Kanazawa, a historic city on Japan’s Sea of Japan coast, flourished under the powerful Maeda clan and still wears its Edo-era elegance with pride. Winding lanes, wooden teahouses, and tranquil gardens survive here not as museum pieces, but as living neighborhoods. The city is compact, walkable, and perfect for a 7-day itinerary that mixes culture, nature, and standout food.

Famous for Kenrokuen—often called one of Japan’s three great landscape gardens—Kanazawa also showcases samurai-era townhouses, contemporary art, and reflective modern architecture. Gold leaf crafts shimmer in shop windows, and local cuisine—Kaga ryōri, oden, and ultra-fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan—anchors every day. It’s a place where you can sip matcha in a 200-year-old teahouse at lunch and sample craft beer or sake by night.

Practical notes: Kanazawa is well connected by the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo, and via limited express plus shinkansen connection from Kyoto/Osaka. Many museums close on Mondays; Omicho Market is liveliest in the morning and some stalls close midweek. Day trips to Kaga Onsen and the gassho-zukuri villages are straightforward from Kanazawa, with buses and trains running frequently.

Kanazawa

Kanazawa blends samurai heritage with contemporary creativity. Wander the Higashi Chaya geisha district’s cedar-fronted tea houses, then step into the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art’s playful installations. In between, Omicho Market tempts with glistening crab, sweet shrimp, and heaping kaisendon seafood bowls.

Top sights include Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle Park, the Nagamachi samurai district (don’t miss Nomura-ke), and the serene D.T. Suzuki Museum. Gold leaf artisans at Hakuichi and Hakuza offer hands-on workshops—plus that photogenic gold-leaf soft serve.

Where to stay: For convenience, sleep near Kanazawa Station; for atmosphere, aim for Korinbo/Katamachi or near the chaya districts. Consider boutiques like KUMU Kanazawa, UAN Kanazawa, Hyatt Centric Kanazawa, Hotel Nikko Kanazawa, or a traditional ryokan such as Sumiyoshiya or Ryokan Yamamuro. Browse options on VRBO Kanazawa or compare hotels on Hotels.com Kanazawa.

Getting in: From Tokyo, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen (Kagayaki/Hakutaka) to Kanazawa in ~2.5–3 hours (~$90–$110 one-way). From Kyoto/Osaka, ride the Limited Express Thunderbird to Tsuruga, then transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen; total ~3 hours (~$60–$75). For flights, Komatsu Airport (KMQ) sits ~40 minutes away by bus. Check schedules and fares on Trip.com Trains and flights via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Day 1: Arrival, Station Landmarks, and Kanazawa Flavors

Morning: Travel to Kanazawa. If coming from Tokyo, the Hokuriku Shinkansen delivers you in ~2.5–3 hours; from Osaka/Kyoto, plan ~3 hours with a transfer at Tsuruga. Book rail on Trip.com Trains. Flyers can compare routes to Komatsu (KMQ) via Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com; the airport bus to Kanazawa Station takes ~40 minutes (~$9).

Afternoon: Check in near the station or Korinbo. Stroll the soaring Tsuzumi-mon Gate and the glassy Motenashi Dome at Kanazawa Station—modern icons that contrast the city’s Edo core. For a late lunch, try a kaisendon at Omicho Market: go for Morimori Sushi (thick-cut salmon, nodoguro/blackthroat seaperch) or Iki-iki-tei for a quick, standing-style bowl.

Evening: Dine at Izakaya Itaru (grilled nodoguro, Kaga vegetables, local sake) or Fuwari (seasonal small plates; arrive early to avoid queues). Nightcap at Oriental Brewing (Higashi location; yuzu ales and IPA) or a refined cocktail at Bar Hitoiki.

Day 2: Kenrokuen, Castle Park, and Higashi Chaya

Morning: Coffee and pastry at Curio Espresso & Vintage Design (excellent flat white; friendly expat-run spot). Enter Kenrokuen (¥320; ~1–2 hours): stroll around Kasumiga-ike Pond, the Kotojitoro lantern, and tea houses; in winter, note the yukitsuri ropes that protect trees from snow. Cross to Kanazawa Castle Park to see Ishikawa Gate and reconstructed turrets.

