In early 2024, we will arrange the first two-city cherry blossom viewing trip between Nagoya and Kanazawa. From Nagoya, which has a strong atmosphere of science and industry, to Kanazawa, where humanities and art are both present, we immediately fell in love with this city. Compared with the crowds in Kyoto There are a lot of tourists in Kanazawa and shady Kyoto people. A high proportion of Kanazawa tourists are Europeans and Americans, and the locals in Kanazawa are even more kind and polite. Compared to Kyoto, which has a lot of tourist fees, Kanazawa is full of tourist attractions. The human touch makes people remember it endlessly and want to come back more often.
📂Kanazawa free travel introduction and recommended itinerary
Recommended 1-day pop-up itinerary in Kanazawa
- 1-day pop-up itinerary: Kanazawa Station (Breakfast)➡️Kenrokuen Garden➡️Kanazawa Castle Park➡️Omi Town Market (Lunch)➡️Sukei-machi Tea House Street➡️Higashi Tea House Street/Sukei-cho Tea House Street (afternoon tea)➡️JR Kanazawa Stop ➡️Kanazawa Hyakuban Street (souvenir) ➡️Return
Kanazawa’s scenic spots are quite concentrated, so you can easily arrange a side trip. If you want to visit the classic attractions in one day, it is recommended to start from Kenrokuen Garden in the morning, continue to Kanazawa Castle Park, and then swim to Omi Town Market to enjoy seafood delicacies. After lunch, we went to Higashi Chaya Street and Sukecho Chaya Street for shopping. We chose a teahouse to enjoy afternoon tea, then returned to Kanazawa Station for a stroll and bought some souvenirs.
The 1-day pop-up itinerary in Kanazawa requires leaving early and returning late, and you have to handle transportation to and from Kanazawa Station and Kanazawa city by yourself. If you find it troublesome, it is recommended to directly purchase a package itinerary from KKday or Klook, or directly refer to the recommended packages on the website Itinerary, as a reference for planning your own itinerary.
Recommended one-day pop-up package itinerary in Kanazawa:KKday recommended itinerary|Klook recommended itinerary
Recommended 5-day slow living itinerary in Kanazawa
- Day 1: Departure ➡️JR Kanazawa Station ➡️Omicho Market (Lunch) ➡️Kanazawa M'ZA Shopping Center/Kuromon Koji ➡️Hakomachi Shopping Center (Afternoon Tea) ➡️Japanese Yakiniku Restaurant (Dinner)
- Day 2・History and Art Tour: Kanazawa Shrine ➡️Kenrokuen Garden ➡️Kenrokuen Restaurant (Lunch) ➡️Kanazawa Castle Park ➡️Toba Chaya/Kanazawa Coffee Shop (afternoon tea) ➡️Oyama Shrine ➡️Ishikawa Fourth High School Commemoration Park➡️Xianglinfang Business District/Izakaya/Japanese Yakiniku (Dinner)
- Day 3・Tea tasting and shopping fun: Tokuda Akio Memorial Hall ➡️Higashi Chaya Street (lunch) ➡️Haichi Higashiyama Store ➡️Sukei Town Chaya Street ➡️Kubo City Otoken Palace ➡️Kanazawa Gramophone Museum ➡️Kirinbo Business District/Izakaya/ Yakiniku (dinner)
- Day 4・Art and culture experience: Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History/Art Museum ➡️Nakamura Memorial Museum of Art ➡️Suzuki Daijokan ➡️Katamachi Business District (Lunch) ➡️Ishiura Shrine ➡️Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Art ➡️Korinbo Business District/Izakaya/ Yakiniku (dinner)
- Day 5: Nishi Chaya Street ➡️Darenji Temple ➡️Shinmeigu Shrine ➡️JR Kanazawa Station ➡️Kanazawa FORUS Shopping Center (Lunch) ➡️Kanazawa Hyakuban Street (Souvenir) ➡️Return
The scenic spots in Kanazawa City can be divided into four major areas: Omi Town Market, Higashi-Chaya Street, Nishi-Chaya Street, and the 21st Century Museum of Art. The Kanazawa City Tour Bus connects the scenic spots in the four areas. After arriving at each area, you can reach them on foot. You can visit attractions in various areas. If you are not familiar with taking the bus, you can actually take a taxi directly from the hotel once a day and visit various attractions on foot in the same area every day. The cost will not be too expensive if you share it with multiple people.
