Discover Kanazawa: 2-Day Itinerary and Travel Tips

Guide & Itinerary

Apr 9

Kanazawa (金沢市), capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, is a beautiful, historic coastal city in Japan that’s packed with things to see and do! Known as “little Kyoto” for its cultural and traditional charm, Kanazawa is home to one of Japan’s most beautiful gardens, well-preserved traditional geisha and samurai districts, a castle, a fascinating ninja temple, and more!

I’ve been to Kanazawa twice and have fallen under its spell both times, not only for its rich cultural heritage, but also because it’s an ideal base from which to explore lesser-known parts of Japan, such as other neighboring prefectures like Gifu or Fukui.

In this article, I will be sharing with you the 2-day itinerary that I used to explore Kanazawa and some tips to make the best of your time in this fantastic city.

How to Get to Kanazawa?

Kanazawa is easily accessible from major Japanese cities such as Tokyo or Kyoto by public transport, whether by the bullet train (shinkansen) or express bus. As part of a first itinerary in Japan, Kanazawa could be an excellent stopover between Tokyo and Kyoto for instance.

From Tokyo:

By the Hokuriku shinkansen, the trip takes 2 hours and half and costs ¥14,580.
By express night bus, the trip takes 7-8 hours and costs around ¥7,000.

Tsuzumi-mon gate - Kanazawa — *Tsuzumi-mon gate*

I generally use Google Maps to check shinkansen timetables, then buy my tickets in a JR station. For night buses, I generally book on Willer Bus.

When you arrive, you will be welcomed by one of Kanazawa’s symbols, the splendid Tsuzumi-mon gate, located at the East Exit of Kanazawa station.

My Two-Day Itinerary to Explore Kanazawa

Day 1 - A Self-guided Walking Day Packed with All the Must-See Attractions of Kanazawa (and More)

If you plan to follow this itinerary, make sure you wear comfortable shoes! Your first day will be marked by a lot of walking to discover Kanazawa's main attractions.

1/ A Visit to Kanazawa’s Atmospheric and Picturesque Shrines

The route starts at one of my favourite places in Kanazawa, the Oyama-jinja shrine (尾山神社), dedicated to Maeda Toshiie, the first lord of the powerful local Maeda clan. I was surprised when I walked through its unusual main gate, whose architecture uses elements of Western and Asian inspirations.

I visited the shrine at the beginning of April and was lucky enough to see some pretty cherry blossoms. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this shrine, especially the calm and serenity of its garden and pond. You can admire the koi fish and cross the little bridges to see the landscape from different angles. I took lots of photos around Oyama-jinja, as I was trying to capture the atmosphere of this relaxing power spot.

Walking towards the back of Oyama-jinja, you cannot miss the imposing Kanazawajo Nezumitamon Bridge (金沢城鼠多門橋). If, like me, your curiosity forces you to cross it and see what's behind the gate, you can take a small detour to walk by Gyokusen’inmaru Park (玉泉院丸庭園), a Japanese garden that is part of the Kanazawa Castle Park (which I will go back to later during that same day). Note that there are evening illuminations of the garden on Fridays and Saturdays from sunset to 9pm, so you may want to save it for later or come again for the event if it interests you.

Indeed, with or without this little detour, next step of this itinerary is walking down to the Imoribori Moat (いもり堀) and Hirosaka park in order to reach two other little shrines that I am particularly fond of: Hirosakainari Shrine (広坂稲荷神社) and Ishiura Shrine (石浦神社), with their "torii gate tunnels" that reminded me of Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari shrine (a miniature version of course), and their colorful decorations.

Indeed, Ishiura Shrine is a small but pretty shrine that is well worth a visit! It is the oldest Shinto shrine in Kanazawa, originally built in the 700s before being moved to its current location in the 19th century. The shrine is popular with those wishing to find their soul mate. There are some very cute amulets (called omamori), some of which depict Kima-chan, an adorable little dog who is the shrine's mascot.

2/ Explore Kenroku-en, One of Japan’s Three Great Gardens

It is time to head to Kenroku-en (兼六園), one of the must-visit sites in Kanazawa (and for good reasons). It is considered one of the three most beautiful landscape gardens of Japan alongside Mito’s Kairaku-en and Okayama’s Koraku-en. Taking a long stroll in this mesmerizing and peaceful garden was another highlight in Kanazawa. At least 1 hour will be needed to leisurely stroll through this immense garden!

The garden's appearance changes with the seasons. Kenroku-en is particularly famous in winter for its snowy landscapes with yukitsuri, a traditional technique for protecting the garden's pine branches from heavy snow.

The garden is open from 7am to 6pm from March 1 to Oct 15 (and from 8am to 5pm the rest of the year). Admission costs ¥320. TIP: There is an interesting combo ticket that allows you to visit Kenroku-en and one cultural facility within the city for ¥500. You can buy it at the garden entrance.

