Exotic Kenrokuen Gardens in Kanazawa, Japan

Things to do in  Kanazawa

Time for tea houses

Because of its historic tea house districts and elegant gardens, Kanazawa is sometimes described as Japan’s “Little Kyoto.” But you’ll find a different, more relaxed atmosphere in this mid-sized city in Ishikawa Prefecture, which suggests Kanazawa is no model village but a city with its own story. Things to do in Kanazawa mostly involve parks, gardens, and chaya districts lined with tea houses, but they also revolve around the city’s modern museums, landmarks associated with samurai and ninjas, and its fondness for fresh seafood.

Learn more

Top 2 attractions in Kanazawa

#1

Museum Meiji-Mura

star-530
The Museum Meiji-Mura is a large-scale outdoor museum located on a hillside facing Lake Iruka near Nagoya in the Aichi Prefecture of Japan. More of a village than a traditional museum, Meiji Mura is home to 60 buildings from the Meiji era (1868-1912), a period that saw Japan open up to other influences after a period of isolation. This is reflected in the architecture of the buildings, which has a clear Western influence after builders adopted styles, techniques, and materials from the Western world.Throughout the village, visitors can wander around various buildings, such as houses, hospitals, theaters, and schools, taking a look inside and learning about the history and culture of Japan during this period. Particular buildings of interest include the entrance hall of Tokyo's old Imperial Hotel, Kyoto's St. Francis Xavier's Cathedral, Mie's prefectural office, and the former Kanazawa Prison. The Meiji-Mura Museum also has a bus that runs the length of the village, as well as a tram and a steam train.More
Tours & Tickets
#2

Kenroku-en Garden

star-5460
It's no wonder why Kanazawa's Kenroku-en Garden is among the city's most popular attractions. Built during the Edo Period, and revamped continuously over the centuries, this gloriously landscaped spot is considered among Japan’s most beautiful. It’s also a great place to see different types of traditional landscaping from across periods.More
Tours & Tickets

Explore Kanazawa by interest

Top activities in Kanazawa

[One-day bus tour departing from Kanazawa Station] Shirakawa-go and Gokayama - Two World Heritage Villages Enjoyable Bus Tour
Likely to Sell OutLikely to Sell Out

[One-day bus tour departing from Kanazawa Station] Shirakawa-go and Gokayama - Two World Heritage Villages Enjoyable Bus Tour

star-5
79
From
$78.85
[One-day bus tour departing from Kanazawa Station] Shirakawa-go/Takayama tour platinum route bus tour
Likely to Sell OutLikely to Sell Out

[One-day bus tour departing from Kanazawa Station] Shirakawa-go/Takayama tour platinum route bus tour

star-4.5
59
From
$89.14
Private Tour of Shirakawago and Gokayama from Kanazawa
Likely to Sell OutLikely to Sell Out

Private Tour of Shirakawago and Gokayama from Kanazawa

star-5
15
From
$291.39
Private Tour Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Hida Furukawa,Takayama
Likely to Sell OutLikely to Sell Out

Private Tour Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Hida Furukawa,Takayama

star-5
43
From
$312.45
Kanazawa Full Day Tour (Private Guide)
Likely to Sell OutLikely to Sell Out

Kanazawa Full Day Tour (Private Guide)

star-5
145
From
$150.58
A Half Day In Kanazawa With A Local: Private & Personalized

A Half Day In Kanazawa With A Local: Private & Personalized

star-5
18
From
$128.99
Kanazawa Half Day Tour (Private Guide)
Likely to Sell OutLikely to Sell Out

Kanazawa Half Day Tour (Private Guide)

star-5
148
From
$110.11
[Day trip bus tour from Kanazawa Station] Weekend only! World Heritage Shirakawago Day Bus Tour
Likely to Sell OutLikely to Sell Out

[Day trip bus tour from Kanazawa Station] Weekend only! World Heritage Shirakawago Day Bus Tour

star-5
30
From
$68.57
Kanazawa Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Likely to Sell OutLikely to Sell Out

Kanazawa Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide

star-5
15
From
$140.38
Takayama and Shirakawago Photoshoot by professional photographer
Likely to Sell OutLikely to Sell Out

Takayama and Shirakawago Photoshoot by professional photographer

star-5
50
From
$500.02
per group
Kanazawa ⇒ Takayama (one way) Including Shirakawago (Private Tour)
Likely to Sell OutLikely to Sell Out

Kanazawa ⇒ Takayama (one way) Including Shirakawago (Private Tour)

star-5
3
From
$275.52
Private Tour of Shirakawago from Kanazawa (Half Day)
Likely to Sell OutLikely to Sell Out

