Located between the Sea of Japan and the Japanese Alps, Kanazawa is a place where Edo-period traditions remain intact (not recreated) and where over 99% of Japan’s gold leaf is still handcrafted. It's home to one of Japan’s most progressive contemporary art museums where you’ll find art works that are forward-thinking yet grounded.
Kanazawa is a place for travellers who want to taste the legacy of samurai in every sip of sake, to trace the curve of tradition in a handmade umbrella, to lose track of time watching the light shift across a centuries-old temple floor.
In this three-day itinerary, we’ll guide you through Kanazawa’s history and artistic spirit beyond the well paved tourist path. Get ready to experience cultural immersions in secret gardens, UNESCO World Heritage Sites that look like they’re straight out of fiction, and artisan workshops unique to the city.
Begin your journey at the major railway station in Kanazawa, Kanazawa Station. Here, you’ll find the iconic wooden Tsuzumimon Gate outside the east exit, connected to a large, glass dome called Motenashi Dome. The gate is modeled after traditional Japanese drums called “tsuzumi.”
Next, take a 13-minute stroll to Omicho Market, a spacious indoor market with over 180 stalls. It's a sensory feast where you can experience the local culinary culture of Kanazawa. Here, you’ll find fresh uni, plump snow crabs, seasonal fruits, and delicate wagashi (Japanese sweets). We can arrange a counter-side breakfast at Iki Iki Tei and enjoy some of the freshest sea urchin, oyster sashimi, and grilled fish.
Once home to the mighty Maeda clan, Kanazawa Castle is an essential part of Kanazawa's history. Look closely at the stone walls, you’ll see different sections bear different patterns, each one a signature of the samurai-era masons. Many features of the castle including the original castle tower were destroyed in two major fires over its long history, and many of them have been rebuilt. Two of its longest lasting features are the Ishikawa-mon Gate, which was rebuilt in 1788, and the Sanjikken Nagaya which was rebuilt in 1858.
Just behind the castle walls lies the historic Japanese garden, Gyokuseninmaru Garden. It’s named after the wife of the second lord of the Kaga domain, (present-day Ishikawa). Inside, there’s a teahouse overlooking the garden, it offers tea and traditional sweets.
Wrap up your afternoon at Oyama Shrine. Known for its Dutch-influenced gate and stained-glass windows, a rare design for a traditional Shinto architecture. The shrine was built in 1599 on Mount Utatsu by the successor of the first lord of the powerful, Maeda Toshiie, of the Maeda clan. It was later moved to its present-day location. The shrine’s gate was designed by a Dutch architect, using elements of European and Asian religious themes.
Start your day with a nice morning stroll at Kanazawa's crown jewel, Kenroku-en. Labeled as one of only 3 ‘perfect gardens’ in Japan, Kenroku-en garden is designed to be beautiful in every season. Its name means “Garden of Six Qualities,” referring to the ideal characteristics of a perfect landscape: spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, abundant water, and scenic views.
Located right next to Kenroku-en garden is a small Shinto shrine often overlooked by most tourists, Kanazawa shrine. The shrine was built in 1794 to protect Kenrokuen Garden and is dedicated to the ancestors of the Maeda family.
From Kanazawa Shrine, take a 6-minute walk to one of Japan’s most popular art museums, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. The museum was designed with no facade or main entrance so visitors can enter from any of its several entry points, this is to encourage visitors to approach the museum (and its art) from more than one direction. The museum features works of contemporary artists from Japan and all over the world. Explore world-class installations such as Leandro Erlich’s Swimming Pool (where you can walk “underwater”) and the kaleidoscopic “Blue Planet Sky” by James Turrell.
A museum dedicated to D.T. Suzuki or Daisetz Suzuki, one of Japan’s most famous Buddhist philosophers whose teachings greatly influenced the spreading of Buddhist philosophy to the west of Japan. The museum is located where D.T. Suzuki was born and comprises three wings: the Entrance Wing, the Exhibition Space Wing and the Contemplative Space Wing.
