https://https://au.trip.com/toplist/tripbest/recommend/kanazawa/best-things-to-do/100000001735
Best Things to Do
Top 10 Best Things to Do in Kanazawa [2025]
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Kenroku-en
4.6
/5
263 reviews
5.5
Based on 5,940 reviews
583m from downtown
Phone +81762343800
Address: 1 Kenrokumachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0936, Japan
Recommended sightseeing time: 2 hours
Highlights:
Japanese garden artistry & techniques
Cherry & maple blossoms spot
Saved by 317 users128 positive reviews
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Kenrokuen Garden, located in the heart of Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, was shaped into its present-day form by the successive lords of the Kaga Domain. In ancient times, Kanazawa was Japan's fourth-largest city, boasting a "Kaga million koku" (million-koku) inhabitants. Located in the Hokuriku region, far from the turmoil of politics and war, the successive lords of the Kaga Domain strongly supported cultural endeavors. Leveraging its exceptional natural environment and rich cultural heritage, Kanazawa's nobles and commoners were active in gardening.
The construction of Kenrokuen Garden was a long process. Initially, the garden occupied a small, sloping plot on the west side. Only with the disintegration of central power within the shogunate did Kenrokuen Garden expand, ultimately becoming a vast garden. The guiding philosophy of Kenrokuen Garden, constructed by successive lords of the Kaga Domain, was the concept of the gods, with the pond as the sea and the islands as its companions. Therefore, within the vast Kasumi Pond, three islands—Pengcai, Hojo, and Eishu—are located, said to be the ideal habitats of the gods.
Kenrokuen Garden is not big, and it takes about an hour and a half to walk around it, which is a relatively slow pace. If you just rush around, you can finish the walk in half an hour. Overall, it is still worth a visit.
Omicho Market
4.6
/5
75 reviews
5.3
Based on 3,184 reviews
1.2 km from downtown
Phone +81762311462
Address: 50 Kamiomicho, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0905, Japan
Recommended sightseeing time: 2-3 hours
Highlights:
Taste fresh seafood rice bowls
300-year-old Edo-era charm
Saved by 229 users62% positive reviews
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Omi-cho Market has several doors and is quite large. In addition to the first floor, there are also shops upstairs. It mainly sells seafood, fruits and vegetables, etc. There is a flower shop inside. I saw that the price of Kawazu Sakura has dropped from 400 to 100 yen.
I came here three times and ate at three restaurants. I will come again to check in next time
Kanazawa Omicho Market is actually a bit similar to Osaka Kuromon Market, but it feels cleaner than Kuromon. There are many seafood and other fresh vegetables and fruits. It is the busiest here at noon, and you can eat the freshest seafood on the spot.
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
4.6
/5
110 reviews
5.2
Based on 2,234 reviews
214m from downtown
Phone +81762202800
Address: 1-chōme-2-1 Hirosaka, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8509, Japan
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-1.5 hours
Highlights:
14 rooms of diverse modern art
Artist workshops held regularly
Saved by 212 users46% positive reviews
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Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, you must visit the famous swimming pool. The key point is: make an appointment in advance for the swimming pool. If you arrive a few minutes early, you can't enter. According to the stipulated time, you have to wait for another 18 minutes. Each person is limited to 5 minutes, but it actually takes less than 5 minutes. I just took a few photos and left.
There are also many people visiting on weekdays
Interesting layout. Enjoyed my hour there, but it wasn’t as much art in there as I imagined. The pool was very popular with tourists, and you have to book ahead to be able to enter.
No.
4
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Higashi Chaya District (Eastern Teahouse District)
4.7
/5
97 reviews
5.0
Based on 2,688 reviews
1.6 km from downtown
Phone +81762202469
Address: 1 Chome Higashiyama, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0831, Japan
Recommended sightseeing time: 0.5-1 hour
Highlights:
Authentic geisha performance viewing
Historic teahouse & local shop
Saved by 239 users33% positive reviews
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Kanazawa Higashi Chaya Street is a place full of traditional Japanese style! The antique wooden buildings and stone paths make you feel like you have traveled back to the Edo period. There are many teahouses and small shops here where you can experience matcha, Japanese sweets, and even encounter geisha performances. It is especially romantic when the lanterns are lit in the evening, and it is a great place to take photos! It is a must-visit for those who like a slow pace and love taking photos when they come to Kanazawa!
Take the Northern Railway bus from Kanazawa East Tea House Street (ひがしChaya Street) in Hokuriku, Japan and get off at Hashibacho Station. The tea house is where Japanese geishas performed during the Edo period. It retains the flavor of the Edo period and is quite interesting for taking photos. It feels like it’s a popular spot in Kanazawa!
No.
5
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Kanazawa Castle Park
4.5
/5
45 reviews
4.7
Based on 2,236 reviews
566m from downtown
Phone +81762343800
Address: 1-1 Marunouchi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0937, Japan
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 hours
Highlights:
Winter lights illuminate brightly
Historic architecture & craftsmanship
92% positive reviews
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Kanazawa Castle is a majestic relic of Japan's Warring States Period. Although the white-walled and black-tiled castle tower is a reconstruction, it perfectly reproduces the glory of the Kaga Domain. The cherry blossoms in Kenrokuen Garden complement the ancient castle, where history and nature blend together. Walking through it, you can almost hear the sound of swords and the fragrance of tea from the samurai era.
Kanazawa Castle Park is very large and has beautiful scenery. It is suitable for a leisurely walk and enjoyment. The Nimaruden of Kanazawa Castle is still under restoration, and other parts of the ancient city that can be visited have just been restored. You can go and have a look. It is a good place to take your family for a stroll.
No.
6
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Nomura-ke Samurai Residence
4.8
/5
5 reviews
4.4
From £ 2.78
Based on 898 reviews
637m from downtown
Phone +810762213553
Address: 1 Chome-3-32 Nagamachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0865, Japan
Highlights:
Visit the 400-year-old Samurai Residence
Enjoy matcha and garden views at the upstairs teahouse
Verified user reviews
This is a lovely place well worth a visit. It features a spacious house with a Japanese garden, a quaint museum, and a tea room. You’ll often find many foreign tourists here
I went there in February.
The garden is beautifully maintained and has a lovely atmosphere.
Inside the mansion, there are exhibits such as armor, and you can enter the tea room, giving you a glimpse into life at the time.
Although it is not open to the public, there are many mansions in the surrounding area as well, so I was able to quietly look at them from the outside while exploring.
It was just the time when the plum blossoms were in full bloom, so it was also very charming.
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