Japan's most underrated city. A Kyoto-like atmosphere without the crowds — samurai districts, geisha tea houses and Kenroku-en garden.
Kanazawa is one of Japan's most beautiful japanese cities — a former castle town in the hokuriku region that preserved its geisha and samurai districts, kenroku en garden and traditional machiya townhouse neighbourhoods. This kanazawa travel guide covers kanazawa castle, higashi chaya district, nishi chaya district, the 21st century museum of contemporary art, ninja temple, oyama shrine, omicho market and the culinary delights of kanazawa city. Kanazawa worth visiting for any japan trip — the maeda clan's capital for 300 years and one of japan's best-preserved japanese cities.
Kanazawa's must-visit spots include kanazawa castle and kenroku en garden, higashi chaya district, nishi chaya district, 21st century museum of contemporary art, ninja temple, oyama shrine and omicho market — all within free walking distance of kanazawa station. Kenroku en garden (kenrokuen garden) is one of japan's official three great gardens. Kanazawa is one of the most beautifully preserved japanese cities — geisha and samurai districts, great gardens and world-class contemporary art combined in one kanazawa city.
Click any spot on the map to learn more
Ivan Shirokov
Author
"Kanazawa has everything Kyoto has — geisha districts, samurai neighborhoods, beautiful temples — but without the tour groups. One of my favorite cities in Japan to simply wander."
Kanazawa is on the Hokuriku Shinkansen — around 2.5 hours from Tokyo.
Things to do in kanazawa span traditional japanese culture, gold leaf crafts, zen buddhism temples, geisha districts and culinary delights from the hokuriku region. Visit kanazawa and discover a city where traditional machiya townhouse buildings line the streets, seasonal dishes use sweet shrimp and snow crab, and japanese culture is preserved with a sheer number of historic sites. A kanazawa trip is highly recommend for any japan trip.
Kanazawa castle is kanazawa city's most iconic landmark — the historic home of the maeda clan with kanazawa castle park free to enter and beautiful garden views. Kenroku en garden (kenrokuen garden) is one of japan's official three great gardens — 11 hectares of beautiful ponds, stone lanterns and garden views in every season. Cherry blossoms in full bloom in april and the famous yukitsuri rope pine supports in winter snow are kanazawa's most photographed garden views. Kanazawa castle park and kenroku en garden are adjacent — many visitors explore both together on a single morning visit.
Higashi chaya district is kanazawa city's most famous geisha district — a beautifully preserved traditional machiya townhouse neighbourhood near the asano river. Nishi chaya district near the sai river is smaller and more intimate. Gold leaf is kanazawa city's most famous craft — the gold leaf museum near higashi chaya district covers gold leaf production history. River views along the asano river and sai river are among kanazawa's most peaceful experiences.
Nagamachi is kanazawa city's beautifully preserved samurai district — mud-walled lanes and traditional samurai residences near kanazawa castle park, free to explore. Omicho market near kanazawa station has over 170 stalls selling fresh snow crab, sweet shrimp and culinary delights from the sea of japan — highly recommend for morning visits.
Garden
Kenroku-en — the complete garden guide
One of Japan's three great gardens — how to visit, best seasons and what to look for.
Culture
Higashi Chaya — geisha district guide
Kanazawa's beautifully preserved geisha district. Tea house tours, gold leaf crafts and matcha.
History
Nagamachi samurai district
Walk through preserved samurai residences — enter the Nomura Samurai House.
Stay near kanazawa station for easy access to the one day pass bus network and shinkansen to tokyo, kyoto and osaka. Ryokan guest rooms with garden views near kenroku en garden are highly recommend for a slower pace japanese culture experience. Boutique hotels in traditional machiya townhouse buildings near higashi chaya district let visitors walk to the geisha districts, asano river and kanazawa castle park. Book early — japanese people and international visitors fill kanazawa during cherry blossoms in full bloom and autumn foliage.
Central
Best hotels near Kenroku-en
Walk to Kenroku-en, Kanazawa Castle and Higashi Chaya — the best central location.
