It's hard to pick where and where not to include on your itinerary for Japan. There's so much to see and do that the fear of missing out on something special never truly leaves. Especially for first-time visitors to Japan, Kanazawa is often one of those places people make the difficult decision to skip. However, Kanazawa is a city that's definitely worth visiting, especially as crowds get bigger and the small spaces in cities like Tokyo and Kyoto begin to feel a bit more cramped. Here are eight reasons why we think Kanazawa is a must-see on your Japan trip!
1 - It's A Craft Paradise
Kanazawa has been Japan's premier craft region for since the 1600s. Today, 36 unique crafts are practiced by more than 400 master craftsmen in Kanazawa and its surrounding areas. These include kutani-yaki ceramics, kaga yuzen silk dyeing techniques, gold leaf and ohi-yaki pottery all shown above.
The traditional lords of the area, the Maeda samurai family, invested very heavily into the arts and frequently brought craftsmen from across Japan to the city to innovate and find new techniques. Virtually all of these survive into the modern day, making Kanazawa an attractive destination for those interested in traditional crafts or are looking to get their hands on some interesting souvenirs.
If you're looking to get involved in some crafts while here in the city, consider our "Experience Gold Leaf, Japanese Sweets and Ninja Stars" tour, running all year round! This tour offers a curated selection of Kanazawa's crafts and makes for a great day for both families and couples!
Highlights:
- Gold Leaf - Decorate with gold leaf in one of Kanazawa's most famous gold leaf workshops!
- Wagashi - Make traditional Japanese sweets, called wagashi.
- Ninja Stars - Throw two types of real shuriken and win a prize if you hit a bullseye!
2 - Seasonal Highlights
Kanazawa is famous for being one of the best cities in Japan to take in the changing of the seasons. Throughout the year, the city transforms from a snowy winter wonderland, to millions of cherry blossoms gently falling in the breeze, to vibrant summer greens and then finally the fiery spread of fall foliage.
While other parts of Japan are only accessible in specific seasons, Kanazawa makes a great stop at any time of the year, so there's always something worth doing and seeing!
If you're here between July and November and are looking to take in some beautiful views of Japan's mountains and fall foliage, check out our "Tedori Gorge, Hakusan White Road and Shirakawa-go Village" tour!
Highlights:
- Tedori Gorge - A beautiful gorge tucked away just a short drive from Kanazawa where the waterfall is said to look like flowing cotton.
- White Road - One of Japan's most famous scenic driving routes which travels through the Hakusan National Park and offers stunning views of the mountainsides.
- Shirakawa-go - The UNESCO World Heritage site with the famous gassho-zukkuri thatched-roof farmhouses.
Small Group
1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Tedori Gorge, Hakusan White Road and Shirakawago Village
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- KanazawaShirakawago
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If you're visiting between May and June, you have the chance to see one of the most limited but breath-taking views on our "Tateyama Alpine Route Snow Wall and Mysterious Valley" tour. This tour will take you to the famous snow wall, where the snow can pile up more than 20 metres high!
Highlights:
- Snow Wall - See the famous snow wall at the top of Tateyama Mountain.
- Murodo - The Murodo Plateau has several hiking trails to take in the views of the Japanese Alps covered in snow.
- Mysterious Valley - Learn more about the traditional route to the Tateyama peak passes through a valley said to offer a chance at spiritual rebirth.
Recommended
1 Day Tour from Kanazawa or Toyama: Tateyama Alpine Route Snow Wall and Mysterious Valley
3 - Preserved Historical Areas
Kanazawa sits in a bit of a "safe zone" regarding natural disasters. While it does get some earthquakes from time to time, it is far enough from the epicentre that the shakes aren't strong. Between that and Kanazawa being untouched during WW2 bombing, much of the city's historical areas have stood the test of time.
The city had a huge boom during the Edo Period (1603 - 1868) and virtually all of its traditions date back to that time. The famous Kenrokuen Garden, Higashi Chaya geisha district, Omicho Market and the Nagamachi samurai district were all established during this time.
If you're looking to drink your fill of local history, consider our "Glamor of the Geisha" tour! This walking tour takes you on a deep dive of two of Kanazawa's most attractive areas: the Higashi Chaya district and the Kenrokuen Garden. Your local guide will show you the ins-and-outs of the two areas, including places most visitors to Kanazawa often overlook!
Highlights:
- Higashi Chaya - Kanazawa's largest historical geisha district, including a geisha house first built in 1820 and preserved through to today.
