Kanazawa金沢
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 ・ 2.2km
- 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 ・ 1.7km
- 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 ・ 2.1km
- 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 ・ 1.8km
- 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 ・ 1.6km
“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.
Connections from here
Everything you can branch out to from here, on one map. Tap any item to open it.
Kanazawa
Area guide
Within walking distance
Facilities & features
- Coin lockers and baggage storage
- Easy step-free access
- Transfers take a little longer
- Typical transfer time: about 6 min
Lines from here
- Airport limousine bus Komatsu Airport – Kanazawa Sta.
- Kanazawa Loop Bus (Kanazawa Sta. – Higashi Chaya – Kenrokuen – 21st Century Museum – Korinbo – Omicho Market)
- Highway bus Shinjuku – Kanazawa (day / overnight)
- Highway bus Takayama – Shirakawa-go – Kanazawa
- Hokuriku Shinkansen Kagayaki
- Hokuriku Shinkansen Hakutaka
- Hokuriku Shinkansen Tsurugi
Within walking distance of this station
See nearby on a mapPlaces you can drop by on foot after leaving the station. Times are estimates.
- Go hereTsuzumi-mon Gate & Motenashi DomeAbout 2 min on foot
A wooden gate shaped like a Noh drum under a vast glass roof. After sunset it lights up in changing colors on the hour.
- Go hereYasue Hachimangu ShrineAbout 6 min on foot from Kanazawa Station
The shrine where the Kaga Hachiman okiagari, a local roly-poly doll, was born. The Maeda lords of Kaga held it in high regard.
- Go hereShoenji TempleAbout 8 min on foot from Kanazawa Station
A temple just past Betsuin-dori. During the spring and autumn equinox weeks it shows its treasured paintings of hell and paradise.
Sights are this site's picks, not a popularity ranking.
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