Kanazawa City (金沢市), the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, is probably the most lively city in the entire Hokuriku region (北陸地方) in the north-western part of Japan’s main island – Honshū. Producing 90% of gold leaf (金箔) in Japan, this prosperous city has its own unique culture, such as the way fabrics are dyed and the Kaga Hōshō school (加賀宝生) of Noh theater. The city is also known for having the best Japanese gardens in the world, which enchants its visitors throughout the year.
Most of the city’s attractions are packed closely and can be accessed easily with regular bus services. Below is a list of tourist spots starting from JR Kanazawa Station that you can’t miss when you come to this lovely city!
- Tsuzumi-mon Gate (鼓門)
- Ōmichō Market (近江町市場)
- Kanazawa Castle (金沢城) and Kenrokuen Garden (兼六園)
- Kaga-Yūzen Kimono Center (加賀友禅会館)
- Ishikawa Local Products Center (石川県観光物産館)
- Gyokusen-en Nishida Family Garden (西田家庭園「玉泉園」)
- 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (金沢21世紀美術館)
- Kanazawa Noh Museum (金沢能楽美術館)
- Oyama Shrine (尾山神社)
- Nagamachi Samurai District (長町武家屋敷跡)
- Kanazawa’s Three Chaya Districts
- Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum (金沢市立安江金箔工芸館)
- Myōryūji Temple (妙立寺)
- Mt. Utatsu (卯辰山)
- Kanazawa Minami Sōgō Undōkōen Park Rose Garden (金沢南総合運動公園バラ園)
Tips:
☛ Kanazawa has the most thunderstorms and the fourth largest rainfall in Japan, so raingear is essential during your time at Kanazawa.
☛ You can make a reservation HERE to be dressed up in kimono before exploring Kanazawa!
Explore Kanazawa With a Guided Tour
If you prefer a guide to introduce you to Kanazawa or a photographer to take professional photos for you, how about joining one of the below tours?
- The Recommended Tours Bookable via Viator
- Photoshoot session by a professional photographer in Kanazawa
- Discovery the Secret Gems in Kanazawa
Transportation Options in Kanazawa City Center
As mentioned earlier, most of the city’s attractions are not too far away from each other and Kanazawa Station. That said, it will take around 20 to 30 minutes to move from one main attraction to another most of the time. Unless you really like walking or prefer to travel by rental bike, we highly recommend you utilize the regular bus services that depart from JR Kanazawa Station.
For more information on how to explore Kanazawa efficiently, refer to our How to Travel Between the Attractions in Kanazawa article!
Festivals and Four Seasons in Kenrokuen Garden at Kanazawa
- From early to mid-March each year, around 20 different species of the 200 plum trees planted close to Shirure-Tei will bloom
- From the beginning to mid-April each year, around 20 different species of the 420 cherry trees in the garden will bloom
- Fugenzo Cherry: mid-April to early May
- Azalea: April to June
- May: Iris
- From late June to early July, you might be able to see some fireflies around Hanami Bridge.
- Japanese clover: August to September
- From mid to late November is the best time for fall foliage appreciation
- December to March: Camellia
For a list of events and festivals, please refer to Kanazawa City’s website HERE.
One-Day or Three-Day Passport for Cultural Sites at Kanazawa
When you come to Kanazawa, visiting a couple of the cultural sites is a must! Depending on the length of time you will spend in Kanazawa, get one of the two passports that allow unlimited entry to those sites during the passport’s validity period to save!
For more information, please refer to their website HERE.
Tsuzumi Gate (鼓門)
This 13.7-meter gate completed in 2005 in front of the JR Kanazawa Station is the landmark of Kanazawa.
The inspiration for the gate came from the drum used in the Kaga Hōshō school (加賀宝生) of Noh theater. Noh theater is a type of performance art that has existed since the 14th century. In Kaga Province, in particular, Noh theater wasn’t only enjoyed by the samurai but was available to a wide range of upper and lower classes throughout the province.
This is why when the locals talk about the Noh theater, they usually say the Noh music fall from the sky because even the gardeners working in the treetops sing Noh chants when they work!
So as Noh theater is an important part of Kanazawa’s culture, the gate was built based on an element of the performance art. And probably because of this gate, Kanazawa Station was chosen to be the 6th most beautiful station in the world by the American travel magazine Travel + Leisure in 2011!
Unlike the normal pillars of a gate, the pillar of Tsuzumi Gate has another practical use that can prolong the gate’s lifespan. There are pipes inside those two thick pillars that help to drain the water and snow accumulated on the roof in bad weather (^_-)-☆.
