Top things to do in Kanazawa: Japan’s secret alternative to Kyoto

This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. You can read my full privacy policy here.

Whether it’s your first trip to Japan and you’re hoping to experience traditional culture without the crowds or your tenth visit and you’re ready to explore somewhere new, Kanazawa is a fantastic place to add to your Japan itinerary. Often nicknamed “Little Kyoto,” the city is known for its beautifully preserved Edo-period districts, including historic geisha and samurai neighborhoods, as well as Kenrokuen, one of the most celebrated gardens in Japan. While it shares Kyoto’s traditional atmosphere, Kanazawa has fewer crowds and a slower pace. This guide to the best things to do in Kanazawa will help you make the most of your time, from wandering historic streets to discovering unique cultural sights.

Things to Do in Kanazawa: FAQs

Why should I visit Kanazawa?

Kanazawa immerses you into traditional Japan without the overwhelming crowds you’ll find in places like Kyoto. The city escaped much of the destruction of World War II, which means its historic districts remain beautifully intact, including wooden teahouses and samurai residences. Plus, it has one of Japan’s most famous gardens, a thriving arts scene, and incredible seafood from the nearby Sea of Japan. It’s off-the-beaten-path but not unknown, so the infrastructure is easy to navigate while discovering a more authentic side of Japan.

How to book the best hotels in Kanazawa?

The best booking platform for finding and reserving great hotels in Japan is Agoda. It’s owned by the same company as Booking.com but is based in Asia, making it great for finding any hotels you need. If you’re a backpacker staying in hostels, then Hostelworld is consistently the best hostel booking platform worldwide, and Kanazawa is no exception. Book your Kanazawa accommodation on Agoda today:

Don’t want to search for the best option, or just don’t have time? That’s what I’m here for! As a professional travel advisor, I’ve vetted or personally stayed at the suggested properties below.

Where to stay in Kanazawa?

There isn’t one single answer to where to stay in Kanazawa because it’s a compact and well-connected city. The best places to stay include Kanazawa Station, Korinbo (downtown, where the Samurai District is), or the Kenroku & Higashi Geisha Area, near Kanazawa’s main sights. If you’re based in any of these areas, you’ll be able to explore the rest of Kanazawa easily on foot or by bus.

$$$: The Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa

$$: Soki Kanazawa

$: Hotel Intergate Kanazawa

How to book the best activities and excursions in Kanazawa?

The best activity and excursion booking platforms for Japan are Viator and GetYourGuide. Both websites have thousands of trustworthy travel experiences with verified user reviews. I use Viator and GetYourGuide to book almost all my excursions in Asia, and you’ll find links throughout the article to great experiences I’ve personally vetted or experienced myself.

How to get around Kanazawa?

Kanazawa is highly walkable, especially if you’re up for a moderate level of activity. It’s a compact city, with most of the top things to do in Kanazawa within a 30-45 minute walk of Kanazawa Station. They also have local buses that are easy to catch; just keep in mind they do not take the IC cards (Suica, Pasmo) that are accepted in many other places in Japan. Kanazawa has its own IC card, so you’ll either want to purchase that or pay for buses in cash.

I exclusively walked around Kanazawa and found it a great way to explore the charm of the city beyond just the main sights. However, I got around 15,000 steps per day, so take advantage of the buses if that’s too much! I also highly recommend this e-bike tour if you need a break from walking (more on it below).

When to visit Kanazawa?

The best time to visit Kanazawa is in the spring (March-May) or the fall (September-November). This is when temperatures are the mildest and the weather is often clear. You can spot cherry blossoms in Kanazawa around early April and fall foliage around mid-November.

Winter is also a wonderful time to visit Kanazawa, as long as you pack layers! You can see its iconic “yukitsuri,” a technique for protecting foliage from heavy snowfall by using bamboo poles and ropes. The yukitsuri makes Kanazawa’s winter landscapes especially charming and unique.