- Kenrokuen Garden - One of the three great gardens of Japan, this garden was sculpted by different generations of the Maeda lords of Kanazawa. Our time here includes a visit to an opulent villa built for the mother of one of the lords.
- Kanazawa Castle - Walk through the grounds of Kanazawa Castle, learning the fascinating history of how the Maeda shaped Kanazawa for 300 years.
If you're looking to see some of the wider region's historical areas, you may be interested in our "Beautiful Natadera Temple, Craft Village and Dance with Real Geisha in Yamanaka Onsen" tour, running on Saturdays and Sundays!
Highlights:
- Natadera Temple - This historic temple was first founded more than 1300 years ago and has served as the retirement villa for emperors, inspired Japan's most famous poet, and become a national treasure for its beautiful garden.
- Craft Village - Enjoy time in a craft village showcasing a range of the region's local craft works and try Kaga Yuzen silk dyeing.
- Yamanaka Onsen - This historic town was once a bustling hub with a thriving geisha culture. See a performance done by real geisha who live in the area and have the chance to get up on stage and dance with them yourself!
4 - Great for Art Lovers
藤倉麻子《明るい駐車場のポール》2023
© Asako Fujikura
（クレジット）
金沢21世紀美術館蔵
©Pei-Shih Tu
If you are the type who can spend hours in a museum, Kanazawa is the place for you. The city is home to dozens of museums and, while its history museums are worth visiting in their own right, Kanazawa is famous across Japan for its art. In particular, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art is a world leader and has been the centrepiece of the Kanazawa Cultural Zone since it first opened in 2004.
If you're looking to read more about the different museums around the city, be sure to check out our page on the Best Museums in Kanazawa for more information!
5 - It's Walkable!
Something easy to overlook about Kanazawa is just how walkable it is. The city's major attractions can all be visited in just a day at a leisurely pace. If you're feeling a bit frazzled after navigating the subway network in Tokyo or weaving through the crowds in Kyoto, Kanazawa makes a fantastic change of pace to slow down and catch your breath for a couple of days.
If you're interested in taking a guided tour of the main sights, consider booking our "Samurai, Matcha, Gardens and Geisha" walking tour of the city.
Highlights:
- See the Best of Kanazawa - This tour takes you around the highlights of Kanazawa city including the Nagamachi samurai district, Oyama Shrine, Kanazawa Castle, Kenrokuen Garden and the Higashi Chaya tea district.
- Relax in a traditional teahouse - Live like the Kanazawa lords and sip high-quality matcha from traditionally crafted bowls in a teahouse overlooking a 400-year-old garden.
- Guided by locals - Our local guides are experts at giving you the details about each location, weaving a tapestry of Kanazawa's history and culture to give you a clear image about what life in this city was really like.
6 - The Food
Food is one of the main reasons so many people flock to Japan and Kanazawa is no exception. The city is most famous for its seafood, sold locally at Omicho Market, and locals love the variety of options available. Nothing is more quintessentially Kanazawa, though, than the nodoguro blackthroat seaperch.
It is more than just seafood, though, as Kanazawa is famous for its rich Kanazawa Curry. This curry has a darker roux and is often served with a tonkatsu pork cutlet with tonkotsu sauce. After a day out in the snow, Kanazawa curry is guaranteed to warm the soul.
And for those with a sweet tooth, Kanazawa is famous for its deserts (locals are quick to mention Kanazawa eats more ice cream per person than anywhere else in Japan!). The most famous desert in the city is the gold leaf ice cream, but matcha deserts and traditional wagashi are also widespread.
For more on the local food, check out our page on Kanazawa's Famous Foods at the link below!
7 - Easy Day Trips to Japan's Hidden Gems
As much of Kanazawa itself is explorable in just a day or two, spending time in the city can be a great way to get out into the surrounding region and take in some of the quiet hidden gems that are close by. Many of these hit their peaks in certain seasons but are beautiful all year round.
If you're looking for some recommendations, or are intrigued by the pictures above, Snow Monkey Resorts has several options for seeing more of this phenomenal part of Japan. Our first recommendation is our "Beautiful Amaharashi, A Big Buddha and the Shogawa Valley River Cruise" tour which runs all year round.
Highlights:
- Amaharashi Coast - This beautiful coastline offers a view of the Tateyama Mountains across the bay of Toyama. Between November and April, the mountains are capped with snow which offers a striking contrast to the blue of the water.
- Takaoka Daibutsu - This statue of the Great Buddha is one of a trio in Japan, alongside the Kamakura Daibutsu and Todaiji in Nara.
