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秋
Currently in season
AutumnOct–Nov
Now in Kanazawa · Kenrokuen autumn maple
Mid-November is peak foliage in Kenrokuen. The autumn light-up runs on seven November evenings (7, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29 Nov 2026), with free night entry. Snow crab season opens Nov 6.
春 夏 秋 冬
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Kanazawa guide

Things to do in Kanazawa金沢

Kanazawa is an Edo-period castle town that escaped both wartime bombing and post-war demolition: three intact geisha districts, the Nagamachi samurai quarter, Kenrokuen (one of Japan's Three Great Gardens) and 99% of Japan's gold leaf. Each card gives the price and time needed.

Showing 14 of 14

SightKanazawa · Top pickHigashi ChayaGeisha district: the Shima and Kaikaro teahouses, gold-leaf ice cream, geiko shows from ¥1,500Read the guide → 12 min SightKanazawa · Top pickKenrokuenOne of Japan's Three Great Gardens; ¥320, free before opening hours, light-ups and snow ropesRead the guide → ¥320 SightKanazawa · Top pickMuseums21st Century Museum and its pool, DT Suzuki Museum, National Crafts Museum; ¥1,000 two-day passRead the guide → ¥1,000 pass SightKanazawa · Top pickNagamachi samurai districtSamurai district: Nomura family house and garden (¥550), earthen walls and canals behind KorinboRead the guide → ¥550 · 1–2 h TownShirakawa-go, Gifu · Top pickShirakawa-go day tripGassho village by highway bus from Kanazawa: 1h 15m, ¥2,800 one way, 9 buses a dayRead the guide → ¥2,800 · 1 day ActivityKanazawa · Top pickExperiencesGold leaf from ¥1,760, tea ceremony ¥5,000, geiko shows from ¥1,500, kimono and Kutani paintingRead the guide → From ¥1,760 SightKanazawa21st Century MuseumFree Public Zone to 22:00, Swimming Pool slots booked from 9:00 on the day, exhibitions ¥1,200Read the guide → Free zone · 1.5 h SightKanazawaKanazawa Castle ParkFree castle grounds with Gyokusen-inmaru garden; turret interiors ¥320; light-ups 7–29 Nov 2026Read the guide → Free park · 1–2 h SightKanazawaMyōryū-ji Ninja TempleGuided tours only, ¥1,200, 40 min, booked by phone 076-241-0888; Japanese-language tourRead the guide → ¥1,200 · 1 h SightKanazawaŌmichō Market300-year-old fish market: kaisendon ¥1,200–¥3,000, counters from 7:00, many shops shut WednesdaysRead the guide → Free entry · 1–2 h TownHakusanShiramineSnow village and preservation district; Sōyu onsen ¥750, snowman festival in FebruaryRead the guide → ¥750 · 3 h TownYuwakuYuwaku OnsenKanazawa's hot-spring village: bus ¥630, public bath ¥490, Yumeji-kan ¥310, ryokan from ¥15,000Read the guide → Bath ¥490 · Half day ActivityKanazawaCraftsMake your own gold leaf, Kutani porcelain, Kaga-yuzen dyeing and mizuhiki; workshops from ¥1,760Read the guide → From ¥1,760 ActivityKanazawaPhoto spots13 photo spots with best light and rules: Higashi Chaya at dawn, Kenrokuen, the museum poolRead the guide → 1 day
Plan the rest

Eat, stay and get there

Food, hotels and access for Kanazawa.

Food guideWhere to eat in Kanazawa: Omicho Market kaisendon, sushi, jibuni, Kanazawa curry and gold…Read the guide → 11 min RestaurantsWhere to eat in Kanazawa: Michelin-starred kaiseki and sushi, Ōmichō counters, Katamachi…Read the guide → 16 min Hotels & ryokanWhere to stay in Kanazawa: the station, Korinbo, Higashi Chaya or Kenrokuen compared…Read the guide → 18 min Day tripsEleven day trips from Kanazawa Station with times, fares and tours: Shirakawa-go 1h 15m…Read the guide → 7 min ItineraryTimed Kanazawa itineraries for one, two and three days: Kenrokuen at opening, the 21st…Read the guide → 14 min Getting thereTokyo to Kanazawa by Hokuriku Shinkansen from 2h 24m (¥14,600 reserved), from Kyoto and…Read the guide → 11 min When to visitWhen to visit Kanazawa: cherry blossom in April, the Hyakumangoku Festival in June…Read the guide → 11 min
Where to stay

Where to stay in Kanazawa

Three bases for the sights above.

Three days

THE HOTEL SANRAKU KANAZAWA

ザ ホテル山楽 金沢 · Owari-chō

Kanazawa's newest luxury hotel, opened in December 2022, with a garden lobby. Walk to Omicho for breakfast and to Higashi Chaya for the dusk visit.

from ¥25,000 per roomOur notes →
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Korinbo

The Square Hotel Kanazawa

Centre of Korinbo · 5 min walk

A modern boutique hotel in the middle of the Korinbo dining district, with a breakfast the city knows about and the museum five minutes away.

from ¥13,000 per roomOur notes →
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