Kanazawa is known as a city where numerous aspects of Japanese culture remain. It is also highly popular as a tourist destination, attracting many visitors from both Japan and abroad.
In this article, we have selected 25 recommended places to visit among the tourist spots in Kanazawa.
We'll introduce not only sightseeing spots but also gourmet experiences and events along with a map, so please refer to this when planning your Kanazawa trip.
25 Popular and Recommended Tourist Spots in Kanazawa
Here's a comprehensive list of 25 popular and recommended tourist spots in Kanazawa. Take note of any that interest you.
Experience the Japanese Atmosphere: Higashi Chaya District
The Higashi Chaya District, where you can fully experience the Japanese atmosphere typical of Kanazawa, is an area packed with Kanazawa culture. Why not capture memories of your Kanazawa trip in photos amidst the photogenic scenery of the Higashi Chaya District?
Lined up are high-class Japanese restaurants, stylish cafes that blend with the scenery, and specialty shops dealing in traditional crafts, allowing you to fully enjoy Kanazawa's culture.
Popular among tourists and loved and protected by the people, the Higashi Chaya District has also been designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings by the national government.
Address: 1-13 Higashiyama, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture
More details: Kanazawa Higashiyama Machizukuri Council
Savor Kanazawa's Food Culture: Omicho Market
One place you should definitely visit to savor Kanazawa's food culture is Omicho Market. It has long supported Kanazawa's food culture and is affectionately known as the "Kitchen of the Citizens."
In addition to specialty stores selling fresh fish, vegetables, and fruits, there are about 170 shops including eat-in restaurants.
What you should particularly check out are the fresh seafood caught in the Sea of Japan. The market is bustling with many tourists from morning to evening, especially for seafood bowls and sushi restaurants.
While eating, it might be a good idea to ask locals about recommended spots or hidden gems.
Address: 50 Kamiomicho, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture
Opening hours: Varies by store
Closed days: Varies by store
More details: Omicho Market
Kanazawa's Hospitality: Kanazawa Station
Kanazawa Station, known as a modern landmark of Kanazawa, was born from the spirit of Kanazawa's hospitality.
When you exit through the Kenrokuen Gate of Kanazawa Station, you'll find the Hospitality Dome. It's a building designed with the image of offering an umbrella to people leaving the station, as Kanazawa often experiences heavy rain and snow.
The beautiful geometric pattern of the glass ceiling gently welcomes visitors.
Also, the majestic Tsuzumi Gate, inspired by the drum used in Noh theater, is impressive with its 13.7-meter-tall thick pillars forming a gate.
Selected as one of the 14 most beautiful stations in the world, Kanazawa Station is a fitting spot to start your tour.
Address: 1-1 Kinoshinbo-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture
Opening hours: 5:30-23:30
Closed days: None
More details: Enjoy the architecture and crafts of Kanazawa Station! - How to see and walk around one of the world's most beautiful stations
Where Elegant Geisha Are Active: Nishi Chaya District
The Nishi Chaya District, bearing a name that complements the Higashi Chaya District, is where elegant geisha are active. If you want to catch a glimpse of beautifully dressed women in kimono, be sure to visit.
In the Nishi Chaya District, you can also find beautiful teahouse architecture and long-established Japanese restaurants lined up, providing satisfaction just by walking around.
At dusk, beautiful geisha walk the streets and the sound of shamisen flows through the district, allowing you to experience the unique nightlife of Kanazawa, the city of arts.
Address: 2-25-18 Nomachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture
More details: Hot Ishikawa Travel Net
One of Japan's Three Great Gardens: Kenrokuen Garden
Kenrokuen Garden, counted as one of Japan's three great gardens and designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the national government, is one of the must-visit landmarks.
With artificial hills, ponds, and teahouses scattered throughout the garden, you can enjoy the scenery while strolling leisurely. Kenrokuen shows various expressions depending on the season and weather, offering a beauty that never gets old no matter how many times you visit. Especially in winter, during the snowy season, you can see "Yukitsuri," a unique Kanazawa tradition of protecting tree branches from snow.
If you visit during the illumination period, you can see Kenrokuen lit up fantastically, appearing completely different from its daytime appearance.
Address: 1 Kenroku-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture
Opening hours: March 1 - October 15: 7:00-18:00 / October 16 - End of February: 8:00-17:00
Early morning opening: Varies by season
Closed days: None
Admission fee: Regular - Adults 320 yen / Early morning free
More details: Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden
A Mansion that Reflects the Era: Nomura Samurai House
The Nomura Samurai House is a place where you can see a Japanese garden and architecture recognized worldwide.
