The Best Things To Do in Kanazawa
This amazing structure, an architectural marvel (Tsuzumi-mon Gate) fronts the JR Kanazawa Station. Kanazawa Station can be accessed from several major cities in Japan and is approximately two and a half hours from both Tokyo and Kyoto by bullet train.
Kanazawa has a good mix of both modern and traditional attractions for everyone. If you want to explore the beautiful sights this city has to offer, see some timeless architecture, or even just eat some delicious sushi in one of Japan’s most energetic fresh food markets, then you should start planning your next trip there!
KANAZAWA STATION
It is one of the main gateways into the city. This is symbolized by a huge wooden gate known as the Tsuzumimon, which stands at the east entrance gate at the JR station. It is modeled after a traditional Japanese "tsuzumi" hand drum used in traditional Noh theater to represent the industry that once flourished here.
The entire station is covered with a huge glass dome called the Motenashi Domeor the Welcome Dome. The dome acts as a huge umbrella for visitors as Kanazawa has many rainy days.
The station is filled with many interesting things. You can see some unique decorations around the station made of traditional craft, such as yuzen silk and washi paper. If you ride the "shinkansen" bullet train into the city, you can find pillar tops decorated with gold leaf on the shinkansen platforms.
KENROKUEN - One of Japan's Most Celebrated Traditional Gardens
This is one of the 3 most beautiful must-see Japanese Landscape Gardens in Japan. The garden is located just outside of Kanazawa Castle and was made by the Maeda family who ruled over Kanazawa for over two centuries. Kenrokuen means “garden of six attributes” and refers to the six essential things to make a perfect garden according to Chinese landscape theory.
The garden features an abundance of trees, such as plum, cherry, pine, and more. There are many flowers, stones, bridges, teahouses, water features, and other things to discover. The park’s scenery changes from season to season. In spring, you can see pink plum and cherry blossoms, whilst in fall you can enjoy the fall colors of cherry and maple trees. In winter, you can admire "yukiduri," special ropes placed around the top of trees to protect them from heavy snow.
In the southeast corner of the park, you can find Seisonkaku Villa which is one of the most elegant samurai villas still standing in Japan. You can go inside for an extra fee to see a beautiful snapshot of Japanese history frozen in time.
Name
Kenrokuen
Opening hours
7:00 am - 6:00 pm (Mar 1 - Oct 15)
8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Oct 16 - Feb 28/19)
Closing days
None
Price
Adults (18+ years old) 320yen
Children (6 - 17 years old) 100yen
Address
1, Kenrokumachi, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa
石川県金沢市兼六町１
Considered one of Japan's three most beautiful gardens, is a strolling style garden constructed during the Edo period by the Maeda clan.
KANAZAWA CASTLE PARK - An Enchanting White Castle Among Greenery
Directly across from Kenrokuen is Kanazawa Castle Park which was occupied by the first feudal lord of Kanazawa, Maeda Toshiie from 1583. This castle had been burned down and rebuilt multiple times throughout history so little to nothing of the original castle still exists. Ishikawamon Gate and two storehouses, Sanjikken Nagaya and Tsurumaru, were the only structures that survived the most recent fires of 1881 and were designated as National Important Cultural Property.
The castle grounds was used as a base for the Japanese army before being used as a university campus, until the early 1990s. Since the repossession of the castle, reconstruction has slowly been going on to restore the original buildings. The castle was opened to the public in 1996 with most of the important structures rebuilt. The most recent reconstruction project was the Nezumitamon Gate and bridge near Oyama Shrine, which were both completed in 2020.
There is a teahouse in Gyokusen inmaru Garden where you can enjoy powdered green tea while viewing the Japanese-style garden.
Two of its longest lasting features are the Ishikawa-mon Gate, which was rebuilt in 1788, and the Sanjikken Nagaya which was rebuilt in 1858.
