuen, you can appreciate the essence of traditional Japanese gardens: ponds, stone lanterns, waterfalls, streams, stone paths, bridges, teahouses, and rockeries. These elements perfectly represent its name "Garden of Six Attributes", including spaciousness, solitude, artifice, antiquity, water sources, and breathtaking views.

If you are concerned about the best time to visit Japan, don't worry. Kenrokuen Garden has different beauty in four seasons: cherry blossoms and plum blossoms in spring, azaleas and hibiscus in summer, red maples in autumn, and a beauty covered with snow in winter. No matter when you come, you are guaranteed an unforgettable experience.

Kanazawa Castle

Kanazawa Castle is a must-visit for those interested in Kanazawa's history. Built-in 1583 by Maeda Toshiie, the castle was the residence of the Maeda family. It has been a witness to the ups and downs of the Kaga domain (now Ishikawa and Toyama) for over 280 years.

Despite being burned down multiple times and undergoing major repairs in the 20th century, it has persevered, carrying the profound historical and cultural heritage of Kanazawa. Today, Kanazawa Castle has become a landmark and a popular tourist destination in Kanazawa City.

Additionally, Kanazawa Castle is located just a few steps away from the entrance of Kanrokuen Garden. If you plan to visit Kanrokuen Garden and have plenty of time, Kanazawa Castle is an excellent choice to be included in your itinerary.

Omicho Market

Omicho Market is the largest fresh food market in Kanazawa, with a history of over 300 years. It's an integral part of the lives of local residents. The market has 180 shops offering a wide variety of fresh seafood, vegetables, meats, cooked food, desserts, and local specialties.

When you visit Omicho Market, don't miss its signature dish - the seafood bowl, featuring fresh seafood cut into small pieces and served over rice. If you want to experience the local life in Kanazawa, visiting Omicho Market is definitely a recommended thing to do in Kanazawa!

Nagamachi Samurai District

If you are interested in Japanese traditional culture and history, the Nagamachi Samurai District is definitely a place worth visiting.

It provides a rare opportunity to gain insight into the life and culture of samurai families in the Edo period. The historical buildings and landscapes here retain many characteristics of the Edo period, such as narrow streets, still-functioning drainage and water supply systems, and restored samurai houses, making you feel like you are in the samurai world of the Edo period.

Beyond historical exploration, you can also experience many traditional Japanese cultural activities. For example, you can wear samurai costumes for photos, explore martial arts traditions, participate in tea ceremony experiences, learn to make gold leaf crafts, and more. These unique experiences will surely add unforgettable memories to your trip to Kanazawa, Japan.

Higashi Chaya District

Higashi Chaya Street is one of the three major geisha districts in Japan, along with Gion and Kazuemachi in Kyoto. It's known for its charming streets and well-preserved traditional buildings. This area was established in 1820 as a place where geishas entertained wealthy businessmen with music, dance, and games.

Today, Higashi Chaya Street is mainly filled with cafes, restaurants, dessert shops, and craft stores, but some geisha teahouses still operate here. You can experience authentic teahouse culture, watch geisha performances, and taste traditional Japanese tea.

Additionally, you can find specialty products from Kanazawa, such as gold foil-decorated crafts, food, and cosmetics if you want to buy gifts for your family and friends.

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Arts

The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, is one of the cultural attractions that you can't miss in Kanazawa, especially if you are a big fan of modern art. The museum's building is a work of art in itself, designed by the famous architect Kazuyo Sejima, and won the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Architecture Biennale. It perfectly combines modernity with the historical and cultural essence of Kanazawa.

The highlights here are some permanent installations, including Leandro Erlich's "Swimming Pool", which simulates a real swimming pool, with the surface made of a thin layer of glass. When sunlight shines into the pool, the light refracts through the glass, creating realistic ripples that make visitors feel as if they are underwater.

In addition, Olafur Eliasson's "Colorful Mobile House" and James Turrell's "Blue Planet Sky" are two other notable artworks you should not miss.

Try Your Hand at Gold Leaf Craft in Kanazawa

Gold leaf production in Kanazawa can be traced back 400 years, and today it is one of the city's many flourishing traditional crafts, with gold-leaf-decorated goods featuring heavily in the city's souvenir stores.

The production of gold leaf started in Kanazawa at the end of the 16th century, when the Maeda family, who ruled the Kaga clan in feudal times, invited many artisans to Kanazawa.

Gold leaf is made by tirelessly beating out and stretching an alloy of pure gold with minuscule traces of silver and copper. Thin sheets of alloy are then sandwiched between thin sheets of paper, one sheet at a time, beaten and stretched, gradually becoming thinner and thinner, via this multi-stage process.

Best Time to Visit Kanazawa

Kanazawa offers a pleasant climate with distinct seasons, making it a popular tourist destination all year round. You can savor the unique scenery and enjoy different activities each season in Kanazawa.

In the mild and pleasant spring, visitors can plan a cherry blossom trip in April to experience the full bloom at Kanazawa Castle Park and Kenrokuen Garden.

Summer is hot, but Kenrokuen Garden's lush greenery provides an ideal escape from the heat.

During fall, the maple leaves in Kanazawa are vibrant, and spots such as Nagamachi Takeshi Yashiki and Omi-machi Market are great for leaf-peeping.