Private Tour of Shirakawago from Kanazawa (Half Day)

star-5
8
From
$227.50
Kanazawa Like a Local: Customized Private Tour

Kanazawa Like a Local: Customized Private Tour

star-5
9
From
$55.00
Gokayama and Shirakawago Photoshoot by professional photographer
Likely to Sell OutLikely to Sell Out

Gokayama and Shirakawago Photoshoot by professional photographer

star-5
33
From
$219.26
Guided Night Tour to Feel the Samurai Culture in Kanazawa

Guided Night Tour to Feel the Samurai Culture in Kanazawa

star-5
3
From
$57.82
Noto Full Day Driving Tour (Private Car)

Noto Full Day Driving Tour (Private Car)

star-5
5
From
$346.03
Kanazawa Night Tour with Local Meal and Drinks

Kanazawa Night Tour with Local Meal and Drinks

star-5
53
From
$106.96
Hidden Gems Of Kanazawa: Private & Personalized Walking Experience

Hidden Gems Of Kanazawa: Private & Personalized Walking Experience

From
$102.17
Kanazawa private half day Photoshoot by professional photographer
Likely to Sell OutLikely to Sell Out

Kanazawa private half day Photoshoot by professional photographer

star-5
20
From
$129.69
Kanazawa Half-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Likely to Sell OutLikely to Sell Out

Kanazawa Half-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide

star-4.5
24
From
$93.59
See all Kanazawa tours

All about Kanazawa

When to visit

With its many gardens and parks, Kanazawa is at its best during the spring and autumn seasons. Visit in late March and April to see cherry blossoms in Kenrokuen Garden, areas around Kanazawa Castle, and on the riverfront. The same areas are bursting with red and orange fall foliage in late October and November. These times also let you skip the rainy weather of June and July, and the heat of August and September.

Getting around

Unlike Tokyo or Kyoto, there's no metro system in Kanazawa. Walking and cycling are the easiest ways to explore Kanazawa; you’ll find many bicycle rental services around the city center and outside the train station. Kanazawa does have a bus network, though, the Kanazawa Loop Bus. It's straightforward to use, with a flat fare, and stops at many city attractions.

Traveler tips

Gold leaf ice cream—yes, ice cream coated in gold leaf—is a fun Kanazawa delicacy that visitors almost always want to try once they learn about it. You’ll find various places that sell it around the Higashi Chaya District. The Omicho Market is the other essential place to eat in Kanazawa, with many seafood, sushi, and noodle eateries where you can dine side-by-side with locals.

Attractions
2
Tours
89
Reviews
968
EN
1c607358-c0e2-45bd-a380-678b32e3a424
geo_hub

People Also Ask

How many days do you need in Kanazawa?

Allow at least two days in Kanazawa if you want to experience its range of attractions without feeling like you’re missing out. One day in Kanazawa isn’t enough time to visit the several districts in different parts of the city, the cluster of attractions around Kanazawa Castle, and the city’s parks and museums.

...More
What is Kanazawa best known for?

Kanazawa is best known for its geisha districts lined with traditional teahouses; its preserved samurai district; and its gorgeous gardens, particularly the Kenrokuen Garden. Kanazawa is also known for producing 99% of Japan’s gold leaf and the city’s name translates as “marsh of gold” based on a legend about gold dust being found in the area.

...More
Is Kanazawa closer to Tokyo or Osaka?

Kanazawa is closer to Osaka than it is to Tokyo, but it’s still not that close to either city. By train, you can reach Kanazawa from Osaka in under three hours with a regular train service. Getting there from Tokyo takes just over three hours on a high-speed Shinkansen train.

...More
What are the top attractions in Kanazawa?

Top attractions in Kanazawa include the ornate scenery of Kenrokuen Garden, the grounds of Kanazawa Castle, and the traditional architecture of Higashi Chaya District. Of the city’s museums, the D. T. Suzuki Museum which explores the work of the local Buddhist philosopher, is one of Kanazawa’s most popular.

...More
Is Kanzawa worth visiting in winter?

Yes, Kanazawa is still worth visiting even if you can only go in winter. While you may not feel like eating gold leaf ice cream in winter, many of Kanazawa’s attractions look magical dusted with snow and lit up at night. Even Kenrokuen Garden maintains its beauty in winter, even though you can’t see its gardens for the snow.

...More
Are there traditional teahouses in Kanazawa?

Yes, there are traditional teahouses (or chaya in Japanese) in Kanazawa; you can find many of them in each of the city’s chaya districts. Higashi Chaya District has the most traditional teahouses in the city which you can visit during the day, but you will also find them in places such as Gyokuseninmaru Park and Kenrokuen Garden.

...More
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What are the top things to do in Kanazawa?
A:
The top things to do in Kanazawa are:
Q:
What are the top activities in Kanazawa?
A:
Q:
What are the top things to do near Kanazawa?
A:
Check out things to do near Kanazawa:

More Tours in Kanazawa