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Things to do in Kanazawa

Our most recommended things to do in Kanazawa

Kanazawa: Private Tour with Local Guide

1. Kanazawa: Private Tour with Local Guide

Discover the beautiful town of Kanazawa on a fully customizable tour. Choose what you would like to experience, what time you would like to start your tour, and where you are staying, and the local partner will arrange a tour to suit you. Start your day by meeting your guide at your hotel, then choose to sites you wish to visit depending on your interests. Example 6-hour Itinerary: Meet your guide at your hotel in Kanazawa and begin your adventure. Visit Kenroku-en, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, and stroll through the garden of a feudal lord which took years to complete. Afterward, head to Kanazawa Castle Park and visit Kanazawa Castle. Discover impressive buildings and gardens which been successfully and accurately reconstructed in recent years. Then, enjoy lunch at Omicho Market and be amazed by the selection of fresh fish and local vegetables at "Kanazawa's Kitchen". Then, proceed to the Chaya District for a leisurely walking tour. See the area of Higashi Chaya known for its architecture retaining the grace of the Edo Era with its many miso stores, rice shops, and teahouses serving wagashi confections. Visit stores that practice the traditional folkcraft of Kanazawa and the Kaga Yuzen art of dyed fabrics.

Kanazawa Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour

2. Kanazawa Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour

Explore the city with a friendly local who is passionate about his/her city and eager to share all the tips and tricks that will help you make the most of your trip. Meet where you're staying to get familiar with the neighbourhood, find out about the best places to eat and buy groceries, the easiest ways to get around, and the hidden gems you might have missed. By the end of the tour, you'll feel more comfortable in navigating the city and confident that you have all the information you need to make the most of your stay. Once the supplier has received your booking, they’ll get in touch with you to confirm all the details for the tour: meeting place and time, language and your contact information, and also ask you some questions to get to know you better. The right loca is hand-pickedl for you based on your interests. Each tour is completely customized so you can choose the meeting location, start time and length that you prefer (minimum: 2 hours).  During the walking tour you will have the option of taking public transportation or taxi to get around the city (at your expense). The local guides that we work with (Lokafyers) are locals who are passionate about their city and love to meet travellers and share what they love about their city.  They are not professional tour guides and do these tours occasionally, which provides an authentic and personal experience that is like having a friend show you around their home city.  Through conversations with your Lokafyer, you’ll learn what it’s like to live in Kanazawa, learn about cultural differences, local events and politics and also get to know each other on a personal level. With this experience, you won’t be just passing through the city, you’ll be part of it.

Shirakawa-go, Gokayama & Takayama Private Tour From Kanazawa

3. Shirakawa-go, Gokayama & Takayama Private Tour From Kanazawa

This exclusive package is tailored for distinguished guests who prefer the convenience of door to door service. Your driver/guide will collect you from your hotel lobby at an agreeable time.  Shirakawa-go (Shirakawa Village) registered as a World Cultural Heritage site. Shirakawa-go is part of the Hida region and is famous for the gassho-zukuri village found there. The houses were built using a traditional style of the minka (non-samurai houses), and have a thatched, peaked roof that looks like two hands in prayer (gassho). The upper floors of some of the houses were used for silk farming (sericulture), as they had a large space available to store silkworms and mulberry leaves. Shirakawa is a must-see area if one would like to grasp the rich contrast of life in this region. Gokayama, the World Heritage Site is nestled in the tranquil and rustic landscape. Gokayama is in the city of Nanto, also a drive from Kanazawa. It was an extremely secluded village, so modern times bypassed the area. While cities and towns in other parts of Japan were built new, with modern buildings, many of the wooden and thatch houses in the gassho hamlet of Gokayama are over 300 years old, and some are 400 years old. The Japanese prince, Fumihito (Prince Akishino) has said: "One of the three places I like most in the world is Gokayama".  Takayama, Located in the heart of mountainous Central Honshu, Takayama is the gateway to the Japan Alps and the storehouse of Japan's inland culture. Takayama became what it is today in the 1500s, and developed its own unique culture due to its seclusion and high altitude. It is famous for its traditional carpentry expertise, and its carpenters have worked on the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and other nationally important shrines, temples and palaces. It is known locally as Hida-Takayama, and visitors there can enjoy great food, tradition views, and a feeling of "traditional town-life in Japan". Don't forget to try the Hida Beef while you are there.