Related Reading ▶️㊙️2024 Kanazawa Hotel Reservation Guide: 10+ latest star hotels, service apartments, business hotels and specialty B&Bs
▲ Kanazawa City has a large concentration of tourist attractions. You can visit various classic attractions on foot and by taking the circulating bus. (source:Kanazawa City Tourism Association)
🚖Traffic information for free travel in Kanazawa
- Kanazawa Station West Exit・Kanazawa Port: The West Exit where long-distance buses gather, you can take buses to Omi Town Market, Kanazawa Castle, Kenrokuen Garden, the three major teahouse streets, etc.
- Kanazawa Station East Exit, Kenrokuen Exit: Komatsu Airport, Shirakawa, Niigata, Nagoya
Kanazawa Station is the starting point for free travel in Kanazawa. Whether you take JR Railway or long-distance bus, you will arrive at Kanazawa Station first before starting your Kanazawa itinerary. To go to the classic attractions in Kanazawa city, just take the city bus at Kenrokuen Exit. District bus.
In addition, the scenic spots in Kanazawa city are quite concentrated, and the distances between various scenic spots are not far. Most of them can be reached on foot. The one-way taxi fare is also 1,000-1,500 yen. If there are enough people in the group, you can also use GO TAXI calls a taxi.
Kanazawa Station Kanazawa Port: West Exit where long-distance buses gather
The west exit of Kanazawa Station can also be called Kanazawa Port, which gathers long-distance bus routes. There is a long-distance bus ticket center next to it. You can take the airport bus here to and from Komatsu Airport, and from Kanazawa to Niigata, Shirakawa, Nagoya and other surrounding cities. We get on and off at Kanazawa Port.
▲ The west exit of Kanazawa Station collects long-distance bus routes, and there is a long-distance bus ticket center next to it. You can also take buses to and from Komatsu Airport here.
▲ We took a long-distance bus from Nagoya to Kanazawa to save the time and effort of transferring to JR Railway. After arriving at the station, it is recommended to pre-purchase return tickets here.
▲ At the DONQ bakery in Kanazawa Station, you can buy bread for breakfast here.
▲ After arriving at Kanazawa Station on the first day, we first had pasta for lunch at Campagne Cucina & Bar next to the west exit.
Kanazawa Station Kenrokuen Exit: East exit where city buses gather
The east exit of Kanazawa Station, also known as the Kenrokuen Gate, is home to urban bus routes. You can take the Kanazawa City Tour Bus or the city bus to major attractions in Kanazawa City. There is a 13.7-meter-high wooden drum gate erected at the entrance. , is also a representative landmark building in Kanazawa.
▲ The east exit of Kanazawa Station gathers urban bus routes. At the entrance is a 13.7-meter-high wooden drum gate, which is also a representative landmark of Kanazawa.
▲ The Kanazawa City Tour Bus is divided into clockwise (right-turning) and counter-clockwise (left-turning) routes, passing through classic attractions such as Kanazawa Castle, Kenrokuen Garden, and the Three Tea House Streets.
▲ A single trip on the Kanazawa City Tour Bus costs 200 yen for adults and 100 yen for children. You can also purchase a one-day pass for 500 yen, which can be recouped after 3 rides on the same day.
▲ You can use the Kanazawa Castle City Tour Bus with a national IC card. You can just swipe the card when getting on and off the bus, which saves you the trouble of buying a one-day ticket.