3/ Take a Stroll Around the Nearby Kanazawa Castle Park

After exiting the garden, you can walk through Edomachidori Avenue (茶店通り), lined with restaurants and souvenir shops to Kanazawa Castle’s Ishikawa-mon Gate (金沢城石川門).

As a partially restored castle, you can enter some of the large wooden buildings free of charge and others for a small fee, where you can learn more about the castle's history and enjoy magnificent views over the park and the town, or simply stroll around the castle grounds.

After exploring the castle to your heart’s content, you can leave by the north exit, the Ote-mon Entrance (金沢城公園大手門口).

4/ Saunter along Asano River

In just 10 minutes' walk you can reach the Asano River (浅野川), which I found amazing for its calm, country atmosphere in the middle of Kanazawa. On a sunny day, I think it's an ideal spot for a picnic or a pleasant break by the river before continuing your exploration.

5/ Go Back in Time at the Higashi Chaya and Kazuemachi Districts

Located on the East side of Asano river, you can discover next Kanazawa’s largest traditional geisha teahouse area: Higashi Chaya District. It's not surprising that the area has been officially designated a Japanese cultural asset, such is the well-preserved nature of the traditional district.

You can wander in its narrow streets, visit one of the teahouses open to the public or relax in one of the many cafes or restaurants in the area. Note that most shops and cafes close between 5 and 6pm.

After all this walking, I felt for a well-deserved afternoon snack, and tried a delicious custard sweet called hyakuman yaki at TAKAMIYA (多華味屋) and later a Parfait dessert at Kureha (久連波), a traditional café where you can sit on tatami mats in a tranquil setting and eat your order while enjoying a nice view of the main street.

The Higashi Chaya area has become very popular and can get very busy in the middle of the day. If you prefer a quieter setting, I recommend you to visit another nearby geisha district called Kazuemachi Chaya (主計町茶屋街). It's smaller, but there were hardly any tourists, making it a great place for photography.

And that’s it for a first day exploring some of Kanazawa's most popular sites (as well as introducing some lesser-known places I particularly enjoyed).

Day 2: A Second Day in Kanazawa Combining Tradition and Modernity

1/ Take a Stroll through the Nagamachi Samurai District

This second day starts with exploring other traditional well-preserved districts of Kanazawa, starting with the Nagamachi samurai district (長町武家屋敷跡).

I enjoyed walking around and soaking in this historic atmosphere as I wandered through the remaining mansions, water canals and narrow streets. There are several interesting spots to stop by in the area, such as the Nomura-ke Samurai Residence that can be visited for a small fee (¥550), or gardens open to the public such as the Takada Family House (旧加賀藩士高田家跡)’s garden. I particularly enjoyed visiting the Shinise Kinenkan Museum (金沢市老舗記念館), a restored pharmacy displaying the lives of the merchant class, with lots of interesting displays (for a small entrance fee of only ¥100).

金沢市役所都市政策局金沢職人大学校長町研修塾 - A building with a beautiful small Japanese garden you can enter free of charge

You can see the full list of places I recommend you to visit in the Nagamachi area on the map I've made below in this article.

2/ Walk to Nishi Chaya District, the Third of Kanazawa’s Geisha Districts

After crossing the Sai River (which also seems to be an ideal place for a stroll), you can walk to the Nishi Chaya District (にし茶屋街), a much smaller and quieter chaya district than Higashi Chaya.

Nishi Chaya is quite quick to explore as it is so compact. But make sure to stop by the Nishi Chaya Shiryokan, a small a information center which displays the history of the district (free of charge). There are also two small museums that may interest you, a Doll Museum (人形ミュージアム), with a private collection of old Japanese dolls, and a Ninja Weapon Museum (忍者武器ミュージアム).

3/ Feel like a Ninja at Myouryuji Temple

There are several temples in the area, but make sure to stop by Myouryuji, also known as the Ninja Temple (妙立寺 or 忍者寺), because it is full of hidden trapdoors and passages. It is only a few minutes’ walk from Nishi Chaya. This visit was a pleasant surprise that I would recommend to temple lovers.

Note that Myouryuji can only be visited by guided tour for ¥1,200 and you can either book in advance through their website or directly when you get there if there are remaining spots available (what I did). Tours are in Japanese but you'll be given an English guide to follow along. Also, pictures are not allowed inside.

4/ Visit one of Kanazawa’s Museums

If there's anything else you'd like to discover, why not visit one of Kanazawa's museums?

Indeed, there are many museums in Kanazawa, and several of them are located in the centre near Kenroku-en, such as the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, the Prefectural Art Museum, the Prefectural History Museum or the Honda Museum (and more).

