Are you looking to get lost in Japan’s famous geisha and samurai districts? Get away from the chaos of the big cities? Explore off the beaten path of the Japan tourist trail? Then Kanazawa is an essential stop on your visit to Japan, and this Kanazawa 2 day itinerary will help you make the most of your stay.
Kanazawa is one of my favourite cities in Japan. We arrived in Kanazawa from Tokyo and instantly felt a world away (despite being only a 2.5 hour train ride). The high-rise buildings were replaced with two-story teahouses, and the bullet trains were replaced with buses. Instead of navigating the busy subway to our accommodation, our host picked us up and drove us to our accommodation herself. The charming historic districts and relaxed pace of Kanazawa were a welcome change.
Kanazawa was a powerful city during the Edo period and is a treasure trove of history to explore to this day. Geisha and samurai districts from the period have been meticulously preserved. While many tourists flock to Kyoto to see districts from the era, you can have a similar experience in Kanazawa, but without the same crowds. Like much of Japan, Kanazawa is a city where tradition and modernity live side by side: explore the historic districts in the morning, then visit the contemporary art museum in the afternoon.
This blog is your complete Kanazawa itinerary: I provide a Kanazawa 2 day itinerary. But I’ve also given options for 1 day in Kanazawa, and other things to do if you have more than 2 days in Kanazawa. I’ve put my top recommendations into different itineraries depending on how long you have in this beautiful city. I’ve also included practical tips and day trips from Kanazawa if you’ve got a few days here, including how to visit Shirakawa-go, Takayama, and Gokayama in one day from Kanazawa.
In this post
- Kanazawa 2 day itinerary: Things you should know before you go
- Kanazawa itineraries at a glance
- Day 1 Kanazawa Itinerary: Gardens, green tea, and geisha
- Day 2 Kanazawa itinerary: Seafood, samurai and swimming pool (museum)
- Day trip to Shirakawa-go, Gokoyama, and Takayama
- Other things to do in Kanazawa
- Places to eat in Kanazawa
My website contains some affiliate links. If you choose to buy products or services through these links I may earn a small commission (at no cost to you).
Is Kanazawa worth visiting?
Kanazawa is a worthwhile stop on your visit to Japan. We found it was a perfect place to experience Japan’s history, culture, and gardens in a more relaxed atmosphere. While Kanazawa is a known tourist spot, it does not have the same crowds that we saw in many of the other cities we visited. It’s also a great base for day trips to onsen towns and rural villages. Many people visit Kanazawa between visiting Tokyo and Kyoto.
Kanazawa 2 day itinerary: Where should I stay in Kanazawa?
Being a compact city, Kanazawa has plenty of accommodation options that will have you close to many of the places that you will want to visit. We had a wonderful stay at a one-bedroom apartment called Pino te Colo, which was a 10 minute walk from the geisha districts, Kenroku-en garden, and Kanazawa Castle Park. The apartment had a kitchen and washing machine (which were essential for us travelling with our toddler). We loved feeling like we were in local neighbourhood while still being close to many of the tourist spots.
The Korinbo/downtown area is also great if you’re after more of a city atmosphere with plenty of shops, cafes, and restaurants. The Nagamachi Samurai district and Oyama shrine are super close to this area. The Korinbo area has plenty of great hotels to choose from, including modern Hotel Intergate Kanazawa which has an on-site onsen and raving reviews.
Kanazawa 2 day itinerary: How many days should I spend in Kanazawa?
I would recommend at least two days to explore Kanazawa. This will give you enough time to see the main sights and districts. If you have more time, 3-5 days in Kanazawa will allow you to explore the city at a more leisurely pace and use Kanazawa as a base to day trip to local onsen towns and rural villages.
Can you visit Kanazawa as a day trip?
While I recommend spending at least two days for your Kanazawa itinerary, it is possible to see the main sights of Kanazawa in just one day if that is all the time you have. I would recommend staying here for a night, and only attempt a day trip to Kanazawa if you are staying close by. The geisha districts, Kenroku-en garden, and castle grounds are all within about a 20 minute walk of each other.
How do you get around in Kanazawa?
Kanazawa doesn’t have a train or subway service, but that’s because it doesn’t need it. The city is relatively compact and flat, allowing you to walk between all of the main tourist sites. We didn’t use public transport once we arrived in Kanazawa, as we found the city really easy to walk around.
Kanazawa is also served by a great network of buses if you need. Check out the official Kanazawa page for more information.
What can I do on a rainy day in Kanazawa?
If you find yourself in Kanazawa on a rainy day, then day 2 of this itinerary will allow you to experience Kanazawa despite the weather. Omicho market is an undercover market, and the Nomura samurai Residence and Contemporary Art Museum are mostly indoors.
