10 Best Things to Do
Kanazawa brings landscaped gardens, wooden teahouse streets and contemporary art into a compact city on Japan's Sea of Japan coast. Start at Kenrokuen and the castle, then explore Higashi Chaya or the old samurai lanes of Nagamachi. Omicho Market introduces the region's seafood, while small restaurants turn seasonal ingredients into memorable meals. Allow time for ceramics, lacquer and gold-leaf crafts, and carry an umbrella: the city's museums and tea rooms make useful retreats when rain arrives.
Walk through Kenrokuen Garden
Kenrokumachi, Japan
Kenrokuen rewards a slow walk rather than a quick stop at its famous two-legged lantern. Paths link ponds, streams, old pines and small teahouses, with views carefully framed at every turn. Plum and cherry blossom brighten spring, autumn brings red maples, and winter's ropes support the pine branches against snow. Explore beyond the busiest pondside paths, then pause for tea. The neighbouring castle grounds make a natural continuation of the visit.
Seasonal gardens
Explore Kanazawa Castle Park
Marunouchi, Japan
Kanazawa Castle Park combines surviving gates and storehouses with carefully reconstructed buildings that explain the city's former power. Inside the long Gojukken Nagaya storehouse and adjoining turrets, displays reveal the timber joints and traditional techniques behind the restoration. Outside, broad lawns and stone walls lead towards Gyokuseninmaru Garden, where a pond and winding paths soften the fortifications. Pair the park with Kenrokuen, but leave enough time to appreciate the buildings rather than simply walking through.
Castle architecture and carpentry
Discover Higashi Chaya and Shima Teahouse
Higashiyama, Japan
Latticed wooden fronts and narrow lanes give Higashi Chaya its distinctive atmosphere. Walk the main street, then step into Shima, a preserved teahouse where rooms, instruments and household objects explain the entertainment once hosted here. Cafes and craft shops now occupy many neighbouring buildings, making it easy to combine history with a quiet break. Arrive early for a calmer stroll and remember that the district includes working businesses and private homes.
Historic teahouses
Visit the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
Hirosaka, Japan
This low, circular museum invites you to approach contemporary art from several directions. Its glass walls connect galleries with the surrounding city, while changing exhibitions sit alongside permanent installations and public spaces. Leandro Erlich's Swimming Pool plays with the illusion of being underwater, and James Turrell's work turns attention towards light and sky. Check the exhibition programme before visiting, as ticket arrangements and access to individual works vary. The museum is close to Kenrokuen and the castle.
Contemporary art and architecture
Pause at the D.T. Suzuki Museum
Hondamachi, Japan
Yoshio Taniguchi's small museum introduces the life and ideas of Buddhist philosopher D.T. Suzuki through writing, architecture and space. Corridors connect exhibition and learning rooms with a contemplative pavilion beside the Water Mirror Garden. The experience is deliberately quiet: read a little, sit by the water and allow the changing reflections to hold your attention. It makes a welcome pause between larger museums, especially for visitors interested in architecture or Japanese thought.
Quiet architecture and reflection
Walk Nagamachi and visit the Nomura Residence
Nagamachi, Japan
Earthen walls, narrow lanes and running canals preserve the character of Nagamachi, where samurai families once lived. The Nomura Residence adds an intimate view of that world through its rooms, objects and carefully arranged garden. Walk between the canals before or after your visit, allowing time to notice gates and details rather than treating the area as a single attraction. Nearby small museums introduce other parts of the neighbourhood's social history.
Samurai-era streets and gardens
Browse Omicho Market
Musashigatsuji, Japan
Omicho's covered lanes bring together fishmongers, produce stalls and small places to eat in the centre of Kanazawa. Go in the morning to see the market at work, then choose a seafood rice bowl or a few snacks from businesses that provide eating space. Seasonal fish and vegetables offer a useful introduction to the region's cooking. It is still a working market, so leave room for shoppers and deliveries and expect queues at popular lunch counters.
Seafood and local food shopping
Visit the National Crafts Museum
Dewamachi, Japan
Set in two restored Meiji-era buildings near Kenrokuen, the National Crafts Museum places ceramics, lacquer, textiles, metalwork and design in a broader artistic context. Changing exhibitions draw on Japanese and international work, offering a useful counterpoint to the city's traditional craft shops. The relocated studio of lacquer artist Matsuda Gonroku gives a closer sense of how objects are made. Look at the current programme before going, since the works on view change between exhibitions.
Modern crafts and design
Visit Oyama Shrine
Oyamamachi, Japan
Oyama Shrine's distinctive gate mixes Japanese, Chinese and Western influences, with coloured glass adding an unexpected detail above the entrance. Beyond it, the grounds honour Maeda Toshiie and his wife, closely associated with Kanazawa's history. A small garden with ponds and bridges provides a quieter place to linger. The shrine fits easily into a walk between the castle and central shopping streets, but deserves time for its architecture and peaceful grounds.
An unusual shrine gateway
Try a gold-leaf workshop at Sakuda
Higashi Chaya District, Japan
At Sakuda's main shop near Higashi Chaya, you can decorate a small object using the extraordinarily thin gold leaf associated with Kanazawa. Choose an item such as chopsticks, a plate or a box, create a pattern with masking tape, then apply the leaf with guidance from staff. The process demands a gentle touch but is accessible to beginners. Your finished piece goes home with you, making this a practical introduction to one of the city's best-known crafts.
Hands-on local craft