Coming Soon
Ryokan
Ryokan in Kanazawa
Traditional inns with kaiseki dinner featuring Kanazawa's legendary seafood and Kaga cuisine.
Coming Soon
Budget
Budget hotels in Kanazawa
Affordable guesthouses and hotels within walking distance of all major sights.
Coming Soon
Kanazawa city is one of japan's greatest culinary delights destinations — fresh snow crab and sweet shrimp from the sea of japan, jibu-ni traditional stew, sushi and gold leaf ice cream make kanazawa worth visiting for any food-loving japan trip. Omicho market is the best place to eat fresh snow crab and sweet shrimp sushi — many visitors eat seasonal dishes at omicho market before exploring kanazawa castle park and kenroku en garden. Jibu-ni — duck stewed with seasonal vegetables in a sweet soy broth — is served near higashi chaya district and kanazawa castle. Gold leaf ice cream and gold leaf coffee are kanazawa's most photogenic culinary delights throughout higashi chaya district.
Market
Omicho Market food guide
Kanazawa's central market where chefs shop. Best stalls for fresh seafood and sushi.
Seafood
Kanazawa seafood — snow crab and sushi
Kanazawa faces the Sea of Japan — snow crab, yellowtail and the freshest sushi outside Tokyo.
Coming Soon
Fine Dining
Kaga cuisine — Kanazawa's culinary tradition
Kaga is one of Japan's great regional cuisines. What makes it different and where to experience it.
Coming SoonKanazawa station is 2.5 hours from tokyo by hokuriku shinkansen and about 2 hours from kyoto and osaka. Kanazawa station's wooden torii gate and glass motenashi dome are one of japan's most beautiful train station designs. A one day pass covers all kanazawa city buses to kanazawa castle park, kenroku en garden, higashi chaya district, 21st century museum and omicho market. Day trips include shirakawa go (1 hour by highway bus), noto peninsula (fresh snow crab and sweet shrimp) and takayama (2 hours by bus) — a popular japan trip combination with kanazawa.
Shinkansen
Tokyo to Kanazawa — Hokuriku Shinkansen
2.5 hours on the Kagayaki. The Hokuriku Shinkansen makes Kanazawa very accessible.
Coming Soon
Day Trip
Day trip to Shirakawa-go from Kanazawa
UNESCO thatched village 75 min by bus. Snow in winter makes it one of Japan's most magical sights.
Coming Soon
Onward
Kanazawa to Kyoto or Osaka
By Shinkansen via Tsuruga to Kyoto (2h) or limited express to Osaka (2h30).
Coming Soon
The 21st century museum of contemporary art in kanazawa is one of japan's most visited museums — a circular building with free outdoor spaces and paid galleries featuring international contemporary art. The 21st century museum's most famous work is leandro erlich's "swimming pool" installation. Ninja temple (myoryuji) is a zen buddhism temple with hidden rooms and secret passages built by the maeda clan — requires advance booking. Oyama shrine near kanazawa station has a beautiful three-storey gate with dutch stained glass windows — a free visit combining japanese culture with european design.
How many days in kanazawa: two days is ideal — day one for kanazawa castle, kenroku en garden and omicho market; day two for higashi chaya district, gold leaf museum, ninja temple, oyama shrine and nishi chaya district along the sai river. A one day pass covers the loop bus. Two days minimum for the sheer number of geisha districts, historic sites and culinary delights kanazawa offers.
Kanazawa worth visiting — absolutely. Kanazawa city offers kanazawa castle, kenroku en garden (one of japan's official three great gardens), geisha and samurai districts, the 21st century museum of contemporary art, gold leaf, snow crab, sweet shrimp and culinary delights from the hokuriku region. Highly recommend for any japan trip — 2.5 hours from tokyo by shinkansen.
Kanazawa is beautiful in every season with mild temperatures. Cherry blossoms in full bloom at kenroku en garden in late march to april are kanazawa's most popular time. Autumn foliage in november offers beautiful garden views. Winter brings fresh snow crab from the sea of japan and the famous yukitsuri garden supports. Kanazawa worth visiting year-round.