Is Kanazawa a family friendly destination?
I would highly recommend Kanazawa to families looking to experience Japan’s culture and history in a walkable city with a more relaxed atmosphere than the bigger cities. While Kanazawa is not the place to come for theme parks and kid-focussed activities, all of the main tourist sites can be visited and enjoyed with kids.
Our toddler loved watching the koi at Kenroku-en, wandering the car-free historic neighbourhoods, and playing in the arty playground outside the contemporary art museum. Kanazawa is very walkable and flat, making it a great spot to visit if your little one is still in a stroller or a slow walker.
Kanazawa itineraries at a glance
One day in Kanazawa: 1 day itinerary
Kanazawa 2 day itinerary
- Day 1 (follow 1 day itinerary)
- Day 2
- Day 3
Kanazawa itinerary: 1 and 2 day Kanazawa itineraries
Day 1 in Kanazawa
Kenroku-en Garden
Start your first day in Kanazawa with a visit to the immaculate Kenroku-en Garden. Arguably the most famous site in Kanazawa, it is best to visit early in the day so you can stroll around the gardens without quite as many other tourists. We visited the castle park first, and by the time we got to the gardens at 10am it was already quite busy.
The Kenroku-en Garden is one of the three great gardens of Japan and it is an incredible example of the traditional Japanese garden style. Check the maps as you stroll, as parts of the garden can be hard to spot. We almost missed the Hisagoike Pond by the entrance, and it ended up being my favourite part of the garden.
- Allow 1-2 hours
- Price: 320 yen and 100 yen for children 7-16 years. Free to visit an hour before official opening (check the official website for more information)
- Opening hours: 7am – 6pm in summer
- Kenrokuen official website
Traditional tea house experience or food stop
There are several tea houses inside the Kenroku-en Garden (including Shigure-tei and Uchihashi-tei) and Kanazawa Castle Park (including Gyokusen-an and Mamezarachaya). You can enjoy a traditional tea experience while taking in the picturesque surroundings of the gardens. This is also a great option if it is raining, as you can enjoy the garden from the comfort of indoors. There are also plenty of cafes directly outside the Kenroku-en entrance for you to stop for a snack or caffeine fix before continuing on to the castle grounds.
- Allow 30 minutes – 1 hour
- Prices vary
Kanazawa Castle Park
Cross the Ishikawa Bridge outside Kenroku-en and you will arrive at the Ishikawa-mon gate entrance to Kanazawa Castle Park. From here, you can explore the Kanazawa Castle Park grounds on your own or take a guided tour in English. We thoroughly enjoyed walking through the grounds and admiring the architecture from the outside. Our toddler was also very excited to see a snake bathing by the castle moat. The park and guided tour are free, but you can pay a small to visit the store house and turrets.
- Allow around 1 hour
- Price: Castle Park entry is free. Entry to the storehouse and watchtower is 310yen.
- Opening hours: 7am-6pm 1 Mar – 15 Oct. 8am-5pm 16 Oct to end of Feb.
- Two minute walk from the Kenroku-en Garden
- Kanazawa Castle Park Official Website
The Higashi Chaya District (Geisha district)
The Higashi Chaya district is a large traditional neighbourhood where geisha still perform in teahouses. Walking down the narrow streets you may think that many of the shops are closed, but behind the unassuming lattice windows are teahouses, cosy bars and delicious eateries.
Visit the Shima Geisha House and museum to see how Geisha lived, head to Hakuichi for gold-leaf ice cream, or visit the “gold house” out the back of the Hakuza Hikarigura store. The neighbourhood is also home to many stores selling all sorts of gold-leaf products.
In the centre of Higashi Chaya, the Kaikaro Geisha House is one of the few places where the public can see geisha perform. They are open to the public during the day only, not in the evening. See the Kaikaro official website for more information.
I loved exploring the Higashi Chaya district. The area is incredibly atmospheric: we really felt like we had stepped back in time. The buildings were immaculate and the streets were much quieter than the geisha districts we visited in Kyoto. There were hardly any cars in the area, which added to the vibe but also made for stress-free travel with our toddler who insisted on walking.
- Allow at least 2 hours to explore the streets, stores, museums, and eateries.
- Opening hours: Most shops and museums shut around 5pm, but bars and restaurants are open in the evenings.
- 15 minute walk from the Kanazawa Castle Park
Asanogawa river walk and Asanogawa Bridge
The Higashi Chaya District borders the Asanogawa river. Take the short but stunning walk alongside the river towards the Asanogawa Bridge and over to the Kazuemachi Chaya neighbourhood.