It's the only place in the area open to the public, where you can feel the beauty of Japan through the harmony of the formal building and the beautiful garden.
Particularly noteworthy are the fusuma paintings by artists employed by the Kaga clan, and the display of traditional swords and armor of the Nomura family.
The Nomura Samurai House is known as a popular spot both domestically and internationally, having ranked 3rd in a Japanese garden ranking by an American garden magazine in 2003.
Address: 1-3-32 Nagamachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture
Opening hours: April-September 8:30-17:30 / October-March 8:30-16:30
Closed days: December 26-27 / January 1-2
Admission fee: Adults 550 yen, High school students 400 yen, Elementary and junior high school students 250 yen
More details: Nomura Samurai House
Boasting 1300 Years of History: Yubaoke Onsen
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Yubuko Onsen, boasting a 1300-year history, is a hot spring town nestled in lush green mountains. With nine hot spring inns lined up, you can enjoy not only the hot springs but also delicious Kaga cuisine.
The water quality of Yubuko Onsen is sodium-calcium chloride sulfate spring. If you're just visiting for the day, the foot bath is also recommended.
If you're staying overnight, relax and enjoy the long-loved hot springs and cuisine while relieving your travel fatigue.
Incidentally, Yubuko Onsen is also famous as the place where Yumeji Takehisa and his lover spent three weeks during the Taisho era. Why not also visit the place where works from his stay are exhibited?
Address: Yuwaku-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Opening hours: Depends on the facility
Closed days: Depends on the facility
More details: Yubuko Onsen
Shima: A Nationally Designated Important Cultural Property Tea House from 1820
Shima, designated as a Nationally Important Cultural Property, is a tea house building constructed in 1820 (Bunsei 3) that remains in its original state.
Originally, the second floor was the guest room, and the delicate and beautiful construction typical of tea houses catches the eye. In the separate building, Kanson-an, you can enjoy matcha tea while looking out at the garden.
It's a place where you can spend time peacefully even on rainy or snowy days, so it's good to check it out as a tourist spot.
Address: 1-13-21 Higashiyama, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Opening hours: 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM (until 5:00 PM from December to February)
Closed days: None
Admission fee: Adults 500 yen, Junior high school students and younger 300 yen
More details: Shima
Jiyukajin Mizuhiki Museum: Discover the Charm of Mizuhiki (With Experience)
The Jiyukajin Mizuhiki Museum is a tourist spot with a colorful and fantastical atmosphere. This new shop, which opened in 2023, displays various mizuhiki works while also proposing everyday uses.
Experience plans are also available, allowing you to create mizuhiki works ranging from simple ones that can be made in about 30 minutes to more challenging ones. You need to choose and book from nine plans in advance, so check the official website beforehand.
Address: 7-9 Kiyokawa-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Opening hours: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Closed days: New Year's holidays / 3rd Friday of the month
Usage fee: Adults 500 yen, Junior and Senior High School students 200 yen, Elementary school students and younger free
More details: Jiyukajin Mizuhiki Museum
Address: 1-1 Kenroku-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture
Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed: 3rd Thursday of the month (April-November) / Every Thursday (December-March) / New Year's holidays (except Thursdays that fall on public holidays)
Admission: 1st floor free / 2nd floor Adults 260 yen, Children 100 yen
More information: Ishikawa Living Craft Museum
A Paradise for Sake Lovers: Yachiya Sake Brewery "Jizake Yachiya"
Yachiya Sake Brewery "Jizake Yachiya," designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, is a sake brewery boasting over 250 years of history from the Kaga Domain era.
For a 500 yen tour fee, you can enjoy a brewery tour and sake tasting, making it an irresistible tourist spot for adults who love sake.
The 500 yen ticket purchased for the tour and tasting can be used as a discount coupon when buying souvenirs, giving you a sense of getting a good deal.
Kaga Tsuru Junmai Ginjo Kanazawa is popular for its smooth taste and well-balanced flavor. Why not purchase it as a souvenir or for enjoying in your accommodation?
