Best things to do in Kanazawa

Kanazawa's Absolute Essentials

Kanazawa preserves centuries of history through its Edo-period Kenrokuen garden and the Nagamachi samurai district. The city's geisha culture thrives in the Higashi Chaya and Kazuemachi districts, while Omicho Market offers fresh local seafood. Architectural landmarks range from the historic Ishikawa Gate to the futuristic Kanazawa Station and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. Unique spiritual sites include the Myoryuji temple, known for its defensive hidden passages, and the stained-glass gate of Oyama-jinja Shrine.

Kanazawa's Absolute Essentials — Map

663highland / CC BY 2.5

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Kenrokuen Park

Kenroku-en, located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan, is a strolling style garden constructed during the Edo period by the Maeda clan.

松岡明芳 / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Omicho Market

A busy food market offering variety of local products. Experience for all your senses!

くろふね / CC BY 3.0

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Higashi Chaya District

This district is named after chaya - a traditional house where the guests would come to see a performance by geishas.

ajari / CC BY 2.0

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21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa

The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa is a museum of contemporary art located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.

663highland / CC BY 2.5

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Kanazawa Train Station

Kanazawa Station is a major railway station in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan, operated by West Japan Railway Company, the private railway…

金沢市 / CC BY 2.1 jp

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Ochaya Shima

Once a carefully polished place where geishas showed their skills of entertainment, it now houses a nice museum where you can see how the…

金沢市 / CC BY 2.1 jp

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Kazuemachi

This old geisha district is a labyrinth of traditional houses where geishas used to perform.

そらみみ / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Oyama-jinja Shrine

Oyama Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.

Irina Gelbukh / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Myôryûji (Ninjadera Temple)

Myōryū-ji, commonly known as Ninja-dera, is a Buddhist temple belonging to Nichiren sect located in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.

663highland / CC BY 2.5

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Seisonkaku Villa

The Seisonkaku is a large Japanese villa in the city of Kanazawa, built in 1863 by Maeda Nariyasu, 13th daimyō of the Kaga clan, as a…

金沢市 / CC BY 2.1 jp

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Shinise Kinenkan Museum

This building formerly housed a pharmacy that belonged to one of Kanazawa’s most respected families.

Saigawasakurabashi / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Nomura Samurai House

A restored residence of a high-ranking samurai family in the Nagamachi district. It features a renowned small garden with a multi-level waterfall and koi pond, alongside period artifacts and painted screen doors.

(WT-shared) Kagaland at wts wikivoyage / CC BY-SA 1.0

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Ishikawa Gate

This gate survived the huge fire in 1881 so you can see it in its original beauty. It is the main entrance to the Kanazawa Castle Park.

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