Allow 5-20 minutes, depending on your pace and how often you want to stop to take photos.
Kazuemachi Chaya District (Geisha district)
Kazuemachi is another geisha district preserved from the edo period. The main street of the district runs along the river between the Asanogawa Bridge and the Naka-no Hashi Bridge. Venture in to the narrow streets to admire the gorgeous wooden building.
You do not need as much time here, as Kazuemachi is a much smaller district and does not have the museums and stores that Higashi Chaya has. But it is certainly worth a visit and a perfect spot to take photos. Kazuemachi is particularly lovely to visit as the sun sets and the lights come on.
Allow around 30 minutes to explore the area.
Dinner at Huni or in the Higashi Chaya district
Kazuemachi has a few restaurants and bars if you want to stay in the district for dinner, but all of the options we saw in Kazuemachi were quite expensive. Alternatively, you can take the 5 minute walk back to the Higashi Chaya district for a wider range of dining and drinking options. Jiyuken is a great value option serving comforting food in the centre of the Higashi Chaya district.
We also had a fantastic experience at Huni dining bar, about a five minute walk down the river from the Kazuemachi district. This upmarket izakaya restaurant looks out onto the river and has both delicious food and incredible service.
Day 2: Kanazawa 2 day itinerary
Omicho Market
Start your second day with a visit to the “kitchen of Kanazawa”. The Omicho market sells seafood, meat, fresh produce, alcohol, and even some clothing and souvenirs. This is a covered market similar to the Nishiki market in Kyoto. There are plenty of restaurants inside the market, including speciality seafood and sushi restaurants.
We had a delicious ramen bowls at this Omicho market udon noodle restaurant. We ordered our meals at a ticket vending machine and sat at narrow bar overlooking the busy kitchen. As Kanazawa is a coastal city, the Omicho Market is great place to get your fresh seafood fix before continuing on to the next stop on your Kanazawa 2 day itinerary.
- Allow 1-2 hours, depending on whether you stop for a meal.
- Opening hours: Omicho Market is open 9am-5pm, 7 days. Restaurant opening hours vary, and some are closed on Sundays or mid week.
Oyama Shrine
- The Oyama Jinja shrine is a Buddist Shinto shrine that was established in the 16th century. The shrine is incredibly peaceful, and is surrounded by tranquil gardens with a pond. Stop at the entrance gate as you enter to admire the stained glass panels.
- Allow around 30 minutes
- Opening hours: 9am – 5pm
- Price: Free
- 10 minute walk from the Omicho Market
Nagamachi Buke Yashiki district (Samurai district)
The Nagamachi district is the area where samurai families lived, including during the Edo period. The neighbourhood sits between two canals and the traditional buildings are well preserved. The district is now home to many museums, shops and cafes. It is also a beautiful area to simply wander around in.
In addition to the Nomura Samurai house (more information below), there are several free museums in the Nagamachi district that showcase traditional houses. These include the Ashigaru Museum (two restored foot soldier houses) and the House of the Takada famiy (restored samurai house).
- Allow around 1 hour (in additional to time at the Nomura House)
- 10 minute walk from Oyama Shrine
Nomura Family Samurai House
A visit to the Nagamachi district is not complete without stopping in at the Nomura Samurai House. This restored samurai house contains a museum dedicated to samurai showcasing items from the Nomura family. The house is surrounded by a beautiful Japanese garden that you can admire from the porch, and there is a tea room upstairs where you can enjoy matcha overlooking the garden. Our toddler loved sitting on the porch and watching the koi fish up close.
- Allow around 1 hour, longer if you are going to visit the tearoom
- Prices: 550Y for adults, subsidised rates for children, children under.7 are free
- Opening hours: 8.30am-5.30pm April-September, 8.30am-4.30pm October-March
- Nomurake official website
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
A visit to the contemporary art museum is a change of scene after exploring the historic sights of Kanazawa. The museum was built in 2004 and hosts different exhibitions vary. Many people come to see the underground swimming pool installation, where you look like you’re walking underwater.
We enjoyed admiring the building, and our toddler had a lot of fun on the colourful play equipment outside.
- Allow 1-2 hours, depending on how many exhibits you want to see.
- Opening hours: 10am – 6pm Monday-Thursday. 10am-8pm Friday-Saturday. Closed Sunday.
- Prices: Museum/playground admission is free, but some exhibitions have a fee. To visit the pool exhibition you need to purchase an exhibition ticket and join an online waiting room (which opens at 9am on open days).