Address: 8-32 Ohimachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture
Hours: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Closed: Sundays / New Year's holidays
Tour fee: 500 yen
Tasting fee: 500 yen
More information: Yachiya Sake Brewery
[Experience Available] Traditional Crafts with a Modern Twist: Kanazawa Saryo
At Kanazawa Saryo, you can experience creating a unique piece by combining Kanazawa Kutani ware, a traditional craft of Kanazawa, with modern-style Kanazawa lacquerware.
You can choose 3 colors from 20 options, including traditional hues as well as pastel and neon colors, and experience the lacquering technique of layering and scraping. After completion, enjoy your first cup of specially blended Japanese tea.
You can take home the piece you created on the same day, so there's no hassle of shipping later.
Address: Chi 16-17 Utatsumachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture
Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Closed: Irregular
Experience fee: 6,600 yen
More information: Kanazawa Saryo
[Experience Available] Beautiful Japanese Cuisine: Shiki no Table
If you want to enjoy Japanese culture in Kanazawa, Japanese cuisine is a must. For delicious Japanese food in a stylish atmosphere, Shiki no Table is a must-visit.
Owned by local cuisine researcher Etsuko Aoki, you can enjoy various local dishes that reflect the local culture. The jibu-ni and winter kaburazushi are especially exquisite, so be sure to order them if available.
Shiki no Table also offers a jibu-ni cooking experience, allowing you to make local cuisine yourself. If you want to delve deeper into Kanazawa's food culture, be sure to make a reservation and visit.
Address: 1F Aoki Cooking School, 1-1-17 Nagamachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture
Hours: 9:30 AM - 9:30 PM
Closed: Wednesdays (or the following day if it falls on a holiday)
Estimated price range: From 1,080 yen
More information: Shiki no Table
[Experience Available] Try Making Delicious Tea: Tea Ceremony SOYU
At Tea Ceremony SOYU in Higashi Chaya District, you can experience authentic tea ceremony.
Located in a traditional townhouse within the preserved district, Tea Ceremony SOYU offers tea ceremony experiences for tourists and beginners.
It's popular as a casual tea room where you can even enjoy tea while seated in chairs.
Why not take a break from your journey with delicious Japanese sweets and self-prepared tea?
Address: 1-13-4 Higashiyama, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture
Hours: 11:00 AM - Sunset
Closed: Irregular
Fee: 300-600 yen
More information: Tea Ceremony SOYU
Enjoy Kanazawa's Nature: Asanogawa River
If you want to leisurely enjoy Kanazawa's nature, a walk along the Asanogawa River is recommended. Flowing east of Kanazawa Castle, the Asanogawa River is characterized by its gentle atmosphere that matches the scenic landscape.
The Asanogawa Bridge, designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, retains a Taisho Romantic atmosphere and is a popular photogenic spot.
In May, you can enjoy the Asanogawa Koi Nagashi event where carp streamers are floated on the river, and in September, the Onna River Festival features beautiful illuminations with candles and lanterns, offering different atmospheres throughout the year.
Address: Within Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture (The map in the latter half of the article shows Asanogawa Bridge)
More information: Kanazawa Travel Story Asanogawa
[Experience Available] Cute Toys for Souvenirs: Nakashima Menya
Nakashima Menya is a store that offers a wide variety of toys filled with Kaga craftsmanship.
Established in the 2nd year of Bunkyu (1862), it has over 140 years of history. Nakashima Menya deals in Kanazawa folk toys, including Kaga dolls, and you can purchase adorable dolls and daruma.
They also offer painting experiences where you can paint your own Kaga Hachiman Okiagari doll, making it popular for creating handmade souvenirs.
Address: Underground, Omicho Ichiba-kan, 88 Aokusa-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture
Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Closed: Tuesdays
More information: Nakashima Menya
For Visual and Taste Enjoyment: Oishii Ippuku Kaburaki Shoho
If you want to enjoy both the visual appeal of dishware and the taste of cuisine, Oishii Ippuku Kaburaki is recommended. Located in the former Nagamachi Samurai District, Oishii Ippuku Kaburaki offers delicious Japanese cuisine in an interior specializing in Kutani ware.
In the Japanese-style building, you can enjoy Kutani ware sales and the Kaburaki Collection exhibition while savoring delicious food with a view of a beautiful garden. It's a perfect place for a break during your journey, so please take a moment to relax when your feet start to tire.