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kanazawa.
Kaga Yūzen (加賀友禅)
In a city with a long history in Japan like Kanazawa, isn’t it tempting to be dressed in a kimono before heading off to all the tourist spots, such as historic tea houses, filled with the traditional Japanese atmosphere?
It wouldn’t be hard to find a kimono rental shop around the station or close to Kenrokuen Garden, but it was really hard to find a kimono that isn’t too showy. And when we say showy, we are talking about the flashy touristy kimono with many clashing patterns in rich colors. These options are great if you are on a budget and still want that kimono experience.
But personally, we were after the more traditional and authentic kimono in a more muted and elegant style. Plus, when you come to Kanazawa, it is a shame if you don’t get to wear a kimono dyed with the local Kaga Yūzen techniques!
How to Find Out if a Kimono Rental Shop Has Kaga Yūzen Kimono
As the prices range for the kimonos dyed with Kaga Yūzen techniques is high, not all kimono rental shops have it. So, if you are after one of these gorgeous kimonos, just check with the staff to see if they have Kaga Yūzen kimono. Below is a phrase that you can use if you ever get stuck with communication:
加賀友禅の着物はありますか?Pronouncing as “Kaga Yūzen no kimono wa arimasuka?” (Do you have Kaga Yūzen Kimono?)
If you haven’t decided on which kimono rental shop you want to use, the Kimono Rental Shop Kokoyui (着物レンタルshop・心結), which is just a 5-minute walk from JR Kanazawa Station, can be a good choice. The Kaga Yūzen Kimono Course isn’t listed on their English website, but they definitely have it on their Japanese website HERE.
Price-wise, the normal kimono rental plan at kimono rental shops starts from around 5,000 yen. If you are after the Kaga Yūzen kimono, expect to pay at least twice, if not three times that amount.
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kanazawa.
Ōmichō Market (近江町市場)
Ōmichō Market, also known as Kanazawa’s pantry, has around 170 shops on two sides of a narrow street. While it can be hard to find a vegetarian menu in one of the restaurants, it is a great place to source some fresh vegetables, fruits, and local specialties. Many shops also offer tasting samples, which is the best way to figure out the best snack as a souvenir.
For us, we fell in love with the Kanazawa Bōcha Tea (金沢棒茶) after we tried it at one of the stalls. Instead of tea leaves, it is roasted tea stalks.
Tip: During the day until the market closes at 5 pm, the market can be as packed as shown in the photo. If you want to avoid the crowd, come here in the early morning. The shops in the market should all be open by 9 am.
How to Get to Ōmichō Market
- From JR Kanazawa Station, it is just a 15-minute walk.
- You can also catch a bus from Kanazawa Station’s bus stop no. 6 to no. 9 and get off at Musashigatsuji Ōmichō Ichiba (武蔵ヶ辻 近江町市場) stop.
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa Castle (金沢城) and Kenrokuen Garden (兼六園)
Kanazawa Castle and its garden, Kenrokuen, are prime spots that are must-visits for any tourists in Kanazawa. Kenrokuen, the top garden in the Three Great Gardens in Japan that took 180 years to complete, contains all six elements that make a great landscape. This is literally a place where you can hardly find a moment that one won’t find charming.
Kanazawa Castle, connected to the garden via a bridge, is a castle with a strong defence system. Visitors can appreciate the wit of the military strategists back then who contributed to the castle’s design. It is also where you can see various kinds of stone masonry and techniques all in one place!
For more information, please refer to our articles about Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden (=゚ω゚)ノ.
Kaga-Yūzen Kimono Center (加賀友禅会館)
Very close to Kenrokuen Garden, there is this Kaga Yūzen promotion center. It is the perfect place to learn more about this highly skilled dyeing technique! Not only will there be beautiful kimonos on display, but there is also a dyeing demonstration corner for you to see how the professionals do it. And if you are interested in giving it a try, head to their basement level and participate in one of their dyeing workshops (=゚ω゚)ノ.
For more information about the workshops available, please refer to their website HERE. Please note additional fees apply.
Kaga-Yūzen Kimono Center’s Business Hours, Admission Fees, and Access Information
- The center is open from 9 am to 5 pm daily except Wednesdays and from the end of December to the beginning of January.
- If Wednesday is a public holiday, the center will be open.
- The admission fee is
- 310 yen for adults
- 210 yen for children
- From the bus stop – Kenrokuen-shita Kanazawajō (兼六園下・金沢城), it is a 2-minute walk.
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kanazawa.