➡️Shopping and classic garden attractions
- Kanazawa Garden Attractions: Kanazawa Castle Park | Kenrokuen Garden
- Kanazawa Shrine attractions: Ishikawa Gokoku Shrine | Kanazawa Shrine | Ishiura Shrine | Oyama Shrine | Ozaki Shrine | Kubo City Otokengu Shrine | Jinmeigu Shrine
- Kanazawa Buddhist temple attractions: Higashi Honganji Temple Kanazawa Higashi Betsuin|Darenji Temple|Hosenji Temple
- Kanazawa Shopping District: Kanazawa Station | Omi Town Market | Korinbo Business District | Katamachi Business District | Higashi Chaya Street | Nishi Chaya Street
The scenic spots in the center of Kanazawa start from Omi Town Market. If you want to visit the garden scenery, you can visit classic attractions such as Ozaki Shrine and the old Takamine House, Kanazawa Castle Park, Kenrokuen Garden, etc.; if you want to go shopping, you can You can walk along the Million Stone Street and visit the Korinbo business district and the Katamachi business district where department stores are gathered. However, Kanazawa shopping mall is definitely not as good as Tokyo and Osaka. It is recommended to spend more time to enjoy the Kanazawa gardens and art exhibitions. The beauty of the pavilion.
▲ Omi Town Market is located in the center of Kanazawa. It is very close to all major attractions and is also a popular landmark attraction.
▲ The old Takamine house in front of the Kuromon Gate in Kanazawa Castle Park.
▲Ozaki Shrine next to the old Takamine residence.
▲ The old Takamine house in front of the Kuromon gate of Kanazawa Castle Park has many densely blooming cherry blossoms planted in the garden.
▲ There is an overpass between Kanazawa Castle Park and Kenrokuen Garden connecting the two places, making it easy to arrange a side trip.
▲ Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa City, Korakuen Garden in Okayama City, and Kairakuen Garden in Mito City are jointly listed as the three most famous gardens in Japan. It is a roundabout garden that is compatible with pools and waterfalls.
▲ Ishiura Shrine next to the 21st Century Art Museum is also the oldest shrine in Kanazawa.
▲ Hirosaka Inari Shrine next to Ishiura Shrine.
➡️Literary youth’s favorite architectural and artistic masterpieces
- Culture and art exhibition venues: Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Art | National Museum of Crafts | Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art | Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History | Kanazawa Municipal Nakamura Memorial Museum of Art | Suzuki Daijokan
Kanazawa has always been famous for its handicraft culture. Many countries have set up unique exhibition venues, all gathered next to Kenrokuen Garden. There are also the famous Kanazawa 21st Century Museum and Suzuki Daijokan, all of which can be visited at once. In addition, if you are lucky during the holidays, you will encounter a market held by the locals, selling all kinds of handicrafts and specialty products, and enjoy the atmosphere of having fun with the locals.
▲ Suzuki Grand Hall
▲ From the art trail/art trail next to the Nakamura Memorial Museum of Art, go up the stairs to the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art.
▲ The classical red brick building of the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History.
▲ From the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, go downhill along the Million Stone Street to reach the 21st Century Museum of Art and Ishiura Shrine.
▲ The Fusion 21 restaurant attached to the 21st Century Art Museum offers a set lunch menu and an all-you-can-eat salad bar, as well as a variety of exquisite afternoon snacks in the afternoon.
▲ Across the road from the 21st Century Art Museum is Hirosaka Green Space, which has a large waterfront green space and occasionally holds garden parties during holidays.