In winter, Kanazawa is covered in snow, and the illuminated Kenrokuen Garden becomes a perfect place to capture snowy scenes.

For more detailed information, check out this article: Best Times to Visit Kanazawa

What to Eat in Kanazawa

Food is a huge draw for many people traveling to Kanazawa, Japan. Since Kanazawa is the capital of Japan's Hokuriku region, enjoying tasty traditional Japanese cuisine can be one of the best things to do in Kanazawa. You can not only taste exquisite kaiseki cuisine, but also fresh seafood and fragrant tea, which can satisfy the needs of all kinds of diners.

Gourmet Kaiseki

Gourmet Kaiseki is a traditional Japanese haute cuisine, known for its exquisite presentation and exquisite dishes. Kanazawa's Gourmet Kaiseki cuisine usually consists of multiple small dishes, each of which is carefully prepared to fully showcase the freshness and original flavor of the ingredients.

Seafood

Kanazawa sits near the Sea of Japan and has rich marine resources, making seafood a must-try food in Kanazawa. Visitors can taste a variety of fresh seafood dishes at Omicho Market, where there are many restaurants serving seafood. Don't miss the local specialty, seafood bowls, made by covering hot rice with various raw seafood.

Tea

Kanazawa is known for its rich tea culture and a unique roasted tea called Kaga Boucha. This tea is made from the finest roasted tea stems, which can give it a rich aroma and full-bodied flavor. Visitors can enjoy authentic Kaga Boucha at the Shima Teahouse and experience the tea culture of Kanazawa.

How to Get Around Kanazawa

Kanazawa is a relatively compact city, and there are a few means of transport that can get you around the city. Most of its important sights are within a 2-kilometer square, so you can cover most with these means of transport.

The first is by bus. Kanazawa has two bus services designed specifically for tourists that make loops around the city, stopping at all the major spots. You can buy a day-pass for 500 yen (about 4.5 US dollars).

The second method is by taxi. Taxis are surprisingly cheap and plentiful in Kanazawa. The drivers are also surprisingly used to dealing with foreigners. 1,000 yen (9 US dollars) can get you around most of the famous places around the city. There are taxis around Kanazawa Station, or you can flag them down from the street.

The third method is by bicycle. Kanazawa has a rental bicycle system called "Machi Nori" that allows you to pick up and drop off bicycles all over the city. It's not typically the best way as the bicycles may not meet some people's standards, but it's doable.

Best Side Trips From Kanazawa

Kanazawa makes for a great trip out of Tokyo. Its neighbors, Shirakawa-go, Gokayama, and Takayama, are also good destinations. Let's take a look at the attractions in the three neighboring cities before coming to Kanazawa.

Shirakawago and Gokayama

Shirakawa-go, with its neighboring Gokayama, was made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995, famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old.

Gassho-zukuri means "constructed like hands in prayer", as the farmhouses' steep thatched roofs resemble the hands of Buddhist monks pressed together in prayer. The roofs are made without nails and provide a large attic space used for cultivating silkworms.

The architectural style was developed over many generations and was designed to withstand the large amounts of heavy snow that fall in the region during winter.

There are three villages making up Shirakawa-go, of which Ogimachi is the biggest and the main attraction. This place makes a perfect trip before going to Takayama.

Takayama

Takayama is a city in the mountainous Hida region of Gifu Prefecture that retains a traditional touch like few other Japanese cities, especially in its beautifully preserved old town. It ranks as one of the top candidates for destinations with a rural element.

In Takayama, a lot of places are worth visiting. They include Takayama Jinya, Hida Folk Village, and Matsuri no Mori. If you visit at certain times of year, you may also witness the Takayama Festival, one of Japan's three most beautiful festivals.

How to Plan Your Kanazawa Tour

Below we list two sample tour itineraries for Kanazawa to help you plan your own itinerary. 

Full-day Kanazawa Highlights

The first attraction you visit is the Kenroku-en garden, one of the top three gardens in Japan. Kanazawa Castle, next to the garden, will be the next spot. After that, visit Kagayuzen Kaikan, where you can see demonstrations of the centuries-old Yuzen silk painting technique.

You will then visit the Nagamachi Samurai district. There, you can enter preserved houses where samurai and their families used to reside. After that, visit the Higashi Chaya District. It is the largest and by far the most interesting of Kanazawa's Geisha Districts. Many of the buildings along the central street now house cafes and shops.

Finally, visit the Shima teahouse. It is still an operating tea house, but it opens its doors to the public. You can enjoy a cup of green tea here to finish the day.

Half-day Kanazawa Traditional Crafts Experience

In this tour, you will experience making two of the crafts that Kanazawa is famous for.

The first is gold leaf, which is particularly famous in Kanazawa. Try your hand at decorating a small lacquer plate or a pair of chopsticks with this thin, sparkling, precious product.

Next, try experiencing the kaga yuzen, a form of kimono-cloth dyeing that is an exquisite Kanazawa specialty. You will decorate a handkerchief using this traditional technique. You get to keep your creations as souvenirs of this memorable day.

Explore Kanazawa with Japan Highlights

Kanazawa is a city full of interesting attractions for you to explore and experience. With Japan Highlights, we will pay attention to every detail in order to help you have an unforgettable experience in Kanazawa.