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Kanazawa, Japan

Things to Do in Kanazawa

Top sights, the tours and tickets travellers book most, hidden gems and day trips.

Most booked:World Heritage Shirakawa-go and Experience Tours from Kanazawa

Most booked tours and tickets in Kanazawa

World Heritage Shirakawa-go and Experience Tours from Kanazawa

World Heritage Shirakawa-go and Experience Tours from Kanazawa

5.05,485 reviews9h 30m
World Heritage Shirakawa-go Perfect Guided Tour from Kanazawa

World Heritage Shirakawa-go Perfect Guided Tour from Kanazawa

4.9934 reviews5h
Kanazawa: Castle & Samurai History Walking Tour

Kanazawa: Castle & Samurai History Walking Tour

4.9539 reviews2h 30m
Kanazawa Highlights: Garden, Castle, Samurai & Geisha+Taxi

Kanazawa Highlights: Garden, Castle, Samurai & Geisha+Taxi

5.0412 reviews3h
[One-day bus tour departing from Kanazawa Station] Shirakawa-go and Gokayama - Two World Heritage Villages Enjoyable Bus Tour

[One-day bus tour departing from Kanazawa Station] Shirakawa-go and Gokayama - Two World Heritage Villages Enjoyable Bus Tour

4.8330 reviews7h 45m
1 Day Private Charter Tour to Shirakawa-go & Takayama

1 Day Private Charter Tour to Shirakawa-go & Takayama

4.7285 reviews8h
Kanazawa Private Tour with a Local – Highlights & Hidden Gems

Kanazawa Private Tour with a Local – Highlights & Hidden Gems

4.9233 reviews2h
Ring making experience 
Completed in about 1 hour!

Ring making experience  Completed in about 1 hour!

5.0221 reviews1h 30m

Top sights in Kanazawa

  1. 1Kenroku-en Garden
  2. 2Higashi Chaya Geisha District
  3. 3Kanazawa Castle
  4. 4Omicho Market
  5. 521st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
  6. 6Gold Leaf Workshops
  • Experience Japan's best-preserved Edo-era architecture without the crowds—stroll through Higashi Chaya District's latticed teahouses, enter authentic samurai residences in Nagamachi, and see craftsmen creating 99.99% pure gold leaf in workshops.
  • Wander through Kenroku-en Garden, a masterpiece that embodies the six essential attributes of a perfect landscape garden, featuring the iconic Kotojitoro lantern, Japan's oldest fountain, and yukitsuri rope protections for pine trees in winter.
  • Indulge in some of Japan's freshest seafood at Omicho Market, a 300-year-old institution where you can eat kaisendon (seafood bowls) with crab, uni, and salmon roe, or try grilled nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch) from nearby waters.

Tickets and passes in Kanazawa

Colors of Kanazawa (Traditional Crafts and Gardens)

Colors of Kanazawa (Traditional Crafts and Gardens)

5.022 reviews3h
Kanazawa: Family-Friendly Kimono & Yukata Experience at WARGO

Kanazawa: Family-Friendly Kimono & Yukata Experience at WARGO

5.05 reviews1h
Buy Kimono: Choose from your favorite kimono and obi!

Buy Kimono: Choose from your favorite kimono and obi!

5.02 reviews1h

Food and drink experiences in Kanazawa

Kanazawa Night Tour with Local Meal and Drinks

Kanazawa Night Tour with Local Meal and Drinks

4.9211 reviews2h 30m
Kanazawa Food Tour: Omicho Market & Geisha District

Kanazawa Food Tour: Omicho Market & Geisha District

4.9184 reviews2h
Kanazawa: Sushi & Japanese Cooking at a 56-Year Cooking School

Kanazawa: Sushi & Japanese Cooking at a 56-Year Cooking School

5.0113 reviews2h 30m
Taste of Kanazawa (Food tasting in Omicho Market & Higashi Chaya)

Taste of Kanazawa (Food tasting in Omicho Market & Higashi Chaya)

4.9109 reviews2h

Day trips and outdoor activities from Kanazawa

Kanazawa Night Walk: Geisha Districts & Oyama Shrine

Kanazawa Night Walk: Geisha Districts & Oyama Shrine

4.885 reviews2h
Gokayama and Shirakawago/Photoshoot by professional photographer

Gokayama and Shirakawago/Photoshoot by professional photographer

5.055 reviews6h
Day Tour from Kanazawa OR Toyama: Snow Wall and Mysterious Valley

Day Tour from Kanazawa OR Toyama: Snow Wall and Mysterious Valley

5.036 reviews10h

Hidden gems in Kanazawa

Places most visitors miss, many of them free.

Oyama Shrine

A unique Shinto shrine featuring a stained glass window in its gate tower, blending Japanese and European architectural elements.

Nishi Chaya District

The smallest and quietest of Kanazawa's three geisha districts, with only two teahouses remaining but authentic atmosphere.

Kazuemachi Chaya District

A geisha district along the Asano River with traditional buildings converted into restaurants and cafes with river views.

Kanazawa Phonograph Museum

A small private museum housing over 500 historical phonographs and music boxes in a preserved merchant house.

Utatsuyama Temple Trail

A hiking path connecting multiple temples on Utatsuyama hill, offering panoramic views of Kanazawa.

Day trips from Kanazawa

Shirakawa-go

75 min by direct bus

A UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses with steep thatched roofs designed to withstand heavy snow. The village offers a glimpse into traditional Japanese mountain life.

Noto Peninsula

2 hours by car or bus

A scenic coastal region with dramatic sea cliffs, traditional fishing villages, and salt farms. The peninsula offers a slower pace and stunning natural landscapes.

Fukui

60 min by limited express train

Home to one of Japan's most important dinosaur museums and the spectacular Eihei-ji Zen temple, one of Soto Zen Buddhism's two head temples.

Plan your Kanazawa trip

Things to do in Kanazawa: FAQ

What are the best things to do in Kanazawa?+

Top sights include Kenroku-en Garden, Higashi Chaya Geisha District, Kanazawa Castle and Omicho Market. Away from the crowds, try Oyama Shrine and Nishi Chaya District.

What are the most popular tours in Kanazawa?+

The most booked experiences on Viator are World Heritage Shirakawa-go and Experience Tours from Kanazawa (5.0 stars, 5,485 reviews); World Heritage Shirakawa-go Perfect Guided Tour from Kanazawa (4.9 stars, 934 reviews); Kanazawa: Castle & Samurai History Walking Tour (4.9 stars, 539 reviews).

How much do tours in Kanazawa cost?+

The tours and tickets on this page start between €22 and €521 per person, depending on length and what is included.

Tours and prices from Viator, a Tripadvisor company. Prices change with your dates. We may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.