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This is the official tourism site for Kanazawa, a castle town with over 400 years of history in Japan. Find a wide range of information to make the most of your stay! Favorite
- Get Inspired
Kanazawa’s Kaga Yuzen: hand-painted kimono silks to dye for...
- Explore
Centered on Kanazawa Castle, Kanazawa is a classic,...
- Plan Your Trip
This is the official tourism site for Kanazawa, a castle...
- Kanazawa 101
This is the official tourism site for Kanazawa, a castle...
- Itineraries
Day trip from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go (by highway bus)...
- Activities
Kanazawa offers a wide range of options for enjoying the...
- Restaurants
Kanazawa M'ZA. Restaurant mall; In front of Omicho market! A...
- Shops
Kanazawa is filled with shops showcasing local specialty...
- Get Inspired
Intro. Attractions. By Interest. Get There. Itineraries. Hotels. Experiences. During the Edo Period, Kanazawa (金沢) served as the seat of the Maeda Clan, the second most powerful feudal clan after the Tokugawa in terms of rice production and fief size.
- Kokoyui - Make Your Kanazawa Experience Even More Authentic with Kimono Rental! You’ll often spot kimono-clad residents wandering the streets of Kanazawa.
- Kenroku-en Garden – Appreciate the Beauty of Each Season! One of the ‘Three Great Gardens of Japan,’ Kenroku-en teems with historical buildings, stunning ponds, and a collection of over 160 varieties of plant life.
- Kanazawa Castle Park – Take a Stroll in an Ancient Castle District! Adjacent to Kenroku-en is Kanazawa Castle Park, which was once the site of the ruling Maeda Family’s castle.
- 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art – A Fascinating Interactive Gallery! Michael Lin "Citizen's Gallery 2004.10.09-2005.03.21" Crossing over the road at Kenroku-en’s Mayumi-zakaguchi exit will bring you to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art.
- Day 1 – Exploring The Old Historic Kanazawa
- Day 2 – Exploring The Modern Kanazawa
- Other Things to Do in Kanazawa
- How to Get to Kanazawa
- How to Get Around Kanazawa
- Where to Stay in Kanazawa
Samurais, Japanese Gardens & Geishas The map above (Google Maps): Day 1 of our Kanazawa Itinerary Start your tour of Kanazawa at its famous Samurai district, the Nagamachi District (see map and description of...
Market, Shrine & Museums The map above (Google Maps): Day 2 of our Kanazawa Itinerary The second day of this Kanazawa itinerary shows you the more modern side of Kanazawa. First up is the bustling seafood market Omicho Market, followed by a pleasant stroll through the Oyama Shrine and its beautiful garden. Then it is on to a unique and peaceful mus...
Myoryu-Ji Temple Ninja Temple
The famous Ninja Temple in Kanazawa lies on the west side of the Sai River, west of downtown Kanazawa. Myouryuji Buddhist Temple was built in 1643, designed to protect Maeda, the lord of Kanazawa, from attack. The temple served as a disguised military outpost to alert Kanazawa castle in the event of an attack. The temple has nothing to do with ninjas; no ninjas have ever stayed or lived here. It does, however, contain hidden stairways, secret rooms, and escape routes with a labyrinth of conce...
The Nishidake Family Garden “Gyokusen-en Garden”
Just northeast of the vast Kenrokuen Garden, you will find this beautiful little gem of a Japanese garden – Gyokusen-en Nishida Family Garden. It is a small but well-laid garden build around a pond and is a typical Japanese strolling garden where its visitors are meant to go for a walk and not sit down. The garden is 120 years older than its neighboring big-brother Kenrokuen Garden. The garden has Kanazawa’s oldest tea house, where you can enjoy a lovely Matcha tea ceremony. Reservation is re...
Kaga Yuzen Kimono Center
If you got inspired by visiting the Geisha areas of Kanazawa, you should head over to the Kaga Yuzen Kimon Center. Here you will see and learn about how they make the beautiful kimonos that the Geishas wear and see the special dyeing technique Kaga Yuzen, which is unique to this area of Japan. The Kaga Yuzen dyeing uses five basic colors: indigo, crimson, ocher, dark green, and royal purple. The design has typical nature elements such as plants, leaves, and insects. You can witness and learn...
