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Plan your Kanazawa itinerary: How to know where to go!

15.02.2023

What should you see while in Kanazawa?

Important questions for your Kanazawa trip!

The busy square in Higashi Chaya, the eastern most geisha district in Kanazawa, Japan Higashi Chaya Gai
eastern geisha district
Sakura Trees around the Flower Viewing Bridge Kenrokuen Garden
one of Japan’s “Three Greatest”
Nomura Samurai Family Residence Museum in Nagamachi, the Samurai District in Kanazawa Nagamachi
the “Samurai District”
Oyama Shrine's haiden, or front worshiping hall Oyama Shrine
meet the spirit of Kanazawa’s first lord
Hyakumangoku Festival Evening Noh Performance at Kanazawa Japanese Castle Kanazawa Castle
the “Horizontal Hold”

Hidden Gems

Sakura blooming in Kazue-machi Kazue-machi
unique, historical geisha district
Front walkway to Tentokuin, the Princess Temple, in Kanazawa, Japan Tentokuin
Kanazawa’s “Princess Temple”
Shirasagi no Yu, public onsen in Yuwaku, Kanazawa Yuwaku Onsen
hot spring town in forested foothills
Port of Ono, courtesy of the Kanazawa Tourism Association Ono-machi
sweet and savory port town

Like a Local

The west-most geisha district in Kanazawa, Nishichaya Nishi Chaya Gai
western geisha district
Fish seller at Omicho Market in Kanazawa, Japan Omicho Market
“Kanazawa’s Kitchen”
Shin Tatemachi Street becomes busy with fair visitors during the Coffee Campaign COMING SOON
shopping, prayer, & more

Is Kanazawa worth it?

Kanazawa is definitely worth a visit with more to offer than you’ll find in most tour guides. In addition to it’s great number of hidden gems, unique craft activities, and family-owned restaurants, Kanazawa has one of the best gardens in all of Japan and an abundance of delicious seafood off its west coast. After spending time in its laid-back atmosphere, visitors most often lament, “I wish I’d stayed longer!”

How long should I stay in Kanazawa? Is one day enough?

The biggest mistake most first-time visitors to Kanazawa make is trying to fit everything in less than 24 hours. We highly recommend you give yourself no less than two days in Kanazawa, though you can easily fill a week if you’re including nearby day trips to the many countryside onsens and farm villages in the area.

Where should I stay in Kanazawa?

If being close to most of Kanazawa’s best sightseeing spots is important to you, or if you love the sound of vinyl records in the evening, then please consider staying with us! Kaname Inn Tatemachi is a great place to stay in Kanazawa as it’s conveniently located in walking distance of Kanazawa’s most popular spots: Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle Park, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, the Samurai Neighborhood, and we’re in the middle of four restaurant and shopping districts. Wind down your evening at Kanazawa Music Bar, where hotel guests get an exclusive Happy Hour menu of cocktails made with local ingredients.

Nearly everywhere in Japan has fantastic customer service, and most people will try to tell you what you want to hear, if for no other reason than to lift your spirits. Let me bring out my American side and be very frank with you: There are some things you’re not going to find in Kanazawa, and there are some things that you can find if you look very hard for, but it’s not worth the trouble if you’re traveling to other cities that offer more and better of what you’re looking for (e.g., ninja culture, beaches, night life, etc.).

And then there are some things that only Kanazawa can do so wonderfully, that missing it would be the greatest shame for anyone lucky enough to stay in this ancient city.

Come to Kanazawa if you’re interested in the following:

  • geisha and where they work; kimono silk (yuzen)
  • samurai
  • Zen Buddhism
  • tea ceremony
  • Japanese gardens
  • seafood
  • seafood
  • seafood
  • Edo period history
  • contemporary art
  • traditional crafts
  • intersections of contemporary and traditional
Rachel
Rachel

About a decade ago Rachel fell off a bus and then fell in love with this traditional-crafts and ice-cream-consuming capital of Japan. Editor and amateur photographer with a penchant for nature and history. Not actually fifty songbirds in a trench coat. (Former penname: Ryann)

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