Next, take a 9-minute drive to Nagamachi Buke Yashiki District, a village featuring cobblestone streets and former samurai homes, it’s where middle to high-ranking samurais used to live during the Edo period. Its population grew to over 100,000 making it into one of the largest castle towns in feudal Japan. The atmosphere here feels like it’s frozen in time.
After a nice, reflective stroll along the streets of Nagamachi, let’s visit a samurai house. This samurai residence is the former estate of 11 generations of an upper-middle-rank samurai family, belonging to the Nomura family. The family served as high-ranking retainers of the powerful Maeda clan during the Edo period. Their residence is one of the few that survived during the Meiji Restoration. Inside, you’ll find interior decorations with original samurai armor, katana swords, and various household artifacts from the period.
Step into old-world Kanazawa where you’ll find wooden facades, latticed teahouses, and narrow stone alleys. Kanazawa has three, well preserved chaya (or teahouse) districts: Higashi Chayagai, Nishi Chayagai, and Kazuemachi. The Higashi Chaya District is the largest and houses two chayas: one (Shima Teahouse) was converted into a museum, the other (Kaikaro Teahouse) is still operating. The district also features a gold leaf store where you can shop gold leaf products as well as enjoy a private tea ceremony.
Next, take a 5-minute walk to a museum dedicated to one of Kanazawa’s signature crafts: gold leaf. Over 99% of Japan’s gold leaf comes from Kanazawa, and here, you’ll learn how artisans beat metal into sheets thinner than a human hair. You may also watch live demonstrations and admire gold-gilded lacquerware.
Before you get excited, Myoryuji is not actually a ninja temple. In fact, it has no connection to ninja at all. The temple is a military outpost disguised as a temple, it’s filled with trap doors, hidden rooms, secret passageways, and maze-like stairwells, hence, the nickname “Ninja Temple.” Because of this, Myoryuji Temple can only be visited through a guided tour which we can arrange for you.
Myoryuji was founded as a secret armed outpost in 1643 to outwit the shogunate rule ban on defensive military structures. It’s constructed along with other “temples” on the edge of the city to protect Kanazawa Castle from attack.
For a true ninja experience, take a 5-minute walk to the Ninja Weapon Museum. Here, you’ll see displays of real ninja weapons, a replica of a Katana, and more. There are approximately 160 artifacts including shuriken, sickle, and samurai armor. For an immersive ninja experience, visitors can also experience throwing ninja stars at a designated space.
Right next door is Kanazawa’s Dolls Museum where you can find a wide range of dolls native to Japan, ranging from childrens' toys like Isho and Ichimatsu dolls to ritual charms such as Hina and Gogatsu dolls. After the tour, visitors can also paint their own dolls and take them home as a souvenir.
Spring (March - May): Spring in Kanazawa means mild weather, sakura in full bloom, and fresh seafood season. The Kenroku-en Garden becomes a living canvas and Hanami picnics scatter the landscape.
Pack light layers, a shawl or scarf for cool evenings, and a compact umbrella for spring showers.
Autumn (October - November): Autumn brings a season of poetic beauty, this is where Kanazawa’s gardens, temples, and mountain edges burst in red, gold, and amber. This is the best time to visit for photographers, strallers, and lovers of serene aesthetics.
Pack warm layers, comfortable walking shoes, and a lightweight coat for chill evenings.
From well-preserved samurai and geisha districts to immersive art museums, Kanazawa offers a well-balanced blend of history and culture. The city moves at a slower pace without losing its sense of modernity. If you want to explore centuries-old gardens, sample fresh seafood, or walk quiet laneways lined with traditional wooden buildings, look no further than Kanazawa. It’s a kind of luxury that can’t be measured in stars, but in stillness, craft, and memory.
Start planning your Kanazawa getaway with Revigorate today! Contact us or give us a call at (+1 800 672 0517 | +351 289 009 580 | +44 808 189 0647).
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