Kanazawa
Japan · Ishikawa · 22 m
Description
Kanazawa (金沢市) is the historic capital of Ishikawa Prefecture on the Sea of Japan and one of the most important cultural centers of the Hokuriku region. The city is renowned for Kenroku-en, one of Japan’s three most celebrated landscape gardens, Kanazawa Castle, and the atmospheric samurai and geisha districts of Nagamachi and Higashi Chaya. Kanazawa combines the heritage of a prosperous Edo-period castle town with traditional crafts such as gold leaf and Kaga Yuzen silk dyeing, contemporary art at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, and a distinctive regional cuisine. With its historic wooden houses, elegant gardens, and living craft traditions, Kanazawa is considered a cultural gem between the Sea of Japan and the mountains of central Japan.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 3 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: April – May or November
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Kenrokuen Garden
- Higashi Chaya District
- Kanazawa Castle & Castle Park
- Shirakawa-go (UNESCO)(Day trip)
- Omicho Market
- 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
- Nagamachi Samurai District
- Nomura Samurai House
- Nishi Chaya District
- Myoryuji Temple (Ninja Temple)
- D.T. Suzuki Museum
- Oyama Shrine
- Gyokusen-inmaru Garden
- Seisonkaku Villa
- Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
- National Crafts Museum
- Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History
- Kanazawa Phonograph Museum
- Kazuemachi Chaya District
- Asanogawa River & Ume-no-Hashi Bridge
- Teramachi Temple District
- Kanazawa gold leaf crafts
- Kaga cuisine & kaiseki dining
- Kenrokuen yukizuri (November - March)
- Kenrokuen cherry blossoms (April)
- Kenrokuen autumn foliage (November - December)
Getting there
- Airports:
- KMQ
- Train stations:
- Kanazawa