Air
Komatsu Airport (KMQ) is the closest airport to Kanazawa, a 40 min bus ride by Kowatsu-Aiport Limousine Bus. You can also take the JR train from Komatsu Station to Kanazawa Station. The airport and has a connection to all major Japanese cities, as well as Seoul, Shanghai, and Taipei.
Bus
JR Highway Bus has express buses from in front of the train station (exit east) to Tokyo (7,5 hours, 7840 JPN) and Kyoto (4,5 hours, 4060 JPY). Hokutetsu Buses has buses to Nagoya (4 hours, 4060 JPY). Nohi Bus Company has buses to Takayama via Shirakawa-go (2,5 hours, 3300 JPY).
Train
The JR Hokuriku line links Kanazawa with Kyoto (2 ¼ hours, 6200 JPN), Osaka (2 ¾ hours, 6930 JPN) and Toyama (35 min, 2100 JPN) with a connection to Takayama (90 min more, 4870 JPN). We took the train (had Japan Rail Pass for 14 days) from Toyama (after the Alpine Route) to Kanazawa. Took the train from Kanazawa to Takayama (via Toyama). I highly recommend that you buy a Japanese Railway Pass, which will save you a lot of money if you plan to travel around Japan. The Japanese railway system i...
Kanazawa Loop bus
Kanazawa does not have an underground/ subway system. Instead, they have a sightseeing bus called Kanazawa Loop Bus. There are two bus loops: 1. Orange Right Loop (RL) Stops at 16 bus stop around Kanazawa city, from bus stop no. 0 to 15. It departs every 15 min., from 08:38 am until 18:05/ 6:05 pm. 2. Green Left Loop (LL) Stops at 14 bus stop around the city, from 0 to 13. It departs every 15 min., from 08:00 am until 18:00/ 6 pm. Both bus loops start and end at Kanazawa Station, from bus sto...
Kenrokuen Shuttle Bus
The red Kenrokuen Shuttle Bus only runs in a short loop starting and ending at Kanazawa Station. It goes through the downtown of Kanazawa and on to the Kanazawa Castle Park and Kenrokuen Garden. The Kenrokuen Shuttle bus runs every 20 minutes. Same fare as for the Kanazawa Loop Bus (see above). You can jump on and off the bus at any bus stops along its route. 1. Official Bus website: hokutetsu.co.jp
JR Bus
if you have a JR Pass, you can take the local JR buses for free. The JR Buses runs through Kanazawa city and has two routes: 1. Korinbo Route (Blue)– Downtown Kanazawa, Omico Market, Oyama Shrine, Nagamachi Samurai District, Kanazawa Castle Park, Kenrokuen Garden, Higashi Geisha District 2. Owaricho Route (Red)– Downtown Kanazawa, Omicho Market, and the Higashi Geisha District Both routes depart every 20 min. or so from Kanazawa Station, east gate, terminal 5. You can jump on and off the bus...
Kanazawa offers a wide selection of accommodation for all budgets, and you will have plenty of choices when it comes to finding the right place to stay. Japan is, however, a bit expensive, especially when it comes to accommodation, so don`t expect to find dirt cheap places to stay with good standards. The rooms are in general quite small. Below are...
Centered on Kanazawa Castle, Kanazawa is a classic, 400-year-old, Japanese castle town. At the same time, a modern art museum and architectural structures can be found in and among the city’s historical townscape.
Apr 26, 2022 · 30 Best Things to Do in Kanazawa. by Cath Lealand | TRAVEL. When it comes to taking a step back in time in Japanese history, Kyoto is on the itinerary of almost every visitor to Japan. However, Kyoto isn't the only Japanese city rich with stories of Japan’s past.
Jul 2, 2019 · Kanazawa is the Japanese city you’ve never heard of. Nestled alongside the Sea of Japan, Kanazawa boasts one of the country’s best modern art museums, a vibrant geisha district, and fresh, delicious seafood. Less popular with tourists than Kyoto or Tokyo, it’s most definitely a destination to watch.
