BUNDLE: Kanazawa, Japan: Castles, Samurai, & Perfect Gardens
How to use this guide:
🗺️ Click on the "map" feature to see where each of our recs is located! You can also open an individual rec and click "directions" to map to it using Apple or Google Maps.
🍽️ If we recommend reserving your table for a particular restaurant in advance, you'll find links in the relevant place cards below.
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A History of Kanazawa
Kanazawa has a rich history dating back to the Edo period (1603–1868). Initially a castle town, Kanazawa prospered under the powerful Maeda clan, ruling the region as one of the wealthiest feudal domains outside Tokyo (formerly Edo) and Osaka.
Despite the upheavals of modernization and the ravages of World War II, Kanazawa managed to preserve much of its cultural heritage, including the historical districts and traditional crafts still celebrated today.
In recent decades, Kanazawa has been revitalized, leveraging its rich history and cultural assets to become a vibrant destination for travelers, offering a captivating blend of history, art, and culinary delights for all who visit.
The 5 main areas of interest are:
🏯 Kanazawa Castle: Iconic 16th-century castle offering insights into Japan's feudal past.
🌸 Kenrokuen Garden: One of Japan's most beautiful landscape gardens, famed for seasonal beauty.
🎎 Higashi Chaya District: Preserved geisha district with traditional wooden teahouses.
🏵️ Nagamachi Samurai District: Retains samurai-era ambiance with well-preserved residences.
🍣 Omicho Market: Bustling market offering fresh seafood and local delicacies.
Food & drink to try:
🍣 Sushi: local seafood includes snow crab, yellowtail, and sea bream.
🍜 Soba: noodles made from buckwheat flour and served hot or cold.
🥩 Wagyu Beef: this meat is known for its exceptional marbling and melt-in-your-mouth texture.
🥢 Kaiseki Ryori: a traditional multi-course Japanese meal that highlights seasonal ingredients and meticulous presentation.
🍷 Umeshu (Plum Wine): umeshu is a sweet and aromatic alcoholic beverage made by steeping Japanese plums in shochu (a distilled spirit) and sugar.
🍺 Craft Beer: this has become increasingly popular in Japan, and Kanazawa is no exception.
🍶 Sake: as with many regions in Japan, Kanazawa offers its own selection of sake, often brewed with local rice and water.
🍦Gold Leaf Ice Cream: a delectable treat where creamy soft-serve ice cream is topped with delicate flakes of edible gold leaf.
How to get from the train station to the city center:
The easiest way is to use an Uber or a taxi; it's cheap and convenient. The taxi queue is just outside the train station.
Internet in Japan
Getting your phone connected in Japan can be very expensive. We highly recommend ordering a Portable Router for the duration of your trip. They send it directly to your hotel with a bag and charger included. Returning the device is as simple as dropping it off at the airport mailbox.
Day 1
This itinerary will assume you arrive at a Kanazawa in the afternoon, right around lunchtime.
We've tried our best to plan the most efficient routes through the city, which sometimes involves a bit of back-and-forth. It's just the nature of the area.
Check into your hotel:
You're probably in need of a caffeine boost, so once you get settled into your hotel, make the short walk to Cafe kan for some delicious matcha.
If you’re hungry, grab a snack from 7-Eleven near the hotel to tide you over until dinner. We suggest having a little picnic in the park just outside of the castle!
Continue through the park to enter the main castle grounds!
Once you've finished wandering around the castle, leave through the Ishikawa-mon Gate towards the Kenroku-en garden. Over the bridge, you'll find a row of souvenir shops, a gold leaf store (with gold leaf soft serve!), and a coffee shop.
We highly recommend Aashirwad for dinner. It's a small space, so it can get busy, but it was worth the wait. The owners and servers were all lovely. You really can't go wrong here.
Check out Shu Shu after dinner for an excellent Sake experience.
Day 2
The following day, head out to a street lined with tons of coffee shops and the sweetest little bakery.
Take your pick:
Then, make your way to the Samurai District.
There are a couple of cafes nearby that are perfect for a quick snack & drink.
Afterwards, it’s off to see the fantastic Shinto shrine and one of the 3 perfect gardens of Japan.
After visiting the shrine, walk across the bridge to the Castle Grounds. Pop by the beautiful Gyokuseninmaru Park, before following the road around the Castle to Kenroku-en.
This garden is vast, so enjoy wandering the paths and scenic atmosphere.
Each experience includes a timed entry, so you may have to wait until you arrive. The next timeslot will be posted in front of the tea house.
Kanazawa is famous for its seafood, and this fame is on display at Omicho Market which features seafood stands, vegetable stands, restaurants, and more.
Head here to grab something to eat after wandering the park.
After lunch, visit the historic Higashi Chaya District.
Here, you'll find various traditional restaurants, local artisan shops, and teahouses that offer Geisha performances. We recommend just wandering this area and popping into the various shops.
If you have extra time before dinner, consider walking further to Utatsuyama Park. Utatsuyama has some gorgeous views of the city and offers a natural respite. Head to "Overlook Hill" on the map and make your way from there.
When you're ready for dinner, head to a modern pizza and craft beer place by the river for an alternative experience.
If you have the budget and want a genuinely Kanazawan experience, book at one of the Kaiseki restaurants in the city.
These are food experiences and will often last multiple hours with many courses. Booking ahead is a necessity.
Explore the quiet, dimly lit streets before stopping at a classy sake/cocktail bar.
Some bars in this area often have very little seating and require you to remove your shoes! Expect a quiet, personal experience with expertly crafted cocktails.
Day 3
Head out for a tasty breakfast and coffee to finish your time in Kanazawa. Depending on your train time, look at the "Extra Time" section to help decide how to spend your last day.
Leave yourself 30 mins to get to the Kanazawa station with plenty of time!
Again, we recommend using an Uber to get to the train station.
Have more time?
Check out the area south of Kanazawa Castle.
Here, you'll find multiple museums and a trendy shopping street highlighting Kanazawa's modern side. Wander down Tatemachi Street for the best clothes shopping in the city.
Activities:
Below is a list of unique activities we recommend adding to your trip to enhance your cultural experience.
Thank you so much for your purchase!
We hope you have the most amazing time in Kanazawa.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out at olivia.frances.biz@gmail.com.
Also, don’t forget to spread the word about our guides to your friends and family! ✨
- Jack and Liv
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