How long should I spend in Kanazawa?

You’ll need at least a day and a half to see most of the best things to do in Kanazawa, and that’s at a fast pace. I recommend no less than 2 nights, although 3 nights is more ideal for immersion at a slower pace.

Is Kanazawa good for solo travelers?

Japan is a great place for solo travelers in general, and Kanazawa is no exception. I was a solo female traveler when I explored Kanazawa and had a smooth and comfortable time. It isn’t the most social place, if that’s the kind of solo travel experience you’re looking for, but that’s standard across Japan. People tend to keep to themselves, so meeting fellow travelers can be more difficult than in other parts of Asia. However, the overall experience of solo traveling in Kanazawa is a great one – easy logistics, lots to see, and generally safe, although you should always take standard safety precautions everywhere you go.

The Best Things to Do in Kanazawa

Kenrokuen Garden

Considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, Kenkrokuen was designed to be beautiful in every season. There are cherry blossoms in the spring, azaleas in the summer, and red Japanese maples in the fall. Winter is an especially magical time to visit, when you can see the “yukitsuri,” a technique for protecting foliage from heavy snowfall by using bamboo poles and ropes.

As you stroll around the grounds, you’ll see ponds, waterfalls, stone paths, stone lanterns, tea houses, bridges, streams, and more. It’s one of the best examples of a strolling-style Japanese landscape garden, and you can spend hours soaking up its serenity.

If you’re lucky enough to visit on one of the six days a year when the garden is lit up at night, you’re in for a treat. Check the Light Up Kenrokuen Garden schedule here.

Kanazawa Castle Park

Kanazawa Castle was the seat of the powerful Maeda Clan from 1583 to the end of the Edo Period (1868). While it has been burnt down several times during its existence, there are two surviving structures: Ishikawamon Gate and Sanjikken Nagaya Warehouse. The rest of the castle has been reconstructed faithfully to the original architecture.

Every Saturday, Kanazawa Castle Park is lit up from sunset to 9 pm, perfect for a night stroll.

Gyokuseninmaru Garden

A traditional-style garden on the grounds of Kanazawa Castle, Gyokuseninmaru Garden served as a courtyard for feudal lords. This differs from Kenrokuen, which was used for entertaining guests. It’s a small but unique garden; the first of its kind to use creatively patterned stone walls. It’s designed with a pond in the center and surrounding walking paths.

If you make a reservation here, you can take part in a matcha tea ceremony experience at the garden.

Like Kanazawa Castle Park, Gyokuseninmaru Garden is lit up every Saturday from sunset to 9 pm.

Oyama Shrine

Oyama Shrine is located next to Gyokuseninmaru Garden and Kanazawa Castle Park. It’s dedicated to Maeda Toshiie, the first lord of the influential Maeda Clan, which ruled from Kanazawa Castle. Its gate is its most outstanding feature, which was designed by a Dutch architect using elements of both European and Asian religious themes.

Higashi Chaya District

This district is the largest of the three “chaya” (teahouse) districts in Kanazawa, where geisha (or “geiko” by their local name) would entertain their guests through dancing or playing traditional instruments. The machiya wooden houses are one of the most photographed spots in Kanazawa, and many now operate as restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops.

Shima Teahouse and Kaikaro Teahouse are both preserved and open to the public for a small entrance fee (500-750 yen). If you want to souvenir shop, check out Hakuza Gold Leaf Store, where they sell gold leaf products, a Kanazawa specialty.

Omicho Market

Since the Edo Period, Omicho Market has been Kanazawa’s largest market for fresh produce and seafood, earning it the nickname “Kanazawa’s Kitchen”. It’s a lively, bustling market with lots of opportunities for an incredible lunch.

