Kanazawa itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Kanazawa, day by day: Kenroku-en, Kanazawa Castle Park, the Higashi Chaya District, Omicho Market, the 21st Century Museum and the Nagamachi samurai district first, then the Ninja Temple, Oyama Shrine, the Nishi and Kazuemachi teahouse districts, the D. T. Suzuki Museum and Seisonkaku. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Kanazawa in 1 day
Day 1
Higashi Chaya District
Old geisha teahouse quarter of wooden lattice-fronted houses, with teahouses open to visitors and shops selling gold leaf.
Omicho Market
Kanazawa's main food market for nearly three centuries, packed with seafood stalls and small restaurants serving fresh rice bowls.
Kanazawa Castle Park
Grounds of the Maeda lords' castle, with rebuilt gates, turrets and long storehouses next to Kenroku-en.
Kenroku-en
One of Japan's three great landscape gardens, with ponds, streams, teahouses and old pines, beautiful in every season.
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
Round glass museum of contemporary art, known for Leandro Erlich's Swimming Pool and other works that invite participation.
Nagamachi Samurai District
Quarter of earthen walls, canals and old gates where the Maeda clan's samurai lived, good for a quiet stroll.
Nomura Samurai House
Restored samurai residence in Nagamachi with painted sliding doors, a tearoom and a small, much-praised garden.
Kanazawa in 2 days
Day 1
Myōryū-ji (Ninja Temple)
Temple nicknamed Ninja-dera for its hidden rooms, trap doors and secret staircases, shown on guided tours.
Nishi Chaya District
Smallest of Kanazawa's three teahouse districts, a short street of wooden houses south of the Sai River.
Nagamachi Samurai District
Quarter of earthen walls, canals and old gates where the Maeda clan's samurai lived, good for a quiet stroll.
Nomura Samurai House
Restored samurai residence in Nagamachi with painted sliding doors, a tearoom and a small, much-praised garden.
Oyama Shrine
Shrine to the first Maeda lord, with an unusual gate mixing Japanese, Chinese and European styles and a stained glass window.
Omicho Market
Kanazawa's main food market for nearly three centuries, packed with seafood stalls and small restaurants serving fresh rice bowls.
Kazuemachi Chaya District
Small teahouse quarter along the Asano River, with wooden houses and lantern-lit lanes, quieter than Higashi Chaya.
Higashi Chaya District
Old geisha teahouse quarter of wooden lattice-fronted houses, with teahouses open to visitors and shops selling gold leaf.
Kanazawa Castle Park
Grounds of the Maeda lords' castle, with rebuilt gates, turrets and long storehouses next to Kenroku-en.
Day 2
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
Round glass museum of contemporary art, known for Leandro Erlich's Swimming Pool and other works that invite participation.
D. T. Suzuki Museum
Calm modern museum on the Zen thinker D. T. Suzuki, with a reflecting water garden designed for contemplation.
Seisonkaku
Elegant villa built by a Maeda lord for his mother in 1863, next to Kenroku-en, with painted rooms and gardens.
Kenroku-en
One of Japan's three great landscape gardens, with ponds, streams, teahouses and old pines, beautiful in every season.
Watch: Kanazawa
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Kanazawa
Early April brings cherry blossoms to Kenroku-en and the castle park, and November autumn colours and the yukizuri ropes put on the garden's pines against snow. Summer is hot and humid, and the rainy season is in June and July. The Hyakumangoku Festival with its parade is held in early June.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Kanazawa on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Kanazawa on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Kanazawa on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Japan from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Kanazawa
- Visits to Myōryū-ji (Ninja Temple) are by guided tour only; book ahead, as tours fill up.
- The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art is closed on Mondays; its free areas, including some outdoor works, can be seen without a ticket.
- Visit Kenroku-en early in the morning, before the tour groups arrive.
- Loop buses run from Kanazawa Station to the main sights; a day pass is useful for the second day.
- Shoes come off at the Nomura Samurai House, teahouses and many temples; wear socks and easy shoes.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art: 金沢市, CC BY 2.1 jp
- D. T. Suzuki Museum: 金沢市, CC BY 2.1 jp
- Higashi Chaya District: Kakidai, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kanazawa Castle Park: 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Kazuemachi Chaya District: Okochuke, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kenroku-en: Japanexperterna.se, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Myōryū-ji (Ninja Temple): Irina Gelbukh, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Nagamachi Samurai District: Hirorinmasa, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Nishi Chaya District: 金沢市, CC BY 2.1 jp
- Nomura Samurai House: sergejf, CC BY 2.0
- Omicho Market: Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0
- Oyama Shrine: Fg2, Public domain
- Seisonkaku: 663highland, CC BY 2.5
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
