Kanazawa is sometimes called “little Kyoto” and for good reason: It’s packed with first-rate sights, including one of the country’s best gardens, some great museums and several beautifully preserved neighborhoods.
Gyokusen-in garden on the grounds of historic Kanazawa castle: Amehime / Shutterstock.com
Kanazawa is a relatively compact city with a fine group of sights located around a green core formed by Kanazawa Castle Park and Kenroku-en Garden (both among the city’s best sights). South of the park you’ll find three great museums. Within easy distance of the central core are some fantastic districts of traditional houses that used to serve as the city’s entertainment districts. Here, I’ll introduce the three Kanazawa sights that I consider must-sees. Then I’ll introduce the best of the other sights in the city. All of these places can be found on our Kanazawa Google Map.
Must See Attractions in Kanazawa
Kenroku-en Garden
Kenrokuen
Almost 12 hectares (29 acres) in size, this spacious garden forms the green heart of Kanazawa. It’s ranked by the Japanese as one of the top three gardens in the country and it’s a fine place for a peaceful and contemplative walk. The name means “six attributes garden,” which is a reference to a Chinese book that describes the six attributes of the perfect garden. The real fun here is just wandering around and discovering perfect vistas and quaint traditional teahouses tucked here and there. I recommend starting in Kanazawa Castle Park (see the entry for this lower on this page) and then exploring Kenroku-en before continuing on to the 21st Century Museum of Art (see following entry).
Japanese name: 兼六園
Japanese address: 兼六町1
English address: 1 Kenroku-machi
Telephone number: 076-234-3800
Opening Hours: 7:00am-6:00pm (Mar-15 Oct), 8:00am-5:00pm (16 Oct-Feb)
Nearest Transport: 1min walk from Hirosaka Bus Stop, bus from Kanazawa Station East Exit Bus Terminal
District: Kanazawa Castle/Kenroku-en/Museum
Website: Official Website (English)
Admission: Y310
:: Read reviews of Kenroku-en Garden on TripAdvisor
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art: cowardlion / Shutterstock.com
This circular and light-filled museum focuses on art produced since 1980 and is heavy on installations, video and mixed-media pieces, much of it playful, energetic and thought provoking. The museum holds a variety of display spaces and function rooms and the museum is spacious enough to absorb the huge crowds that usually fill the place. If you want to enjoy the museum without the masses, I strongly recommend going right after opening time (10am, and note that it’s closed Mondays).
Japanese name: 金沢21世紀美術館
Japanese address: 広坂1-2-1
English address: 1-2-1 Hirosaka
Telephone number: 076-220-2800
Opening Hours: 10:00am-6:00pm (Sun-Thu), 10:00am-8:00pm (Fri and Sat), 9:00am-10:00pm (Public Zone)
Nearest Transport: In front of Hirosaka·21st Century Museum Bus Stop, bus from Kanazawa Station East Exit Bus Terminal
District: Kanazawa Castle/Kenroku-en/Museum
Website: Official Website (English)
Admission: varies by exhibition, free (public zone)
:: Read reviews of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art on TripAdvisor
Omicho Market
Omicho Ichiba market: Pack-Shot / Shutterstock.com
This market is one of my favorites in Japan. It’s less crowded and more enjoyable than Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji and more spacious than Kyoto’s Nishiki. It’s packed with stall after stall selling locally caught seafood, as well as a good selection of fruit and vegetables and other Japanese foodstuffs. And, best of all, there are plenty of restaurants in the market where you can sample some of the stuff you see on sale. For some picks on restaurants in and around the market, see my Places to Eat in Kanazawa page.
Japanese name: 近江町市場
Japanese address: 青草町、下堤町、下近江町、上近江町、十間町
English address: Aokusa-machi, Shimotsutsumi-cho, Shimoomi-cho, Kamiomi-cho and Jukken-machi
Telephone number: 076-231-1462
Opening Hours: vary by store
Nearest Transport: 15min walk from Kanazawa Station east exit
District: Omicho Market
Website: Official Website
Admission: free
:: Read reviews of Omicho Market on TripAdvisor
Other Attractions in Kanazawa
D.T. Suzuki Museum
D.T. Suzuki Museum: Lee Yiu Tung / Shutterstock.com
D.T. Suzuki (1860-1966) was the Japanese writer responsible for introducing Zen Buddhism to the West. The D.T. Suzuki Museum is the perfect monument to the man and his work. It’s one of my favorite museums in Japan because the structure of the museum itself – not just the exhibits (which are few) – actually conveys the message of the man and the religion he sought to explain. Like Zen itself, the museum invites you to contemplate and empty your mind of distraction. The water “garden” outside the museum is sublime and don’t miss the fine traditional Japanese garden behind it.