➡️Three major teahouse streets and tourist attractions in Kanazawa
- Kanazawa East Chaya Street: Tokuda Akio Memorial Hall | Chaya Fuhua Building | Chaya Higashiyama Store | Kanazawa City Anjie Gold Leaf Crafts Museum
- Kanazawa Chief Town Chaya Street: Minamoto Court|Kubo City Otoken Palace|まゆ月
- Kanazawa Sai Tea House Street: Nishi Tea House Museum|Ninja Weapons Museum|Ningle Museum|Darenji Temple|Jinmeigu Shrine|Path of the Rhinoceros Star
Kanazawa has three major teahouse streets: Higashi Chaya Street, Sukemachi Chaya Street, and Nishi Chaya Street, which are located on the banks of the Asano River and Saikawa River respectively. Among them, Kanazawa East Tea House Street and Kyoto Gion are jointly ranked as the second largest tea house streets in Japan. It has become a must-visit and lively attraction for tourists. It is home to many creative goods stores and souvenir shops. There are still many traditional tea houses and geisha on-site services, and gold leaf ice cream is even more popular. This is a must-eat dessert.
Kanazawa Sukecho Chaya Street looks across the Asano River from Higashi Chaya Street. Compared with the bustling Higashi Chaya Street, Sukecho has a narrow and quiet street style, with few souvenir shops and mostly exquisite and tangible cafes. with restaurants. Finally, Nishi Chaya Street, located next to Saikawa River, is less crowded than Higashi Chaya Street. There are many small museums and libraries on the street, and there are also many gourmet restaurants recommended by Michelin.
▲ Higashi Chaya Street is the largest tea house street in Kanazawa, with the largest number of tourists and shops.
▲ Chaiyi Dongshan store is a souvenir shop. The gold foil ice cream sold in the store has now become a famous item that people line up to buy.
▲ Gold Foil House Hikaru sells a variety of gold foil products. Popsicles and chocolate biscuits can be covered with gold foil. After eating the popsicles, you will get a pair of wooden chopsticks as souvenirs.
▲ After walking from Higashi Chaya Street and passing the Asano River Bridge, you will reach Chaya Street, Sukecho, which used to be the residence of Chief Tomita, a Kaga clan official.
▲ The Yuzuki Cafe in Chaya Street, Sukecho, is located in Ansugazaka, with beautiful cherry blossom trees at the door.
🌸Types and strategies of cherry blossom viewing spots in Kanazawa
- Recommended spots for cherry blossom viewing in the garden: Kenroku-en Garden | Kanazawa Castle Park | Former Takamine House
- Recommended scenic spots for cherry blossom viewing: Along the Asano River | Along the Saikawa River | Mt. Uotatsu
The latitude of Kanazawa is higher than that of Tokyo, Keihan and Nagoya. The cherry blossom season is about early April. After finishing the cherry blossom chasing trip in Keihan and Nagoya, you can continue to Kanazawa to enjoy the cherry blossoms. In addition, the cherry blossom viewing spots in Kanazawa are all located within the main attractions. When planning your Kanazawa itinerary, you can enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms on the way without having to take a special ride to a specific cherry blossom viewing spot. Planning a cherry blossom viewing itinerary is very convenient.
For Kanazawa garden-type cherry blossom viewing spots, Kanazawa Castle Park and Kenrokuen are recommended. Not only are there beautiful cherry blossoms in the park, but the roads and art exhibition halls around the gardens are also mostly filled with beautiful cherry blossoms. For Kanazawa landscape-type cherry blossom viewing spots, The Asano River and Saikawa River are recommended first. Not only are the banks of the river lined with cherry blossoms, but also the famous three teahouse streets of Kanazawa are located along the waterfront. You can visit the teahouse street scenery accompanied by cherry blossoms.
▲ Shinmaru Plaza in Kanazawa Castle Park is home to the earliest cherry blossoms in Kanazawa.
▲ The cherry blossom avenue next to the moat of Kanazawa Castle blooms late. Next to it is the Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Management Office.
▲ The road between Kanazawa Castle Park and Kenrokuen Garden is also full of cherry blossoms. You can take a look at them when going from Kanazawa Castle Park to Kenrokuen Garden.
▲ Kanazawa Castle Park is one of the few spots in Kanazawa where you can enjoy cherry blossoms at night.