- Shogawa Valley Cruise - A sightseeing cruise through the scenic Shogawa valley which erupts into a sea of colour during the fall foliage season and is covered by a blanket of snow in winter.
Recommended
1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Beautiful Amaharashi, A Big Buddha and the Shogawa Valley River Cruise
Meanwhile, our "Fukui's Stunning Cliffs, Spiritual Island and Historical Port" might be of interest to people who are more at home closer to the sea, taking guests on a tour along the dramatic coastline along North-west Fukui.
Highlights:
- Echizen Matsushima - Even locals often miss this volcanic rock formation along the coast, formed 14 million years ago, whose caves sheltered local fishermen more than 2000 years ago.
- Tojinbo Cliffs - The centrepiece of North-west Fukui is a cliff formation where you can walk right down to the water's edge. Tojinbo also has many restaurants serving up local delicacies like crab, Echizen soba and sauce katsudon, so there's plenty to eat after working up an appetite sightseeing!
- Mikuni Port - Near to Tojinbo is the historical port of Mikuni. The town was once one of the major stops on a trade route between Osaka and Hokkaido with many pieces of that legacy still visible today.
If you're looking to delve a little deeper into the spiritual side of Japan, look no further than our "Eiheiji Temple and Fukui City Castle Town" tour. Eiheiji is one of the two head temples of Soto Zen Buddhism and sits tucked away in the Fukui mountains. On the way, we'll stop at a temple connected to the old lords of Fukui, some of Fukui City's noteworthy shrines and landmarks, and see the ruins of the castle.
Highlights:
- Eiheiji Temple - This 800-year-old temple is one of the most important in Japanese history and is still used as an active training temple today.
- Fukui City - Often overlooked by visitors to Japan, Fukui has a fascinating history of trying to find its place among the political machinations of the great and powerful.
Finally, there are few things more famous for fall foliage in Japan than the Kurobe Gorge trolley train. Despite its fame, though, it remains quite difficult to get to by yourself. Our bus will take you there in ease and comfort on our "Kurobe Gorge and Unazuki Onsen" tour while your guide will be sure to point out all the landmarks along the way.
Highlights:
- Kurobe Gorge - This V-shaped valley is one of the deepest and longest in Japan and is only accessible via this sightseeing trolley train. The trolley train offers some spectacular views of the valley, contrasting beautifully against the emerald-green water of the Kuronagi and Kurobe rivers.
- Unazuki Onsen - This town was once incredibly prosperous and famous for the purity of its onsen water. Walking through this town is like stepping back in time and there are even areas where you can try out the onsen water itself for free!
Recommended
1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Kurobe Gorge and Unazuki Onsen
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8 - It's Accessible from Other Major Cities
People often underestimate how big Japan actually is and putting together an itinerary can often mean cutting out worthwhile places that are just a little too far out the way. If you're sticking around central Japan on what is called the "Golden Route" of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, though, Kanazawa is easily accessible from both directions via the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
If you're considering the JR Rail Pass, there is also the cheaper alternative of the Hokuriku Arch Pass, which covers travel on the route shown below. The route from Tokyo to Kyoto only requires one transfer at Tsuruga Station, which can feel intimidating at first, but it's an easy transfer to do. If you're still nervous, though, we even have a guide on the transfer at Tsuruga Station!
Things to Do In Kanazawa
We know it can be overwhelming planning your Japan trip. If you're looking for some more ideas on what to do in Kanazawa, look no further than our guide on Things to Do Around Kanazawa. It has everything you need to make the most of your time in the city and recommendations for other stops along the Hokuriku Arch to make the most of your time in this wonderful region!
Of course, we have plenty to help you dive deep on some more niche aspects of Kanazawa as well! If you're interested in visiting onsen, we have a handy guide on tattoo-friendly onsen around Kanazawa to help get you started. If you're looking to collect shrine and temple stamps, we have recommendations on the Best Goshuin Near Kanazawa. If you're visiting in summer and fancy a trip to the beach, we've got you covered with our Best Beaches near Kanazawa guide.
If you or your travelling companion is vegetarian, vegan or gluten free, you may want to check out our page on Kanazawa for Vegetarians and Vegans for some food recommendations. Photographers will definitely want to check out our page on the Best Photo Spots in Kanazawa. If you're a fan of Pokémon, be sure to check out our page on the region's Pokémon Manhole Covers! Finally, if you're looking to pick up some souvenirs after your time here, check out our page on the Best Souvenirs to get from Kanazawa!