Japanese name: 鈴木大拙館
Japanese address: 本多町3-4-20
English address: 3-4-20 Honda-machi
Telephone number: 076-221-8011
Opening Hours: 9:30am-5:00pm (enter by 4:30pm), closed Monday
Nearest Transport: 4min walk from Hondamachi Bus Stop, bus from Kanazawa Station East Exit Bus Terminal
District: Kanazawa Castle/Kenroku-en/Museum
Website: Official Website (English)
Admission: Y300
:: Read reviews of D.T. Suzuki Museum on TripAdvisor
Kanazawa Castle Park/Kanazawa Castle
Kanazawa Castle
Although nothing remains of the original castle here and the few buildings standing are much more recent reconstructions, this park is well worth a visit to enjoy the greenery and the views in all directions (the park is located on a hilltop). On clear days, you can see as far as Mt. Hakusan (2702m). You can walk through some of the gates and climb up some of the reconstructed walls to enjoy the views. After visiting this park, head south to Kenroku-en Garden (see earlier entry).
Japanese name: 金沢城公園／金沢城
Japanese address: 丸の内1-1
English address: 1-1 Marunouchi
Telephone number: 076-234-3800
Opening Hours: 7:00am-6:00pm (Mar-15 Oct), 8:00am-5:00pm (16 Oct-Feb)
Nearest Transport: 4min walk from Hirosaka Bus Stop, bus from Kanazawa Station East Exit Bus Terminal
District: Kanazawa Castle/Kenroku-en/Museum
Website: Official Website (English)
Admission: free, Y310 (Hishiyagura Turret, Gojukken Nagaya Warehouse, and Hashizume-mon Tsuzuki Yagura Turret)
:: Read reviews of Kanazawa Castle Park/Kanazawa Castle on TripAdvisor
Higashi Chaya Area
Higashi-Chaya-gai Geisha District in Kanazawa
An easy walk east of Omicho Market or Kanazawa Castle Park, the Higashi Chaya Area is a lovely neighborhood of beautifully preserved geisha houses. Many have now been converted into restaurants or teahouses. This area can get very crowded with tourists, but you can escape the masses by heading away from the main street of the area. And if you really want to escape the tourists, cross back over the Asano-gawa River and on the north bank facing the river you’ll find the smaller and less crowded Kazuemachi Chaya Area, which is stunning. For some recommended restaurants in Higashi Chaya, see my Places to Eat in Kanazawa page.
Japanese name: ひがし茶屋街
Japanese address: 東山1
English address: 1 Higashiyama
Telephone number: None
Opening Hours: vary by store
Nearest Transport: 5min walk from Hashibacho Bus Stop, bus from Kanazawa Station East Exit Bus Terminal
District: Higashi Chaya
Website: None
Admission: free
:: Read reviews of Higashi Chaya Area on TripAdvisor
Nagamachi Samurai House Area
Nagamachi, the former Samurai district in Kanazawa
Located on the west side of the city, next to the Korinbo District, the Nagamachi Samurai House Area is a fine collection of preserved samurai houses located along two canals that run through the area. Several of the houses have been restored and you can enter (at least as far as the entryway) and peer around. The best way to explore the area is by heading north along the canal just behind the Kohrinbo 109 Building, then turning left at the first traffic light and then heading south along the next canal. There are several restaurants and cafes scattered about for a rest.
Japanese name: 長町武家屋敷跡
Japanese address: 長町
English address: Naga-machi
Telephone number: None
Opening Hours: 24h
Nearest Transport: 5min walk from Korinbo Bus Stop, bus from Kanazawa Station East Exit Bus Terminal
District: Nagamachi Samurai House
Website: None
Admission: free
:: Read reviews of Nagamachi Samurai House Area on TripAdvisor
Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
Ishikawa Prefectural Museum for Traditional Products and Crafts © sodaigomi
Often overlooked by visitors who rush to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, this fine museum of Japanese art is well worth a visit. The small but excellent collection covers the main fields of Japanese art. And, downstairs, there’s a brilliant café where you can refuel with some delicious coffee, tea and pastries.