- 15 minute walk from Nomura Family Samurai House
- 21 Century Museum of Contemporary Art’s official website
Day 3: Kanazawa Itinerary
Day trips from Kanazawa: Shirakawa-go, Gokoyama, and Takayama
Kanazawa is an ideal place to day trip to the enchanting rural villages of Gokayama and Shirakawa-go, and the beautiful historic town of Takayama. I would highly recommend including this in your schedule if you have time during your stay in Kanazawa.
Gokayama and Shirakawa-go
Both Gokayama and Shirakawa-go are known for their perfect triangular houses with thatched roofs, and were a stark contrast to other towns and cities that we visited in Japan. We arrived in Shirakawa-go and felt we had arrived in a fairytale town. The charming village is surrounded by lush greenery, mountains, and a river which you have to cross on a footbridge. Stop in one of the many cosy cafes, or walk up the mountainside and be rewarded with some of the most idyllic views looking back down on the village.
Takayama
Finally, you will reach the historic alpine town of Takayama. Here, you can explore the merchant houses of the old town, visit the Shogun House: Takayama Jinya, or pop in to the exhibition hall displaying the floats used in the famous Takayama festival.
If you are staying in Takayama, a bus tour is a great way to get between Kanazawa and Takayama. You can see Shirakawa-go and Gokayama between destinations. Many tours offer the option of one-way transport to Takayama as well as the return trip to Kanazawa.
Transport options
There are several reputable tour companies offering different options depending on your budget and schedule. We found that tour options varied a lot depending on the day of the week. I’ve included some options below:
- We had a fantastic experience on the self-guided bus tour with Kousoku Bus. This gave us the flexibility of our own itinerary in each town, but with commentary and tips from a local guide during the bus journey. This tour only leaves on Friday-Sunday.
- This platinum route tour to Shirakawa-go and Takayama departs most Wednesdays and Thursdays, and includes a set meal lunch.
- If you’re after a more personalised experience, there are private options available like this Shirakawa-go/Takayama private tour, which give you flexibility to choose your own itinerary.
Other things to do in Kanazawa
The relaxed atmosphere of Kanazawa makes it a perfect place to spend several days if you have the luxury of time in your Japan itinerary. Accommodation options also tend to be more affordable than the bigger cities, while still having plenty of options to choose from.
I’ve put together a list of other things you can do in Kanazawa if you have more time in this wonderful city.
- Enjoy an onsen. Kanazawa has many local bathhouses, or you can do a day trip to one of the nearby onsen towns such as Yawaku onsen or Kaga onsen.
- Visit the DT Suzuki Museum (dedicated to the Kanazawa-born zen buddhist philosopher, and also home to three zen gardens).
- Stroll through Gyokuseninmaru Park (small Japanese garden next to the Kanazawa Castle Park with a light show at sunset on Fridays and Saturdays).
- Do a tour of the Fukumitsuya Sake Brewery.
Get lost in the secret rooms and maze-like passages of the “ninja temple”: Myouryuji. Note: This isn’t open to pre-school aged children.
Visit more of Kanazawa’s many museums, including the Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum or the Kaga-Yuzen Kimono Centre.
Kanazawa 2 day itinerary: Places to eat in Kanazawa
There are plenty of fantastic places to eat in Kanazawa. Whether you want traditional Japanese food, fresh seafood, souffle pancakes, or a delicious coffee.
I’ve put together my list of favourite places that we ate in Kanazawa:
- Cafe Tamon: Lovely spot in the Higashi Chaya district for fluffy souffle pankcakes with sweet and savoury toppings.
- Jiyuken: Japanese westernised restaurant serving tasty and budget-friendly options in the centre of the Higashi Chaya district. We really enjoyed the omurice here.
- Hakuichi Higashiyama: Come here for gold-leaf ice cream (and any other gold leaf souvenir you can imagine).
- Huni: Modern, upmarket izakaya restaurant with delicious food and incredible service. Set in an old house with a small museum upstairs and overlooking the Asano river.
- Ishikawamon Coffee: cafe serving delicious coffee, and conveniently located a few minutes walk from the Kenrokuen Garden.
- Bar Gauche: cosy spot in the Higashi Chaya district for a tea or something stronger.
How to get to Kanazawa
Kanazawa is well connected to many of the major cities through the Shinkansen (bullet train). The Hokuriku Shinkansen connects Kanazawa with Tokyo (3 hours), Kyoto(2 hours), Osaka (2.5 hours) and Toyama (45 minutes). We used our JR Pass to get to Kanazawa from Tokyo, and then continued on to Kyoto after our time in Kanazawa.
There are also several buses between Kanazawa and the major cities, which tend to take at least twice as long as the train journeys. Bus is a great option if you are travelling to Takayama or Shirakawa-go, as there is no train route between these cities.
