Welcome to Kanazawa
The array of cultural attractions in Kanazawa (金沢) make the city the drawcard of the Hokuriku region and a rival to Kyoto as the historical jewel of mainland Japan. Best known for Kenroku-en, a castle garden dating from the 17th century, it also boasts beautifully preserved samurai and geisha districts, attractive temples, a wealth of museums and a wonderful market. A two- or three-day stay to take it all in is recommended.
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Kanazawa activities
Kanazawa Private Custom Full-Day Tour by Chartered Vehicle
Your day begins with a 9am pickup from your hotel or another centrally located point in Kanazawa. Greet your driver — and guide, if selected — and plan your route. Your private tour is entirely customizable according to the interests of you and your travel companions. Recommended spots: Kenrokuen Located next to Kanazawa Castle, the Kenrokuen garden is considered one of the top three most beautiful gardens in Japan. Visitors can enjoy a variety of trees and flowers that change colors throughout seasons. Kanazawa Castle Kanazawa's symbolic icon, Kanazawa Castle was built in 1583. The well-restored castle is worth visiting to see the traditional skills of Japanese carpenters who carefully put the building together without the use of any nails. Omicho Market Located in the center of the city of Kanazawa, Omicho Market has been the largest fish market in Kanazawa since the Edo period (1615 - 1868). The market is filled with more than 200 specialty shops and is a great place to stop by for a fresh seafood lunch. Your tour concludes with a drop-off back at the original departure point.
Enjoy a Samurai Town with an Insider on a Full Day Small Group Tour of Kanazawa
After departure from your accommodation, this tour will visit Omicho market first. Omicho market is popular as the kitchen of Kanazawa citizens where seasonal fish and fruits gather, and it can be said that the crabs caught in the Sea of Japan face quite the fate, for it is here where the crabs are lined up, and then also the locally sourced fruit and oden's you can eat while walking around. You can enjoy this scene at your leisure. Next to Omicho market, you will visit Kanazawa Castle. Kanazawa castle, which is a symbol of Kaga Hyakumanges, was built in 1583 by Toshiie Maeda in full scale and was placed as a residence of 14 Maeda family of Kaga clan until 1869. All buildings other than Ishikawa gate and 30 Nagaya (row houses) have disappeared due to repeated fires, but since 1996 the public has benefited from Kanazawa Castle Park. In 2001, historical buildings were faithfully restored as best possible based on old pictures and old documents. The landscape has once again been revived for the present age. After lunch, you will visit Kenrokuen. Kenrokuen is one of the three famous Japanese national gardens, listed along with Mito Kairakuen and Okayama Korakuen. The garden boasts a beautiful appearance during every season, and the stunning winter snow hanging together with the famous Koji lanterns in Kanazawa. This is both a symbol and a must-see for Kanazawa sightseeing. At the end of the tour, you will visit Suzuki Daisenkan from Kenrokuen by way of Honda Forest Park. Suzuki Daisetsu Museum is a spot infused with the thoughts of a world-famous Buddhist philosopher, Suzuki Daisetsu, born Kanazawa, who made Zen culture widely known abroad. Further, Mr. Yoshio Taniguchi is represented here. He is famous for designing large portions of the New York Museum of Modern Art, in particular the extension and renovation of MoMA in 2004, consisting of three buildings, the "entrance building", the "exhibition building", the "thought space building." Here, various representations have been constructed. In the exhibits, it appears as though you passes through a long and narrow corridor that leads to a different space. There is freedom to think and feel as you wish, to touch, watch, and see things as they appear to you, as there is no formal explanation. There is also a space for the various world views of Zen, including the biggest attraction, "the garden of water glasses." Here there is a mysterious charm that draws in the visitor for whatever purpose that might be.