Ishikawa Local Products Center (石川県観光物産館)
Very close to Kaga-Yūzen Kimono Center, this local product center is where you can source a lot of different kinds of local specialties in one go. The center also holds many workshops for visitors to make Japanese confectionaries and/or craftworks, including gold leaf decoration.
For more information about the workshops held here, please refer to their website HERE. Some workshops, such as Japanese confectionaries making, can be quite popular. So we highly recommend you give the center a call at +81-76-222-7788 to avoid disappointment.
For the Japanese-Style Confection Experience, you can also reserve through the Japanese Website. You can translate it using your browser’s translation function.
Ishikawa Local Products Center’s Opening Hours and Access Information
- The center is usually open from 9:30 am to 6 pm on weekdays.
- Note the opening hours may differ slightly.
- Please refer to the calendar on their website HERE for the days when the center is closed.
- From the bus stop – Kenrokuen-shita Kanazawajō (兼六園下・金沢城), it is a one-minute walk.
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kanazawa.
Gyokusen-en Nishida Family Garden (西田家庭園「玉泉園」)
Directly next to the Kaga-Yūzen Kimono Center, the Gyokusen-en is a garden that is 120 years older than Kenrokuen Garden opposite Hyakumangoku-dori Avenue. Not known by many tourists, the water flowing in Gyokusen-en’s ponds is sourced from the Kasumiga Pond (霞ヶ池) in Kenrokuen Garden! It is also the best spot in Kanazawa to experience tea ceremoney.
For more information, please refer to our article on Gyokusen-en Garden!
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kanazawa.
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa (金沢21世紀美術館)
This museum that is really close to Kenrokuen Garden is an artistically photogenic spot.
Most museums hold their collections on a display shelf inside. But the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, was built with the concept of a park-like museum in the city. Many of its artworks are displayed outdoors in the courtyard.
The museum is divided into two zones. The public zone that consists of artworks of bigger sizes is free to enter. But to get into one of the showrooms inside the museum, it will usually cost you between 450 to 1,200 yen.
How Much Time Should I Allocate at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa?
While the time one spends at the museum differs from one another, the below is a good approximation provided by the museum.
- 30 to 45 minutes per exhibition
- 30 minutes at the free zone
The Swimming Pool at 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
One of the most popular photo spots at the museum is the “swimming pool”. It is a magical pool where you will be able to survive underneath the surface of the water without any special diving equipment.
With your friends at the side of the pool, it is the perfect place if you want to get one of those photos of rescuing scenes (´▽`*).
Unfortunately, this artwork, made by the famous internationally exhibited Argentine conceptual artist Leandro Erlich, can’t be accessed for free. As it is connected to one of the showrooms, you will have to pay for your entry to that particular showroom to get to the top or the bottom of the pool.
To find out what is on when during your planned date of visit, check out the museum’s website HERE.
Tip: Leave your bags at their coin locker facility. Your 100 yen will be refunded in full when you return the key to the locker! And if you have suitcases with you, they can be left in the cloakroom next to the Ticket Information Counter. HERE is the floor map of the museum.
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa’s Opening Hours and Access Information
- The Exhibition Zone is open from 10 am to 6 pm daily, with extended opening hours to 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
- The Exhibition Zone is closed on Mondays and from the end of December to the beginning of January.
- If Monday is a public holiday, it will close the next business day instead.
- The Public Zone is open from 9 am to 10 pm
- The Public Zone is closed from the end of December to the beginning of January
- From Kenrokuen’s Mayumi Sakaguchi Gate (真弓坂口), you just need to cross a road
- If you are taking the Kanazawa Loop Bus (城下まち金沢周遊バス), get off at Hirosaka 21 seiki bijutsukan (Ishiura jinja mae) (広坂・21世紀美術館(石浦神社前)).
- If you are taking the Machi-Bus (まちバス), get off at Kanazawa 21 Seiki Bijutsukan Kenrokuen (Mayumi Sakaguchi) (金沢21世紀美術館・兼六園(真弓坂口)).
- For other bus services, get off at Kōrinbō (Atorio-mae) (香林坊(アトリオ前)).
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa Noh Museum (金沢能楽美術館)
Just next to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, there is another small museum all about the local school of the Noh Threatre – Kaga Hōshō (加賀宝生).
If you know nothing about the kind of performance art, by the time you come out of this museum, you will have enough knowledge to talk about it like an expert to your families and friends (=゚ω゚)ノ.