▲ The waterfront between Ume-no-bashi and Naka-no-bashi on the Asano River is filled with cherry blossom trees. The Asano River Ohashi in the middle of the two bridges connects Higashi Chaya Street and Sukecho Chaya Street.
▲ There are fewer crowds in Sukecho Chaya Street, so you can quietly enjoy the individual cherry blossoms on the street.
▲ The stone pavement of Chaya Street in Sukecho is also filled with beautiful cherry blossoms.
▲ There are cherry blossoms growing on both sides of the waterfront between Shimoju Bridge and Saikawa Ohashi Bridge on the Saikawa River. It is recommended that you take a walk along the waterfront to Saikawa Ohashi Bridge after viewing the cherry blossoms from Sakura Bridge.
▲ At noon, you can go shopping at Nishichaya Street first, then walk from Saikawa Bridge, and walk along the Saikawa waterfront to Sakura Bridge. This is also a cherry blossom viewing spot for locals.
▲ The Sai River waterway is relatively wide, and you can enjoy the vast cherry blossom scenery accompanied by Mount Yiwang and Sakura Bridge.
🍽️Japanese BBQ to kill the night
- BBQ restaurant in the area in front of Kanazawa Station: Machiya Yakiniku|Yakiniku Kappo Manfuku|Yakiniku Chidori
- Korinbo and Katamachi BBQ Restaurants: Tsuruen Kanazawa Branch | Charcoal-grilled meat Wakatake | Grilled meat Hanazawa Daishogun Kanazawa Branch
People who are accustomed to the atmosphere of big cities such as Tokyo and Osaka will definitely find Kanazawa’s nightlife quite boring. Many shops close in the evening and there are few noisy and lively nightlife places. The greatest fun at night is probably to choose a Japanese restaurant. Go to a yakiniku restaurant or an izakaya to enjoy delicious food and chat. When you come to Kanazawa, you might as well adjust your daily routine, go to bed early and get up early to enjoy Kanazawa during the day.
▲ The Machiya Yakiniku restaurant in front of Kanazawa Station has an antique Machiya building and offers authentic and exquisite Japanese barbecue.
▲ The grilled pork cutlet in front of Kanazawa Station.
▲ Kanazawa charcoal-grilled meat Wakatake near the 21st Century Museum of Art in Kanazawa.
🍽️Creative food made by yourself
- Recommended creative food in Kanazawa: Tile Kanazawa medicinal seafood bowl | Coil Kanazawa hand-rolled sushi
Kanazawa has seafood rice bowls, Noto beef yakiniku, oden, curry rice, ramen and other classic must-eat food items. When you come to Kanazawa, you must choose a highly rated restaurant to try. In addition, Kanazawa's rich craftsmanship atmosphere is also reflected in the creativity of the food. Many restaurants adopt a do-it-yourself presentation style, using ingredients in luxurious containers, allowing guests to directly appreciate the original appearance of the ingredients, and then mix and combine the food by themselves before enjoying it. , the price will be higher, but it is a special dining experience.
TileKanazawa Medicinal Seafood Don
Tile is hidden in a century-old machiya building in front of Kanazawa Station.Official WebsiteObtain the 4-digit password and enter the password at the door to enter. A fashionable boutique-style tatami space is set up on the second floor, providing a variety of freely matched ingredients, placed in shiny glass bowls in a jewelry box design, and plated by yourself before eating. , becoming a hands-on exhibition-type dining experience.
▲ Tile Medicinal Seafood Don Restaurant is hidden in a century-old machiya building. The entrance is the half-length gold bronze door on the lower left.
Coil Kanazawa hand-rolled sushi
COIL is located in a department store opposite Omi Town Market. It adopts a modern and simple design style and combines the traditional food culture of Japanese hand-rolled sushi, fried tempura and Japanese tea ceremony. It uses a tablet ordering method to choose from dozens of ingredients. Combine it with the restaurant, or directly choose the recommended set meal from the store. After it is served with Ishikawa's famous Kutani ware, you can make your own thin roll sushi after admiring the gorgeous fresh ingredients on the plate.