Kanazawa to Shirakawago: Half-Day Tour

4. Kanazawa to Shirakawago: Half-Day Tour

Explore the world heritage hamlet of Shirakawa-go on a 4-hour package tour with access to a private vehicle exclusively for you and your fellow travelers. Your English-speaking driver will take you to the World UNESCO site of Shirakawa-go. You will be collected from your hotel lobby, before being whisked off to the UNESCO village of Shirakawago. Your morning or afternoon driving tour will be designed for those looking for convenient access to this beautiful but remote mountain village You will have between 1.5 and 2 hours to spend exploring the village. At the conclusion of your tour, your driver will take you back to Kanazawa City in the comfort of your private car.

Kanazawa: Private Food Tasting Walking Tour

5. Kanazawa: Private Food Tasting Walking Tour

Taste your way through the city center of Kanazawa as a private guide leads you through its streets on foot to sample local delicacies. Head to Kanazawa Station’s iconic Tsuzumi Gate after meeting your guide, and peer into the area’s bustling shops and cafes. Make your way down the main road to Omicho Market, the “Kitchen of Kanazawa," and join locals jostling their way through the 180 stands. Sample some of the best street food in the city, such as fried squid skewers. Take a break from feasting to explore Katamachi, a vibrant downtown shopping district that has plenty of neon-lit pubs, clubs, bars, and live music venues. Savor Kanazawa-style pork curry or Hanton rice at a no-frills restaurant. Squeeze in some sightseeing at Kanazawa Castle before indulging in a decadent specialty: glittering gold leaf ice-cream. Stop off at a dimly-lit izakaya (casual Japanese pub) to taste some of Japan’s freshest sashimi with a cold beer. Conclude the tour with a peaceful stroll to Oyama Shrine, known for its Dutch-style stained glass. Take a few extra minutes if desired to explore the famous Nishi Chaya geisha district.

From Kanazawa: Shiakawago, Hida-Furukawa and Takayama Visit

6. From Kanazawa: Shiakawago, Hida-Furukawa and Takayama Visit

Be picked up by your English-speaking guide at your accommodation in Kanazawa and head to the UNESCO village of Shirakawago. Spend 2.5-hours in Shirakawago exploring the village. Walk across the Sho River on the pedestrian bridge and take in the sights of this fairytale village. Head to the canal-lined streets of Hida-Furukawa. Spend 1-hour in Hida-Furukawa exploring the town and enjoying lunch. Hida-Furukawa is famous for its timber craftsmanship and festivals. Your last stop is Takayama. Spend 2-hours in this preserved town famous for carpentry and sake brewing. Takayama village is a preserved village, with buildings dating back to the Edo period. From Takayama, your driver will take you back to your accommodation in Kanazawa.

Japan: 7, 14 or 21-Day Japan Rail Pass

7. Japan: 7, 14 or 21-Day Japan Rail Pass

Take the hassle out of your vacation transportation with the Japan Rail Pass. Explore the whole country with just one ticket and ride the famous Shinkansen bullet train. Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto, Osaka to Hiroshima, and Hokkaido to Kyushu – Japan's your oyster with a 7, 14, or 21-day pass. Get your voucher mailed to your home or office address, then exchange this for your actual Japan Rail Pass at a major train station or international airport in Japan and start traveling. Use the free guide booklet to make the best of your Japan trip, thanks to insider tips and train details. Travel as much as you like for 7, 14, or 21 consecutive days. The pass includes: • All Japan Rail Group shinkansen bullet trains, except the Nozomi and Mizuho departures • All Japan Rail Group limited express, express, rapid, local, trains, and Bus Rapid Transit in Tohoku • Tokyo Monorail between Haneda airport and Hamamatsucho station (no service to Narita) • Aomori Railway services between Aomori and Hachinohe (some exceptions) • Ishikawa Railway services between Kanazawa and Tsubata (local, limited departures only) • Ainokaze Toyama Railway services between Toyama and Takaoka (local departures only) • All Japan Rail Bus local lines (some exceptions, no express services), including services from JR Hokkaido Bus, JR Bus Tohoku, JR Bus Kanto, JR Tokai Bus, West Japan JR Bus, Chugoku JR Bus, JR Shikoku Bus, and JR Kyushu Bus • JR-West ferry service between Miyajima and Miyajimaguchi (JR station near the pier with ferry services for Miyajima)