Cultural Experiences at Kanazawa Noh Museum
If you have 10 to 20 minutes to spare, head to the Noh costume-wearing corner on the ground floor. Although you won’t be able to tell who is behind one of the 20 Noh masks when you go through your photos later on, it will definitely be a fun experience!
- The corner is open from 10 am to 4 pm from Fridays to Sundays and public holidays. Please arrive before 3:30 pm if you want to be dressed.
- Another thing to note is if your height isn’t between 150 – 175 cm or has a heap size of more than 100 cm, it can be hard for you to participate in this experience as they probably won’t have any costumes that can fit you.
Another experience that takes place from 10 am to 5 pm is playing the instruments that are used in Noh Theater. It can be your first personal Taiko-drum (太鼓) performance!
Opening Hours, Admission Fees, and Access Information of Kanazawa Noh Museum
- The museum is open from 10 am to 6 pm daily except Mondays, and from the end of December to the beginning of January. It will also close when the staff changes the collections on display.
- If Monday is a public holiday, it will close the next business day instead.
- The last admission is at 5:30 pm.
- The admission fee is
- 310 yen for senior high school students and above to the age of 65
- 210 yen for the elderly who are 65 years old and older, but free on public holidays
- Free for junior high school students and younger
- You can also get a combo ticket that allows you to enter the Noh Museum and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
- 570 yen for adults
- 480 yen for university students
- 530 yen for those who are 65 years old and above
- Free for junior high school students or younger
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kanazawa.
Oyama Shrine (尾山神社)
If you are wondering which of the six entrances you should finish your exploration of the Kanazawa Castle, the Nezumita-mon Gate (鼠多門) can be a great choice if you aren’t in a hurry to Kenrokuen Garden. Because after you cross the Nezumita-mon Bridge (鼠多門橋), there is a shrine with a three-storied gate, each built in a different style!
For more information, please refer to our article on Oyama Shrine!
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kanazawa.
Nagamachi Samurai District (長町武家屋敷跡)
For those who will be sightseeing in Kanazawa in Kimono, make sure Nagamachi Samurai District is on your itinerary. You will blend in perfectly into the samurais’ houses in the background.
If you are into the local craftwork, such as the Kutani Ware (九谷焼), you will also find a couple of nice little shops in one of these traditional houses that might make you lose track of your time (´▽`*).
For more information, refer to our article on Nagamachi Samurai District!
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kanazawa.
The Three Tea House Districts in Kanazawa
When you visit Kanazawa, the areas that you need to visit are the three chaya (tea house) districts scattered in the city. The districts are where you can spot Geishas in the early evening and enjoy shopping and dining during the day.
For more information, please refer to our article A Quick Introduction to Kanazawa’s Three Chaya Districts!
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum (金沢市立安江金箔工芸館)
As the city that produces the most gold leaf in Japan, Kanazawa has a museum dedicated to gold leaf for anyone interested to know more about how the shiny leaf of paper is produced.
There are also a lot of golden collections on display, from kimonos with golden threads to potteries and lacquerware to paintings with gold leaves attached. If you love golden artwork, this is the place you want to visit when you come to Higashi Chaya District!
For more information, please refer to their website HERE.
Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum’s Opening Hours, Admission Fees, and Access Information
- The museum is open from 9:30 am to 5 pm daily except Tuesdays and from the 29th of December to the 3rd of January.
- The last admission is at 4:30 pm.
- If Tuesday is a public holiday, the museum will close the next business day.
- Additional dates that the museum will close is listed at the end of the Official Website.
- The admission fee is
- 310 yen for adults
- 210 yen for those who are 65 years old and above. On public holidays, it is free
- Free for high school students and below as well
- The museum is less than a 5-minute walk from the bus stop – Hashibachō (橋場町).
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kanazawa.
Myōryūji Temple (妙立寺)
Minutes walk away from Nishi Chaya District is the Myōryūji Temple. This temple was relocated from its original position close to Kanazawa Castle to where it is now in 1643 by the third lord of the Kaga Domain. Whilst it looks like just any other temple in Japan, it is actually a fort for Kanazawa.
At the time, the Tokugawa Shogunate and Kaga Domain were in a state of tension. The relocation of the temple was part of the preparation for an attack. Although it seems like a two-storied building when you stand in front of it, it actually has seven floors with 23 rooms and 29 sets of staircases!
The temple is full of gimmicks designed to deceive the enemy. There is a pit underneath the donation box, hidden stairs if you remove the floorboard, a hidden door behind the hanging scroll, and even a secret path leading to Kanazawa Castle in the well!
