Kenrokuen-shita / Kanazawa Castle兼六園下・金沢城
Kanazawa guide
A castle town of the Maeda lords. Kenrokuen Garden, the castle, teahouse districts and samurai lanes are all a short bus ride or walk apart, with a seafood market and modern art too.
Things to see 9 classics
"Classics" and "Hidden gems" are this site's editorial picks, not a measured popularity ranking.
By interest
By how you get there
By distance
- 1
Kenrokuen Garden
One of Japan's three great gardens, known for the stone lantern by its pond and the rope supports that protect the pines in winter.
Introduced by JNTO
Named as a stop in Kanazawa on a route away from the usual Tokyo-Kyoto path. Source: JNTO, Off the Beaten Track in Japan
Many overseas visitors
532,879 foreign visitors in 2024, a record high Source: Kanazawa City, Kanazawa Tourism Survey Report 2024
- Nature
- History & buildings
about 1.5 hrPaid entryPartly step-free
Bus · About 20 min from Kanazawa ・ Bus to Kenrokuen-shita, then about 5 minutes on foot ・ 400m from here
- 2
Higashi Chaya District
A stone-paved street of old teahouses with wooden lattices, now with gold-leaf shops and cafes. Quiet early and late in the day.
- History & buildings
- Shopping & strolling
- Food & markets
about 60 minFree
Bus · About 20 min from Kanazawa ・ Bus to Hashibacho, then about 5 minutes on foot ・ 800m from here
- 3
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
A round, glass-walled museum of contemporary art. The piece that lets you stand under a swimming pool is the favorite. Busy on holidays.
- Museums
- With kids
about 1.5 hrPartly paidFine on a rainy dayWheelchair & stroller friendly
Bus · About 20 min from Kanazawa ・ Bus to Hirosaka / 21st Century Museum ・ 800m from here
- 5
Kanazawa Castle Park
Site of the Maeda lords' castle. See Ishikawa Gate and the long turrets rebuilt in wood. A bridge links it to Kenrokuen.
- History & buildings
- Nature
about 60 minFreePartly step-free
Bus · About 20 min from Kanazawa ・ Bus to Kenrokuen-shita, then about 5 minutes on foot ・ 500m from here
- 6
Nagamachi Samurai District
Narrow lanes lined with earthen walls where samurai families lived. In winter the walls are covered with straw mats.
- History & buildings
about 60 minFree
Bus · About 20 min from Kanazawa ・ Bus to Korinbo, then about 5 minutes on foot ・ 1.3km from here
“Classics” and “Hidden gems” are our editors' picks, not a measured popularity ranking. Travel times are estimates. Please check prices, opening hours and operating days with the official sources before you go.
Photo and data credits
Kenrokuen garden with rope-supported pines reflected in the pond 663highland (CC BY 2.5) / Kotoji stone lantern and autumn leaves by the pond in Kenrokuen 663highland (CC BY 2.5) / Wooden teahouses lining the street of the Higashi Chaya District Andrea Schaffer from Sydney, Australia (CC BY 2.0) / The circular 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art seen from above 金沢市 (CC BY 2.1 jp) / A greengrocer's stall piled with Kaga vegetables at Omicho Market NevinThompson (CC BY-SA 4.0) / The long Gojikken Nagaya storehouse and turrets of Kanazawa Castle Balon Greyjoy (CC0) / A stone-paved lane between earthen walls in the Nagamachi samurai district Andrea Schaffer from Sydney, Australia (CC BY 2.0). Cropped and resized.
Facilities & features
- Elevators available (the route may be longer)
Lines from here
Within walking distance of here
See nearby on a mapWalking times are estimates from the straight-line distance.
- Go hereKenrokuen GardenAbout 7 min on foot
One of Japan's three great gardens, known for the stone lantern by its pond and the rope supports that protect the pines in winter.
- Go hereKanazawa Castle ParkAbout 8 min on foot
Site of the Maeda lords' castle. See Ishikawa Gate and the long turrets rebuilt in wood. A bridge links it to Kenrokuen.
Sights are this site's picks, not a popularity ranking.
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