▲ Coil Kanazawa Hand Roll Sushi is a modern boutique-style creative sushi restaurant that uses tablets to order. You can mix your own ingredients or choose a set meal recommended by the store.
▲ The restaurant combines Japanese tea ceremony culture and sells many varieties of Japanese tea. Japanese tea will also be included in the set meal for you to enjoy.
▲ It is served on Ishikawa's colorful Kutani yaki plate, and the seaweed vinegar rice is packed in a jewelry box wooden box. You can make your own thin roll sushi, and you can also add some seafood vinegar rice.
🍽️Luxurious and exquisite dessert decorated with gold foil
- Desserts and cafes in Kanazawa: Du Bontemps Cafe @Hakomachi|Gold leaf ice cream@Higashi Chaya Street Chaya Higashiyama Store|まゆ月@Sukecho Chaya Street|Kanazawa Porridge@Omi Town Market|Bean Chaya@Kanazawa Castle Park|Mystery House Cafe@Kanazawa Station Square|Le Musée de H Kanazawa Store@Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
During my trip to Kanazawa, the most impressive thing was that I kept eating all kinds of desserts and ice creams. Every scenic spot can always have exquisite and delicious afternoon tea time. Dessert lovers must go to Kanazawa for a luxurious experience. Among them, the best things to take pictures of are the various desserts decorated with gold foil. Cake, coffee, biscuits, ice cream and other essential afternoon tea items can all be seen decorated with gold foil. Of course, the taste will not become any worse. Good, but it just has a luxurious vibe.
▲ Du Bontemps Cafe in Hakomachi Shopping Center, Kanazawa.
▲ Du Bontemps offers a variety of cakes decorated with fruits and gold foil, as well as plate decorations with classic cartoon patterns.
▲ Kanazawa Rinantei next to Omi Town Market sells exquisite and delicious fruit cheese and ice cream.
▲ The Mabe Chaya in Kanazawa Castle has large floor-to-ceiling windows. When enjoying desserts and delicacies, you can overlook the beautiful scenery of Kanazawa Castle.
▲ Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art has a Le Musée de H Kanazawa store.
▲ The Mystery House Cafe in front of Kanazawa Station offers affordable and simple set meals, which is perfect for breakfast.
🛏️Kanazawa accommodation location options and types
- Star Hotels:Sanraku Hotel Kanazawa(2022)|Hyatt Centric Kanazawa(2020)
- Apartment Hotel:Hyatt House Kanazawa(2020)|Tokyu STAY Kanazawa(2020)
- Apartment residence:Minn Kanazawa(2023)|so, KANAZAWA(2020)
- Design quality:HOTEL AO Kanazawa(2024)|SOKI Kanazawa(2022)
- Business hotel:OMO5 Kanazawa Katamachi(2022)|Tmark City Hotel Kanazawa(2022)|Onoyuki Nokanazawa(2021)|Smile Hotel Kanazawa West Gate Station Front(2021)|Chisato Express Hotel Kanazawa Station(2021)|Hotel Torifito Kanazawa(2021)
Accommodation options in Kanazawa City are concentrated in Kanazawa Station and Omi Town Market. Kanazawa Station has the advantage of convenient transportation, and Omi Town Market has the advantage of being close to attractions. When traveling to Kanazawa for cherry blossom viewing in 2024, choose to stay in an apartment.so, KANAZAWA, a Japanese-style house with complete appliances and spacious space, allowing us to easily wash clothes and prepare simple meals. After all, at night in Kanazawa, most of the dining options are only izakayas or barbecue restaurants.
Related Reading ▶️㊙️2024 Kanazawa Hotel Reservation Guide: 10+ latest star hotels, service apartments, business hotels and specialty B&Bs