Kanazawa Attractions

Located on the side of the Sea of Japan, Kanazawa has been spared from the wars several times and hence preserves a large number of historical sites, earning the reputation as “Little Kyoto”. Kanazawa attractions including traditional Japanese style Kenroku-en Garden with magnificent scenery in all seasons, Kanazawa Castle with rich historical and cultural charm, Higashichaya Old Town with geisha performances and ancient teahouses, Omicho Market with various fresh seafood and delicacies, Ninjadera with hidden traps and rooms, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art with the charm of craft and art, and Oyama Shrine and Ozaki Shrine with stunning scenery, are all worth your time. Kanazawa is definitely an excellent tourist destination for foreign tourists who want to experience and understand the unique beauty of Japan.  

Top Kanazawa Attractions to Visit

1. Kenroku-en Garden

Kenroku-en Garden Photos ( 28 )

Kenroku-en Garden is one of the three most famous gardens in Japan. There are many must-visit scenic spots such as fountain, Kotoji Stone Lantern, Flower Viewing Bridge and Kasumiga-ike Pond. You can also enjoy the magnificent scenery all year round, like plum and cherry blossoms in spring; iris, azalea, and dynamic waterfall in summer; red maple leaves and Yukisuri in autumn and snow scenery in winter. In addition, the garden also holds lighting activities in some evenings every year, during which it is open for free!

2. Kanazawa Castle

Kanazawa Castle Photos ( 16 )

As one of the most famous scenic spots in Kanazawa, Kanazawa Castle was built in 16th century. Although its Main Keep has been torn down by fire, visitors can still tell its grandness and glamour from existing exquisite architectures including three gates and three buildings. Three gates refers to Hashizume mon, Kahoku mon and Nezumita mon. The three buildings are Hishi Yagura, Gojukken Najaya and Hashizume-mon Tsuzuki Yagura. In addition, there is also a Gyokusen’inmaru Garden, where you can enjoy beautiful flowers and other natural scenery like cherry blossoms in spring.

3. Higashichaya Old Town

Higashichaya Old Town Photos ( 26 )

Higashichaya Old Town is Kanazawa’s most famous and largest geisha district. But it’s not common for tourists to enjoy a geisha performance as a regular travel arrangement, because reservations from geisha’s acquaintances is a must. However, you can visit these ancient teahouses there as you wish, like Shima and Kaikaro, experience gold leaf craft and admire the exhibitions of gold leaf galleries. 

Except for Higashichaya Old Town, there are two other geisha districts in Kanazawa, Kazuemachi and Nishi Chaya Districts. Located on the banks of Asano River, Kazuemachi is three minutes walking away from the famous Higashichaya Old Town. Kazuemachi is known for its quaint street view, with the road lined with restaurants and bars, and with path and vertical grid doors one after another. Nishi Chaya District is small with a flagstone road stretching for about 100 meters (110 yards). If you’re lucky, you’ll also come across the geishas in kimonos going to the banquet. These three districts give different charm at night when the lights are turned on. 

4. Ninjadera 

Ninjadera, also known as Myoryuji Temple, is a Buddhism temple having a long history and mysterious atmosphere. It is like an escape prison game house with hidden traps and secret rooms. And there preserved many exhibitions and items related to ninjas, through which visitors can have a deep impression of the history and culture about ninjas. Before visiting, you need to make a reservation in advance.

5. Omicho Market

Omicho Market Photos ( 10 )

Omicho Market, known as Kanazawa’s Kitchen, is the biggest food market in Kanazawa with more than 170 shops providing various fresh seafood, vegetables, fruits, local produce and other food materials. It’s very recommend to have a taste of seafood donburi extravagantly adding a large amount of seasonal seafood. In addition, flowers, clothes and housing items are also available here. 

6. 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art

As the contemporary art center of Kanazawa, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art opened in 2004 exhibits numerous artworks. Visitors can even touch or sit on some experimental contemporary artworks, making it popular among both adults and children. The charming circular design of the museum has also won the Golden Lion Award at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2004. The biggest highlight is Argentine installation artist Leandro Erlich’s “swimming pool”. There is also a wall decorated with flowers collected from the suburbs of Kanazawa and a roof garden, where you can overlook the whole Kanazawa. In addition, the shops of the museum offer a variety of products, such as museum souvenirs, accessories, and selected items. It is ranked as important tourist resources in Kanazawa together with nearby Kenroku-en Garden and Kanazawa Castle.

7. Tsuzumi-mon Gate 

Tsuzumi-mon Gate

Located outside the east exit of Kanazawa Station, Tsuzumi-mon Gate is designed based on the traditional small drum of Japan and it has become a symbol of Kanazawa now. The modern glass structure on the top is like an umbrella for tourists visiting Kanazawa. 
 

8. Oyama Shrine 

As an iconic shrine of Kanazawa, Oyama Shrine worships Maeda Toshiie, the founder of the Kaga clan and his wife, Omatsu no Kata. The front gate of the shrine is three-story blending Japanese, Western and Chinese styles. As it was built in 1875, it is now designated as an important cultural property of Japan. Inside the Oyama Shrine, you can enjoy the scenery including the fake island shaped by ancient instruments such as pipa, the pond and strolling-style garden with a bridge. In addition, there are portraits of Maeda Toshiie and his wife placed within the shrine.

9. The Samurai District 

There are many well-preserved samurai houses along two canals of the Samurai District, which is a great site to have a glimpse of the life and culture of samurai. Among these houses, Nomura-ke Samurai Residence belongs to two of the eight high-ranking officials of Kaga clan, which was also the residence of the middle and upper-class samurai at that time. After entering modern times, although the appearance of folk housing has been changed, architectural relics such as narrow paths, earthen walls, and long house doors have been well preserved. You can also find cafes and restaurants in the Samurai District.

More Kanazawa Attractions to Visit

1. Ozaki Shrine

Ozaki Shrine, originally named Toshogu Shrine, was built in 1643 by Mitsutaka Maeda, the third lord of the Kaga Domain. The shrine is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the last shogunate in Japan. During the Meiji period (1868–1912), it was renamed Ozaki Shrine. With magnificent architectural style and exquisite details, it has been designated as an important cultural asset of Japan.

2. Ishiura Shrine

Ishiura Shrine Photos ( 10 )

Founded about 1,500 years ago, Ishiura Shrine is the oldest shrine of Japan. It is said that it is a very good place to seek for happy marriage and this place has attracted many female visitors. In addition, its mascot “KIMA-CHAN” with a black hat is very cute and well-designed. The guard in the shape of a polka dot carries the beautiful meaning of “everything is for the best”.

3. D.T. Suzuki Museum

D.T. Suzuki Museum is built to memorize D.T.Suzuki who is one of the most famous Buddhist philosophers in Japan and is renowned worldwide. D.T. Suzuki Museum is comprised of three buildings including entrance building, exhibition building and contemplation space building and three gardens including the vestibule garden, the water mirror garden, and the open field garden. It provides English guide service. D.T. Suzuki Museum is not a place to enjoy scenery but a place where you can freely think and find inner peace.

4. Utatsuyama Park

Located to the east of Kanazawa Castle and having an altitude of 141 meters (462 feet), Utatsuyama Park is entirely based on the Mountain Utatsuyama. There is marvelous scenery like the cherry blossoms in spring, the new green in early summer and the red leaves in autumn. From the mountain, you can have a bird’s eye view of Kanazawa. On sunny days, you can even overlook the Sea of Japan from Boukodai Observatory. It is also a popular tourist destination with a beautiful night view. There are also many monuments and literary monuments that are worth visiting.