Osaka+Kyoto, Japan: Mobile WiFi-Kansai International Airport

8. Osaka+Kyoto, Japan: Mobile WiFi-Kansai International Airport

Access the internet anytime, anywhere with 4G LTE mobile WiFi provided by NINJA WiFi. No longer will you have to worry about finding your way without access to maps or missing important updates from friends and family. We have everything covered with our secure, easy to use WiFi routers. You can connect up to 5 devices at once to each router. Whether you are coming to Japan for business and you need to connect multiple phones, computers and/or tablets, to the internet, or are travelling for pleasure with a group of friends or family who all want internet access, we have you covered. Pick up your mobile WiFi router at Kansai International Airport to start using WiFi immediately. We also offer many ways to return your device, whether it be by dropping it off at any of our counters in major Japanese airports, at our counter in Shinjuku, Tokyo, or shipping it to us from anywhere in Japan. *If you wish to have a different return location, please contact info@ninjawifi.com as soon as possible. Mobile WiFi is a 21st century necessity that makes travelling much more fun and easy. We offer flexible plans from 5 days to 30 days, so you can choose what suits you best.

Tokyo: Mobile WiFi Rental from Haneda Airport

9. Tokyo: Mobile WiFi Rental from Haneda Airport

Access the internet anytime, anywhere with 4G LTE mobile WiFi and easy-to-use WiFi routers. Make sure you can find your way around town with access to maps and stay connected with friends and family while you travel. Enjoy flexible plans from 5 days to 30 days to choose what suits you best. Connect up to 5 devices at once to each router. Whether you are coming to Japan for business and you need to connect multiple phones, computers, and/or tablets to the internet or are travelling for pleasure, your mobile WiFi will have you covered. Pickup your mobile WiFi router at in Terminal 3 at the Haneda Airport to start using WiFi immediately. Return your device by dropping it off at a courier partner in major Japanese airports, at a counter in Shinjuku, Tokyo, or ship it from anywhere in Japan.

Japan: Mobile WiFi Router 4G LTE with Delivery

10. Japan: Mobile WiFi Router 4G LTE with Delivery

Access the internet anytime, anywhere, with 4G LTE mobile WiFi. Forget your worries about finding your way without access to maps or missing important updates from friends and family with a secure, easy-to-use Wifi router. For your convenience, connect up to 5 devices at once to each router, and choose from flexible plans from 5 to 30 days to fit your needs best, whether you're traveling to Japan for business or for pleasure with a group of friends or family who all want internet access. Enjoy a hassle-free experience by having your router delivered to any address in Japan instead of searching for a pick-up counter. Return is also easy: either use the included shipping slip to return the router from most convenience stores and hotels across the country or simply drop it off at one of the provider's airport counters to continue using the internet until the last minute.

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Other Sightseeing Options in Kanazawa

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What people are saying about Kanazawa

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 206 reviews

Masayo is more than I’ve could have asked for. She was super supportive with all my wishes and she adapted all places which I wanted to visit. She almost knows everyone in Kanazawa, which is great as the locals recognize her and obe time we could enter a Geisha house eventhough it was closing in 5min… She also took a lit of pictures of me with my phone so i could upload them on my instagram. She loved it to support. She has a great knowledge of all the places we’ve visited. I highly recommend a Kanazawa tour with her! Much love, Sandra

Highly recommended. We landed at Kansai airport and pick up location is right at the entrance with large English signage. Picked up pocket wifi and it was ready to use. The battery lasted almost 12 hours and comes with a charger cable in case. The coverage and speed are excellent. Quite cheap compared to other providers and sim. I was given two days extension free of charge out of courtesy. Very polite helpful personnel at the store

Our tour guide Tomoko was wonderful. So knowledgeable of the area and took her time to walk at our pace and answer all of our questions. She was able to engage our teenage daughters and really bring the history of Kanazawa to life for them - pointing out so many aspects and details we would have missed. She kindly brought us to some shops and the best place for lunch. We highly recommend the tour & Tomoko!

Shirai-san is a local guide that speaks English well and was very knowledgeable about her home city. We learned a lot about how the Kenrokuen gardens were created, and could easily imagine how things were like in the Samurai era. Highly recommended.

Easy to pick up at HND. Compact router easy to use and carry. Contactless drop off — highly recommended!