Things to do in Kanazawa金沢の体験

Sakuda (金箔屋さくだ, since 1919) runs the standard workshop: 60 minutes, slots at 9:00, 10:30, 13:00 and 15:00, 30 people each. Chopsticks ¥1,760, a round plate ¥2,310, small boxes ¥2,530–¥2,750, a hand mirror ¥2,750. You cut a masking-tape pattern, brush on adhesive, lay the leaf and take it home. Prices rise from January 2027.

Hakuichi does it at Kanazawa Bikazari Asano in Higashi Chaya: a small plate, box or hand mirror for ¥2,000, from 20 minutes, by reservation only through the main store on 076-240-8911. Its main store, Hakukokan near the Kanazawa Nishi interchange, starts at ¥1,800 and takes walk-ins if there is space; it is about 20 minutes from the station.

How to book: direct with Sakuda or Hakuichi, or have your hotel phone. For a ready-made morning, the Klook walk combines a gold leaf plate, Higashi Chaya and Japanese sweets. Gold leaf walk on Klook ↗

Paint a plate or cup in the vivid Kutani overglaze colours, then have it fired. Kutani Kosen Kiln charges ¥1,650–¥5,500 (shipping not included) for about an hour including a studio tour. It is open 9:30–17:00 with reception until about 15:30. Seats are limited, reservations are required and cancelling on the day costs 100%.

Nomura Uendo near Kenrokuen also runs painting sessions, and fires and posts the piece afterwards; ask the kiln for the current price.

How to book: phone 076-241-0902 or email the kiln. No Klook listing.

The Kaga-Yūzen Kimono Centre (加賀友禅会館) in Kōshō-machi, near Kenrokuen, runs the dyeing workshops: ¥1,650 for a stencil-dyed handkerchief (about 20 minutes) or ¥2,750 hand-painted (about 40 minutes); closed on Wednesdays. More in our crafts guide.

Nagamachi Yūzen-kan in the samurai district, the other name you will see, has been listed as closed since 2024, with no reopening date; call 076-264-2811 before going.

How to book: direct with the centre. No Klook listing.

Shape fresh seasonal sweets and eat them with tea. Koshiyama Kanseido charges ¥1,800 (¥1,700 for children). Reservations are required and the shop is closed on Wednesdays. It is a short walk from Ōmichō Market.

The Ishikawa Prefectural Tourism and Products Centre near Kenrokuen has also run short classes on weekends and holidays; check its site for dates.

How to book: direct by phone or the shop website.

Gyokusen-en (Nishida Family Garden) offers a tea ceremony programme for ¥5,000, with English-speaking staff and a chance to whisk your own matcha. Book at least 3 days ahead on 076-221-0181. Matcha and a sweet with garden entry is ¥1,700. Open 9:00–17:00, closed Wednesdays and from 25 December to the end of February.

Shigure-tei inside Kenrokuen is the cheaper sit-down: matcha and a sweet from about ¥1,000, 9:00–16:30, closed 29 December to 3 January. Kenrokuen entry is separate.

The Klook listing is a 45-minute ceremony: a short history, a live demonstration by a licensed tea master, then you make your own matcha with a seasonal sweet from a historic shop. Kenrokuen tea ceremony on Klook ↗

Kimono or yukata with hair styling suits Higashi Chaya at its most photogenic. Our crafts guide puts rentals at ¥5,000 and up for 4 to 8 hours. Two shops on Klook: Wargo in Korinbo and VASARA. A photo-studio package takes the choosing out of it.

Wargo kimono on Klook ↗ VASARA kimono ↗ Photo package ↗ Higashi Chaya guide · Photo spots.

Working teahouses turn away first-time guests, so a ticketed show is how most visitors see geiko. The ladder, from our Higashi Chaya guide: Geigi no Mai ¥1,500 (14:00–15:00 on 30 dates to 29 March 2027); the city Geiko Experience ¥5,000 (Saturdays to 20 March 2027, 13:00); MEET the GEIKO ¥10,000–¥12,000 (16:30–17:20); Geisha Evenings at Kaikaro from ¥14,000 (set dates to 30 November 2026). The last two are reserved-seat and non-refundable.

Klook lists a geiko show and dinner on set evenings. Geiko show and dinner on Klook ↗

Guided tastings in Ōmichō run 1.5 to 2 hours; group tours are priced per person on each operator listing. Klook has a 3.5-hour night foodie tour through three small restaurants and bars around Katamachi, led by a local guide. Night foodie tour on Klook ↗ Food and Ōmichō guide.

Nakata Cooking School, on the second floor in Konohanamachi, teaches nigiri sushi, jibuni (the Kanazawa duck stew), dashimaki tamago and miso soup in 2h 30m. Instruction is in English and Japanese with a translator screen; the listing says ages 12 and over, free cancellation 72 hours ahead, and a price of about US$124 when checked. Sushi and Japanese cooking class ↗

The oldest brewery in Kanazawa runs tours and tastings. Brewery tours need a reservation (the Ishikawa tourism listing gives ¥3,300; confirm the current price when you book). The shop has a tasting bar with free tastes to help you choose a bottle; new sake arrives from November. See also our Kanazawa food guide.

Myōryū-ji has trapdoors, hidden stairs and a well in the floor. Entry is ¥1,200 (¥800 for schoolchildren, no preschoolers) and only by guided tour: about 40 minutes, every 30 minutes from 9:00 to 16:30 (16:00 in winter). Tours are in Japanese with English information, and you reserve by phone on 076-241-0888, up to three months ahead. It sits near Nishi Chaya.