Name
Kanazawa Castle Park
Opening hours
7:00 am - 6:00 pm (Mar 1 - Oct15)
8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Oct 16 - Feb 28/29)
9:00 am - 4:30 pm（last entry 4:00 pm）(Hishiyagura Turret, Gojukken Nagaya Warehouse, and Hashizume-mon Tsuzuki Yagura Turret)
Closing days
None
Price
Free to Castle Park Grounds
Hishiyagura Turret, Gojukken Nagaya Warehouse, and Hashizume-mon Tsuzuki Yagura Turret:
Adults (18+ years old) 320yen
Children (6 - 17 years old) 100yen
Address
1-1, Marunouchi, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa
石川県金沢市丸の内１−1
21st CENTURY MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, Kanazawa - A Hub for Experimental Innovative Artworks
Near Kenrokuen, you can find one of the ranked top ten most-visited art museums in the world (as of 2019). It is a nationally famous museum of contemporary art visited by more than 2 million people a year.
The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art is split into two zones, an exhibition zone and a public zone, offering a variety of art that “propose new values”.
Designed by the architectural office SANAA in 2004, the building is quite unique as it is circular in shape and looks like a UFO with a relatively transparent interior and multiple points of entry so that it feels open and easily accessible.
The most famous permanent work on display at the museum is Leandro Elrich’s Swimming Pool, which is an illusionary swimming pool that appears to be filled with water which gives the impression of people walking under water.
Opening hours
Exhibition Zone: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm (open until 8:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays)
Public Zone: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm (open until 9:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays)
Closing days
Exhibition Zone:
Mondays (when Monday is a national holiday, closed on the following weekday instead)
New Year Holidays
Public Zone :
New Year Holidays
Price
price might vary depending on the exhibition
Address
1-2-1, Hirosaka, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa
石川県金沢市広坂１丁目２−1
The district's traditional wooden buildings and lattice-work windows retain the atmosphere of their 200-year history.
HIGASHI CHAYA DISTRICT- A Beautifully Preserved District of Teahouses and Geisha
Kanazawa has three famous “chaya” districts, which are areas of teahouses and restaurants where geisha perform traditional songs and dances.
Higashi Chaya is the biggest district of the three. There are currently only two teahouses that are open to the public, Kaikaro and Shima. Kaikaro still functions as a geisha house today, but Shima is now primarily a museum. Both are open during daytime hours for visitors. Many of the other teahouses have been converted into cafes, restaurants, and shops that sell souvenirs, sweets, or Kanazawa's prized gold leaf products.
If you’re looking to see more preserved traditional Japanese houses, then have a wander around Kurando Terashima’s House, a samurai retainer for the Maeda family who lived from 1777 to 1837. His house is only about a 10-minute walk from Higashi Chaya.
Name
Higashi Chaya District
Address
1-13, Higashiyama, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa
石川県金沢市東山１丁目１３
OMICHO MARKET - The Culinary Heart of Kanazawa
If you are looking for somewhere to eat, then how about trying some fresh seafood at the Omicho Market? At this market, known as the “citizen’s kitchen “ you can buy fresh seafood from the waters near Kanazawa.
This is one of Japan’s most energetic fresh food markets that has been in the heart of Kanazawa for more than 280 years. There are about 200 shops and stalls that sell local seafood, produce, and much more. You can even find some unique things like Kaga vegetables grown in the Hokuriku area. The market is busiest during November when crab, yellowtail, and shrimp are sold.
The Omicho Ichibakan is a refurbished building that has many popular restaurants and stores. Many restaurants here specialize in "kaisendon" or bowls of rice topped with fresh seafood. You can get everything from Japanese snow crabs to sea urchins.
Name
Omicho Market
Opening hours
Vary by individual shop
typically 9:00 am - 5:30 pm
Closing days
Vary by shop
Many shops are closed on Sundays, national holidays or Wednesdays, as well as during the New Year holidays.
Address
50, Kamiomicho, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa
石川県金沢市上近江町50
If you are looking for fresh food in their covered market, then this might be the place to find it.
MYORYUJI TEMPLE - Kanazawa's Mysterious Ninja Temple
If you are looking for something interesting, go visit Myoryuji Temple which is located in the Teramachi District to the south of the city. This temple has no connection with actual ninja but is called the Ninja Temple because of its many tricks and hidden tunnels.