Address: 1-3-16 Nagamachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture
Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Oishii Ippuku from 10:00 AM)
Closed: Irregular
More details: Kaburaki Shoho
Spectacular Viewpoint in Kanazawa: Daijoji Kyuryo Park
For a different side of Kanazawa from traditional Japanese culture, Daijoji Kyuryo Park is a recommended tourist spot. Located on a hill with an elevation difference of 83 meters, Daijoji Kyuryo Park is known as a scenic spot offering panoramic views of Kanazawa city and the Sea of Japan.
The park is blessed with flowering trees, and you'll be amazed by the approximately 13,000 azalea bushes in bloom. Cherry blossoms, plum blossoms, autumn leaves, bush clover, and camellia create different expressions with each season, allowing you to fully experience the vast sky and rich nature.
Daijoji Kyuryo Park is suitable for picnics and walks, and it's a great place to enjoy Kanazawa's Japanese sweets or bento boxes.
Address: Nagasaka-machi and Yamashina-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Opening hours: April to September 8:00-19:00 / October to March 8:00-18:00
Closed: December 29 to January 3
Admission: Free
More details: Kanazawa City Official Website
Relax Your Tired Feet: Shirasagi Foot Bath
At the Shirasagi Foot Bath in the Yuwaku Onsen area, you can thoroughly soothe your tired feet.
The building, which incorporates wooden lattices in its design, is decorated with Tomuro stone and gold leaf, giving it a distinctly Kanazawa feel. Why not relax your daily fatigue while soaking your feet in the bath and enjoying the scenery that shows different beauties with each season?
For those who want to rejuvenate both body and mind, be sure to check out the Shirasagi Foot Bath. It's also recommended for day trips.
Address: I-144-1 Yuwaku-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Opening hours: 9:00-21:00
Closed: 3rd Thursday of the month
Usage fee: Free
More details: Yuwaku Onsen
Learn About the City Where Noh Rains: Kanazawa Noh Museum
At the Kanazawa Noh Museum, you can learn about the traditional performing art that Kanazawa, known as "the city where Noh rains," is proud of.
Kanazawa was said to have "Noh raining from the sky" because successive feudal lords loved Noh since the feudal period and also encouraged it among commoners. The long-loved Noh is now inherited as the Kaga Hosho, an intangible cultural property of Kanazawa City.
The Kanazawa Noh Museum aims to pass on valuable art pieces that have been inherited to the next generation and connect them to the future beyond.
The museum has many features that even beginners can enjoy, so you can visit casually and still feel satisfied.
Address: 1-2-25 Hirosaka, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Opening hours: 10:00-18:00
Closed: Mondays (next day if a holiday) / New Year's holidays
Admission: Adults 310 yen, High school students and under free
More details: Kanazawa Noh Museum
A Place Enshrining Tokugawa Ieyasu: Ozaki Shrine
Ozaki Shrine was built in 1643 by Maeda Mitsutaka, the 4th lord of the Kaga domain, to enshrine his great-grandfather Tokugawa Ieyasu.
With its vermilion paint, beautiful carvings, and decorative metal fittings, it boasts a beauty called a miniature version of Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Although it was relocated to its current position in 1878 when the Army Ministry was stationed in Kanazawa Castle, its beauty and solemnity remain intact.
The main shrine, worship hall, offering hall, middle gate, and transparent fence are designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
Address: 5-5 Marunouchi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Opening hours: 6:00-20:00
Closed: None
Admission: Free
More details: Ishikawa Shrine Agency Ozaki Shrine
Map of Kanazawa Tourist Spots
Enjoy Walking Around Kanazawa in Yukata or Kimono!
Many aspects of traditional Japanese culture remain in Kanazawa. When walking around such a city, it's recommended to wear a yukata or kimono.
Why not experience a feeling of living in a different era by wearing a different outfit from usual?
Also, taking photos in yukata or kimono will create wonderful memories.
Summary
Many aspects of Japanese culture remain in Kanazawa and are still carefully preserved today. Various experience workshops are also actively held to widely connect the culture remaining in Kanazawa to the future.
When sightseeing in Kanazawa, it's important to visit not only historical cultural heritage sites but also modern landmarks like Kanazawa Station.
However, to efficiently tour around Kanazawa city, advance scheduling and reservations are essential. Try to make plans using maps according to your travel schedule and accommodation location.
Also, yukata or kimono are indispensable for a proper Kanazawa sightseeing experience. By immersing yourself in Japanese culture, you might make new discoveries.
When sightseeing in Kanazawa, be sure to rent a yukata or kimono and fully enjoy Japanese culture and history.