Has it started sounding like this is actually a base for ninjas? While the temple has nothing to do with ninjas, due to the trickery and hidden traps in the design, the nickname of the temple is the Ninja Temple (´▽`*).
If you pay attention to the roof of the main worship hall, you will notice something unique to Myōryūji Temple. It is where this castle fort’s watchtower is located. You will also find the tea room’s ceiling extremely low. This is to prevent someone from swinging around swords and spears inside.
Booking is Essential for Visiting Myōryūji Temple
With its maze-like structures, visitors aren’t allowed to stroll freely inside the buildings because there is a high chance that you won’t be able to come out by yourself. To explore this awesome temple, booking a guided tour is essential.
- They currently only take reservations through phone calls. As it is quite popular, call them at +81-076-241-0888 between 8:30 am to 5 pm as soon as possible.
- The cost is
- 1,200 yen for adults
- 800 yen for elementary school students
If you don’t speak Japanese, kindly ask the staff at your accommodation to do this for you. But just note the tour is only conducted in Japanese, and no translator is allowed during the tour because the tour won’t be private, and there have been complaints about not being able to hear the guide’s voice due to the translation that took place in the past.
Myōryūji Temple’s Opening Hours and Access Information
- It is a 3-minute walk from the bus stop – Hirokōji (広小路).
- Tours are held on an hourly basis between 9 am to 4:30 pm on weekdays and a 30-minute interval on weekends and public holidays
- The tour takes around 40 minutes. For more information about the tours, please refer to the temple’s official website HERE.
- The temple is closed on the 1st of January and also on the days when rituals are taking place.
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kanazawa.
Mt. Utatsu (卯辰山)
Located east of the city, the mountain that overlooks the city center isn’t hard to reach. With just one bus service, you will be at the mountain in less than 30 minutes (=゚ω゚)ノ.
Located east of the city, the mountain that overlooks the city center isn’t all that hard to get to. With just one bus service, you will be at the mountain in less than 30 minutes (=゚ω゚)ノ.
Being the most popular nature park for Kanazawa citizens, it is a famous place to admire various flowers and autumn foliage from April to November.
- 250 Cherry trees usually bloom from early to mid-April.
- 8,000 azaleas of12 different species usually bloom from late April to mid-May.
- 200,000 iris of 100 different species and 2,900 hydrangea trees usually bloom from mid-June to mid-July.
There are, of course, quite a few lookouts in the mountain that will give you a wide view of Kanazawa city and the nearby mountain range.
If you have a car, the most popular spot for Kanazawa City’s night view spot is Bōko-dai (望湖台). And in fact, try to get there before sunset for a photo as good as the one at the right or even better!
How to Get to Mt. Utatsu by Bus
Take bus route 90 – Utatsuyama Line (卯辰山線) and get off at either Bōko-dai (望湖台) or Utatsuyama Kōen (卯辰山公園).
Please note the number of bus services is limited.
- For the service’s timetable, please refer to HERE.
- Bōko-dai (望湖台) is just a stop before Utatsuyama Kōen (卯辰山公園).
- You can also use one of Japan’s Transport Apps to plan if you don’t read Japanese.
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa Minami Sōgō Undōkōen Park Rose Garden (金沢南総合運動公園バラ園)
If you are visiting Kanazawa from mid-May to early June or from late September to mid-October, consider dropping by this park a bit further away from JR Kanazawa Station for its rose park.
Amongst the 1,800 rose trees, there are a total of 143 types of roses! When the flowers bloom, it is the most romantic spot in Kanazawa, especially with the calming rose aroma that surrounds the whole garden!
How to Get to Kanazawa Minami Sōgō Undōkōen Park Rose Garden
From JR Kanazawa Station, take bus route 33 or 60 Shijima (四十万) and get off at Teraji (寺地). From the bus stop, it will be a 5-minute walk.
- For the service’s timetable, please refer to HERE.
Click HERE to get back to a list of attractions in Kanazawa.
Extend Your Trip to Ishikawa Prefecture to Noto Penisula
Kanazawa is just one of the many amazing destinations in Ishikawa Prefecture. Noto Penisula, north of Kanazawa, is a perfect example of how else the prefecture can blow your mind off!
For more information, please refer to our article on Noto Penisula!
Explore Kaga Onsen
Kaga City, also commonly referred to as Kaga Onsen (加賀温泉), can be sub-divided into six areas, including three main onsen towns, each with unique selling points. The hot spring resorts have a history dating back 1,300 years. There are onsen ryokans with high-quality service and various beautiful local handicrafts waiting for you to discover and even bring a few back home!
Refer to our Kaga Onsen article for more information!