But what’s even better than exploring it on your own is going on a guided tour with a local, so they can share the best spots. There are 170 shops, so how can you know which are worth it? Which leads me to…

Take a food tour

There’s no better way to get an authentic culinary experience than by going on a guided food tour with a local. This highly reviewed food tour visits Omicho Market, Kazuemachi Chayagai, and Higashi Chaya District, giving you an introduction not only to the area’s food and culture but also checking off some of the best things to do in Kanazawa at the same time.

Take a sushi cooking class

Kanazawa is home to a 56-year-old culinary school offering one of the very best cooking classes in Japan. They buy their sashimi (thin pieces of raw fish) from the same fishmonger in Omicho Market as the Michelin-listed sushi restaurants, so you know the sushi you make will be the real deal. As well as learning sushi shaping, you’ll learn how to make dashi (a type of stock), fluffy rolled omelets, and Jibuni, a Kanazawa specialty with samurai-era roots. Book your spot here!

Nagamachi Samurai District & Nomura Samurai Residence

This neighborhood was once home to high-ranking samurai and is incredibly well-preserved to this day. Make sure to stop by the Nomura-ke Samurai Residence, where you can see the inside of a restored residence with displays of the lifestyle and artifacts from the samurai era. There’s also a nice inner garden. While you stroll around, you’ll also see small museums, shops, and restaurants.

Myouryuji (Ninja Temple)

After three visits to Japan and countless temples, I have to say that Myouryuji is the coolest temple I’ve ever seen. Although it has nothing to do with ninjas, it earned its nickname due to its many pitfalls, hidden stairs, and other tricks to deter enemy invasions. From the outside, it looks like a typical temple, but the inside will blow your mind.

To go inside, you must sign up for a tour in advance. Most people make their tour reservations the day of, which is what I did as well, with no problems. There’s a doorbell you press to talk to the reservations team and join the next available tour. The tour is only available in Japanese, but they provide a detailed English guidebook so you can still follow along.

Too many people miss this thing to do in Kanazawa, but it was truly fascinating. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that the outside of the temple is decorated in all sorts of dog-related ways. You can buy a shiba inu-shaped “ema”, or small wooden plaques to write wishes for your dogs. So you bet my dogs have an ema at Myourouji!

Take an e-bike tour

There are so many great things to do in Kanazawa, but one thing’s for sure: you’ll return to your hotel with no less than 10,000 steps at the end of the day (mine were closer to 20,000). For maximum efficiency, consider joining an e-bike tour like this one that’s guided by a local expert. Not only will you get to know Kanazawa’s history and culture more deeply, but you’ll cover more ground and give yourself a break from walking for a day.

Visit Shirakawa-go

If you’ve checked off this list of the best things to do in Kanazawa and you’re ready to venture outside of the city, Shirakawa-go is a popular day trip, only 1 hour and 15 minutes by bus from Kanazawa. This small village in the mountains is home to its iconic “gassho-zukuri,” steeply-angled thatched-roof houses that protect the residents from long winters with lots of snow. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its preservation of the traditional architecture and culture of central Japan’s mountain villages.

You can take a bus from Kanazawa Station, which can be booked online in advance here. For ultimate ease and an interesting cultural background from a local guide, join this morning guided tour from Kanazawa.

Although Kanazawa may not be considered one of the “must-see” destinations in Japan yet, you won’t regret including it in your Japan itinerary. With the deep history of Kyoto but fewer crowds, it’s an authentic and unique addition to your trip. I hope this list of the best things to do in Kanazawa helps you fall in love with its charm, just like I did.

Keep reading:

• Tokyo Itinerary: 3-5 days for first-time visitors
• 2 week Japan itinerary and travel guide
• Solo travel in Japan: Safety, tips, & what to expect
• The survival guide to being vegetarian (& vegan) in Japan
• Best places to solo travel in Asia as a woman
• 2 week South Korea itinerary & travel guide from a local
• 20 best things to do in Seoul, South Korea
• Hong Kong itinerary: 4 perfect days for first-timers
• 7 day Taiwan itinerary & travel guide
• QUIZ: Which Asian country should I visit?