In my case, when I visited in April 2023, I went to an exhibition at the National Crafts Museum, a few minutes away from Kenrokuen Garden which had a super original concept: to bring together traditional Japanese crafts or "kogei" with Pokémon. As a Pokémon fan and a Japanese art lover, this exhibition showcasting the beautiful artworks created by 20 Japanese artists was an absolute delight. This exhibition is not in Kanazawa anymore but will be displayed at Sagawa Art Museum in Shiga until June 2024.

And that’s it for this 2-day Kanazawa itinerary! As always, this itinerary is only a reference and a suggestion to inspire you to make your own travel plans according to your own preferences and pace.

A Few Travel Tips to Enjoy your Time in Kanazawa

How to Get Around Kanazawa

There is no metro in Kanazawa, so it is better to be strategic by visiting areas that are nearby, or be ready to use buses and taxis. Because Kanazawa is relatively flat, the best thing in my opinion is to explore it on foot, which I mainly did in the 2-day itinerary suggested above. I would recommend choosing your accommodation with this in mind.

If you prefer not to walk too much, Kanazawa's bus system is quite convenient, with a Loop Bus that runs around the city's main attractions. If you plan to use the buses often, you can buy a One-Day Pass (costing ¥800), which gives you unlimited travel on the city's buses for a day. You can find more details about this pass here.

Where to Stay in Kanazawa

During my last stay in Kanazawa, I’ve stayed at Hotel Intergate Kanazawa (ホテルインターゲート金沢). I really enjoyed this hotel and would recommend it with no doubt for its great price for value. In fact, apart from the comfortable rooms, what decided me to book this hotel was that it offers public baths and a communal lounge always serving drinks and snacks (free of charge), including a happy hour with cocktails, and cultural activities... It was also conveniently located, just a few minutes' walk from the Oyama Shrine.

Where to Eat in Kanazawa

Kanazawa is known for one of the best destinations in Japan to try its freshest fish, being located near the coast. You should visit Omicho market (近江町市場), which has been in operation for over 300 years, for the freshest seafood bowls.

For sushi, I would also recommend a restaurant in the Kanazawa station area: the conveyor-belt sushi restaurant in the mall Kanazawa Forus on the 6F called Morimori Sushi (まわる寿しもりもり寿し金沢駅前店).

*Seafood donburi at a restaurant in Omicho market*

On the same floor, an amazing place for desserts is also A Happy Pancake, which makes fluffy Japanese-style pancakes (a real sweet tooth delight).

Additional Tips: Two Experiences not to Miss in Kanazawa

1/ A Traditional Performance at Kanazawa Central Tourist Information Center

As well as finding plenty of brochures on the sights of Kanazawa and Ishikawa Prefecture at the Kanazawa Central Tourist Information Center, I discovered that it also regularly hosted traditional performances of Ishikawa cultural arts, which I was lucky enough to attend.

This event, called “Cultural Art Night Theater” is a 1-hour show allowing to discover 4 forms of traditional Japanese arts, including traditional dance and music, folk songs and taiko performances for only ¥1,000 per person! I had a wonderful evening enjoying the splendid performance of local artists and would really recommend attending this show if it is organized during your stay.

The event takes place the second and fourth Fridays and Saturdays of every month between 6:30-7:30pm. Advanced reservation is required. You can find more information here.

2/ Attend a Gold Leaf Workshop

Did you know that Kanazawa is home to 99% of Japan’s gold leaf production? That's why several shops, particularly in the Higashi Chaya district, offer gold leaf workshops, where you can create a memorable personal object using gold leaf as decoration.

A friend of mine attended a workshop at Kanazawa Hakuichi and decorated a small plate for ¥1,500. She was very happy with this little souvenir from Kanazawa.

My Kanazawa Itinerary in a Map

Final Thoughts on Kanazawa

I think Kanazawa is a wonderful city for anyone interested in Japanese arts and traditions. There's so much to see and do!

What I also liked about Kanazawa is that it is also an excellent base for exploring the surrounding area. I stayed in Kanazawa for 4 days the last time I was there, 2 to explore the city and 2 for day trips: one to Tsurugi-Hakusan (which will be the subject of my next article) and one to Shirakawa-go. There are other interesting destinations in the area, including Kaga Onsen, the Noto peninsula, the Tojimbo cliffs (and many more) that I hope to visit one day!

I'd like you to let me know if you found this article useful. Feel free to leave a comment or contact me if you have any questions.

IshikawaKanazawaTraditionPark

Travely Notes

Thank you for reading my blog! My name is Sarah and I love traveling. I love to prepare my trips, take notes, and write about my experiences. I hope these notes help you when planning your own travels. My blog currently focuses on Japan. Happy exploring!