THE KANAZAWA WAY! Omicho Market Tour & Cooking Class
【10:00am ~】We’ll start our journey at Omicho Market -- the hub of Kanazawa’s food culture. Here, we’ll explore the stalls and wind our way through the bustling crowds to seek out the best in-season ingredients, fresh seafood, and vegetables that we’ll use during our cooking class. The outdoor market is sheltered by a roof, so this location is perfect no matter the season! *Please meet me in front of MISTER DONUTS, which can be found at the entrance of Omicho Market.【11:00 am ~】Once we’ve chosen our ingredients, we’ll head our way back to the kitchen! The cooking class will be conducted at a private kitchen located in the centre of Omicho Market (5 minute walk). I’ll teach you tips and tricks on how to cook, along with the history behind the food and ingredients.【12:00 pm ~】After we have cooked, all there is left to do is to eat a delicious home-cooked Kanazawa meal! Taste what you have learned, and relax and enjoy what you have created. The lunch meal is enough to fuel you for an entire day of sightseeing.
Kanazawa Private Customized Tour from Kanazawa (8 or 5 hour option)
Kanazawa has been an important city in the region for centuries. In the Edo period (17th to 19th century), it served as the seat of the Maeda clan, the second most powerful clan in Edo era, and nowadays, it is the capital city of Ishikawa prefecture. There are many historically and culturally attractive destinations in Kanazawa, such as Kanazawa castle or Oyama shrine. Especially, next to Kanazawa castle, is Kenrokuen garden, and it is said to be one of three most beautiful landscape gardens in Japan. The garden had been designed and constructed for over two centuries and opened for the public during the 19th century. If traditional Japanese culture is your thing, Kanazawa is definitely a city that you must visit.The driver will pick you up at a time and meeting place you have chosen within Kanazawa city. For the 8-hour option, please choose a time between 8:00~13:00 and for the 5-hour option, between 8:00~16:00 (both tours will begin at 9:00 if a time is not specified.) Then, the driver will take you to any place that you request for your allotted hours. Please note that we are not responsible for any other costs related to your trip, such as admission fees or meals. At the end of the tour, the driver will drop you at your desirable place.
8-Hour Private Tour to Shirakawa-go & Hida Takayama From Kanazawa
The driver will pick you up at 13:00 in central Kanazawa before whisking you away to Shirakawa-go, a village of traditional thatched-roof farmhouses and a World Heritage Site. Spend an hour exploring the village and the unique architecture of the farmhouses which will look even more impressive in the snow. Next up is Hida Takayama, affectionately called 'Little Kyoto', offering visitors a slice of traditional rural Japan with its exceptionally well-preserved streets and old town. Stroll around the town for an hour and feel as though you have stepped back in time. The Hida region is also well known for the quality of its beef and you will get to try some of it for dinner at Hida Takayama Matsuri no Mori. Hida beef is highly prized and it will be the best eating experience you can have in Takayama. The tour concludes with a visit to Hida Folk Village, an open-air museum known for its popular winter illumination event. The village consists of around 30 thatched-roof farmhouses that have been relocated from nearby Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. Having seen the farmhouses during the day, see them wonderfully lit up at night creating a magical winter landscape. A perfect ending to the tour. Return to your chosen drop-off point in central Kanazawa by 21:00.
Private 2Days Takayama & Shirakawago Tour from Nagoya
Day1 You will be picked up at Takayama Bus Station at 11am by your English-speaking guide. You will then visit the Sanmachi Street. You will walk along the local traditional food street where there are many food stands. Here you can decide to have lunch. Then, after lunch, you will be transferred to Jinya Old House and your English speaking guide will show you the history of the castle town. After your visit in Jinya old house, you will go to Hida Kokubunji Temple which was built in Nara period. At Naka Bridge, you will have a chance to take a beautiful photo with its red bridge. Arrive at 6pm to your hotel in Takayama. Day2 You will be picked up at your hotel in Takayama and visit Miyagawa Morning Market. The market is one of the big four morning markets in Japan. You will then be transferred to the UNESCO World Heritage site, Shirakawago. You will have a chance to see Shirakawago from different perspectives such as Shiroyama observatory and Gasshozukuri Minkanen. Then, after visiting Shirakawago, you will walk along the local traditional food street where there are many food stands. Here you can decide to have lunch. *Please note: lunch will be on your own. After your visit in Miyajima, you will visit the Myozenji temple which has the same style roof of its temple as Shirakawago. Arrive at 5:30pm to Kanazawa station, where the tour will conclude.