Japanese name: 石川県立美術館
Japanese address: 出羽町2-1
English address: 2-1 Dewa-machi
Telephone number: 076-231-7580
Opening Hours: 9:30am-6:00pm (enter by 5:30pm), closed irregularly
Nearest Transport: 5min walk from Hirosaka Bus Stop, bus from Kanazawa Station East Exit Bus Terminal
District: Kanazawa Castle/Kenroku-en/Museum
Website: Official Website
Admission: Y360
:: Read reviews of Nagamachi Samurai House Area on TripAdvisor
Kurando Terashima House
Built in the late 18th century, this fine little samurai house is well worth a visit when walking between the Higashiya Chaya Area and Kanazawa Castle Park. The garden out back is superb and it contains some rare tsustuji (azalea) trees. This place gets few foreign tourists, so it’s a nice place to escape the crowds.
Japanese name: 寺島蔵人邸
Japanese address: 大手町10-3
English address: 10-3 Ote-machi
Telephone number: 076-224-2789
Opening Hours: 9:30am-5:00pm (enter by 4:30pm)
Nearest Transport: 5min walk from Hashibacho Bus Stop, bus from Kanazawa Station East Exit Bus Terminal
District: Kanazawa Castle/Kenroku-en/Museum
Website: Official Website
Admission: Y300
:: Read reviews of Kurando Terashima House on TripAdvisor
Kanazawa Phonograph Museum
If you’re a DJ or just love antique stereo equipment, this museum will be a pleasant surprise. In addition to a great collection of old phonographs spread over three floors, there are some antique radio consoles. Three times a day a kindly gentleman demonstrates several of the phonographs – it’s great!
Japanese name: 金沢蓄音器館
Japanese address: 尾張町2-11-21
English address: 2-11-21 Owari-cho
Telephone number: 076-232-3066
Opening Hours: 10:00am-5:30pm (enter by 5:00pm)
Nearest Transport: 3min walk from Hashibacho Bus Stop, bus from Kanazawa Station East Exit Bus Terminal
District: Kanazawa Castle/Kenroku-en/Museum
Website: Official Website
Admission: Y300
:: Read reviews of Kanazawa Phonograph Museum on TripAdvisor
Teramachi Area
Myouryuji (Ninja-dera temple) Nichiren sect Buddhist temple: Manuel Ascanio / Shutterstock.com
On the far side of the Sai-gawa River, this neighborhood is crammed with small Buddhist temples. Unfortunately, there’s not much for tourists to see here (these are not like the expansive and tourist-friendly temples of Kyoto or Nara). One temple here receives a lot of publicity: Myoryu-ji Temple (the so-called Ninja Temple). I really can’t recommend this temple because they make foreign visitors read and sign an agreement to behave themselves and not make noise, which Japanese visitors do not have to do. Given the high price of the temple and this silly racist treatment of foreigners, I recommend giving it a miss.
Japanese name: 寺町寺院群
Japanese address: 寺町、野町
English address: Tera-machi and No-machi
Telephone number: None
Opening Hours: 24h
Nearest Transport: 2min walk from Hirokoji Bus Stop, Bus from Kanazawa Station East Exit Bus Terminal
District: Teremachi Temple
Website: None
Admission: free
:: Read reviews of Teramachi Area on TripAdvisor
Where Are These Places Located?
See these places on our Kanazawa Google map:- Open the Kanazawa map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Kanazawa Travel Guide:
- Kanazawa Travel Guide Overview
- Things To Do In Kanazawa
- Kanazawa Walking Tour
- Places To Eat In Kanazawa
- Kanazawa Itineraries
- Kanazawa Cherry Blossoms
- Kanazawa Fall Foliage
- Kanazawa Districts
- Kanazawa Ryokan
- Kanazawa Hotels
- – Best Luxury Hotels in Kanazawa
- – Best Mid Range Hotels in Kanazawa
- – Best Budget Hotels in Kanazawa
- How To Get To Kanazawa
- Getting Around Kanazawa
- Best Time To Go To Kanazawa