Originally a chapel built by Maeda Toshiie, it was moved and turned into a secret armed outpost disguised as a Temple by Maeda Toshitsune in 1643. The design and layout of the temple were part of a defensive plan against possible attackers from the Tokugawa shogunate. It is filled with traps, secret rooms, and a labyrinth of corridors and staircases. On the outside, it looks like a normal two-story building, but it’s actually as big as a four-story building with a seven-layer internal structure.
Name
Myoryuji Temple (Ninjadera - Ninja Temple)
Opening hours
Weekdays: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Saturdays/ Sundays/ Holidays: 9:00 am - 4:30 pm
* Admission starts 10 minutes before the reserved time.
*Tours are available every hour or every half hour, depending on the day.
*Tours are only provided in Japanese.
*Reservations recommended by phone: 076-241-0888
Closing days
January 1 and infrequent irregluar closures
Price
Adults: 1,000 yen
Children: 700 yen
*cash only
Address
1-2-12, Nomachi, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa
石川県金沢市野町１丁目2-12
Nomura-ke, a restored samurai residence displaying the lifestyle and artifacts of the era when samurai were prosperous.
NAGAMACHI SAMURAI RESIDENCE DISTRICT
This is a well-preserved neighborhood of samurai houses in Kanazawa that was once the home of high to mid-ranking samurai soldiers during the Edo period. This charming area is filled with beautifully restored samurai homes, narrow lanes, and picturesque canals. There are also a few museums, shops, and restaurants around the district.
You can visit the Nomura-ke, a beautifully restored samurai residence and see its traditional architecture. Inside, you can discover what it was like to live as a high-ranked samurai and learn about what kind of artifacts they owned. It also has one of the finest inner gardens in all of Japan.
The are’’s souvenir shops and sweet shops make it interesting to walk around. Also in the area is the Shinise Kinenkan Museum. The building was once a family-run pharmacy that was built in 1878. There are living quarters, exhibits, displays of local handicrafts, and more to see inside. The entrance fee is only 100 yen for adults and free for children, so why not have a look?
Name
Nagamachi
Address
1-3-12, Nagamachi, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa
石川県金沢市長町１丁目３−12-2
This is one of Kanazawa's three Chaya-gai districts. The area has a calm atmosphere with narrow alleys and Senbongoushi lattice fences.
KAZUEMACHI CHAYA DISTRICT - A Quiet Traditional Neighborhood Perfect for Taking Photos
Kazuemachi is another one of the three “chaya” districts in Kanazawa and is just over the river from Higashi Chaya District. What makes this district stand out from the other two is the picturesque landscape. The main street runs along the river surrounded by tightly packed buildings and lanterns illuminate the path beautifully at night. The area is especially stunning during spring when the cherry trees bloom or in winter when the snowfalls. This district is also much quieter than Higashi Chaya District, so it’s a perfect place to take some nice photos!
There are four teahouses in this district, but only two are opened for business during the day for a fee. You can visit some ordinary cafes and restaurants in the area too. It’s also the place to go for some high-end sushi or to see some geisha training centers. The historical rows of houses have also been designated as Japan’s cultural assets since 2008.
Name
Kazuemachi Chaya District
Address
3 -4-20, Hondamachi, Kanazawa-shi, Ishikawa
石川県金沢市主計町３
Get some traditional gold leaf crafts or have ago at this ice cream !
MUST -TRY GOLD LEAF ICE CREAM
Kanazawa boasts a 99% share of Japan's gold leaf production. Gold leaf is used not only for decoration such as at the famous Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto, but now also in cooking and sweets. Soft-serve ice cream wrapped in a whole sheet of gold leaf is unique to Kanazawa.
There are several specialty stores in Kanazawa where you can experience gold leaf application, with various plans allowing you to experience it in a short time at a reasonable price. You can apply gold leaf to items such as small plates, accessory cases, hand mirrors, and chopsticks. It's very popular with people who want to create something as a Kanazawa memento!
Get some traditional gold leaf crafts or have ago at this ice cream !