Afternoon: Walk to the Higashi Chaya District. Tour Shima Geisha House Museum (tea rooms preserved since 1820) and peek into Kaikaro’s glamorous tatami halls when open. Try a hands-on gold leaf experience at Hakuichi or Hakuza, then reward yourself with gold-leaf soft serve. Lunch on soba at Jiyuken (springy noodles, mountain vegetable tempura) or try Kanazawa curry at Champion Curry—thick, savory sauce over pork katsu.

Evening: Reserve counter seats at Maimon Sushi (high-quality conveyor style; local white shrimp in season). After dinner, wander Kazuemachi Chaya’s lantern-lit backstreets along the Asanogawa River for photographs and a quiet end to the night.

Day 3: Omicho Market, Samurai Quarter, and Contemporary Art

Morning: Arrive early to Omicho Market for tamago-yaki on a stick and hot miso soup before seafood shopping begins in earnest. Breakfast at Kaisendon-ya Umekichi (try the “omakase” bowl). Walk to the Nagamachi samurai district: tour Nomura-ke (polished woodwork, pocket garden) and the free Ashigaru Museum, showcasing foot-soldier dwellings.

Afternoon: Head to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art (free public zones; ticketed exhibitions ¥—varies). Then unwind at the D.T. Suzuki Museum, whose water-mirror courtyard and quiet galleries encourage contemplation. If time allows, browse the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art for regional treasures.

Evening: Splurge on Kaga kaiseki. Tsubajin (est. 1752) serves signature jibu-ni (duck simmered in a glossy sauce), while Zeniya offers a modern seasonal tasting menu—both require advance reservations. For a plant-forward local specialty, try Fumuroya Café (creative dishes built around Kanazawa’s delicate wheat gluten, “fu”).

Day 4: Day Trip to Kaga Onsen and Kakusenkei Gorge

Morning: Take a local train from Kanazawa to Kaga Onsen Station (~30–40 minutes; ~$6–$8; check Trip.com Trains). Bus or taxi to Yamanaka Onsen and walk the Kakusenkei Gorge: lush forest, the Ayatori (Cat’s Cradle) Bridge, and riverside tea huts.

Afternoon: Soak at a public bath (Kikunoyu) or in a ryokan day-use onsen. Lunch on local soba or Kaga tofu; for sweets, try kuromitsu-drizzled warabi-mochi. Continue to Yamashiro Onsen for Kutani-yaki pottery browsing; the Kutaniyaki Kiln Museum explains vivid five-color glazing traditions.

Evening: Return to Kanazawa (~1 hour). Casual dinner back in town: Hachiban Ramen (a beloved Ishikawa chain; miso or vegetable ramen) or grilled skewers near Korinbo. Toast the day with a Kanazawa craft gin and tonic at a small neighborhood bar.

Day 5: Shirakawa-go and Gokayama Gassho Villages

Morning: Bus from Kanazawa Station to Shirakawa-go (Ogimachi) takes ~1.25–1.5 hours (~$18–$22 one-way). Explore steep-roofed farmhouses designed to shed heavy snow; visit Wada House for interiors and tools. Hike or shuttle up to the Shiroyama viewpoint for the classic panorama.

Afternoon: Continue by bus to Gokayama’s Ainokura or Suganuma (quieter than Shirakawa-go). Try a brief washi paper experience if available, or simply linger over mountain views and irori hearth smoke drifting from thatch. Return to Kanazawa by early evening.

Evening: Warm up with Kanazawa oden. Akadama Honten is a local institution—order daikon, tofu, and local seafood simmered in a gentle broth—with a carafe of Ishikawa sake. Nightcap at Oriental Brewing (Korinbo) or slip into Jealous Guy for live blues if the schedule aligns.

Day 6: Temples, Ninja Temple, and Sake Tasting

Morning: Coffee and a light breakfast at HUM&Go in Korinbo. Wander the Teramachi temple district, then visit Myoryu-ji ("Ninja Temple"); reserve ahead by phone. Inside, secret stairways, trapdoors, and clever defenses reveal feudal ingenuity (tour in Japanese; English pamphlets available).

Afternoon: Taste and learn at Fukumitsuya Kanazawa, the city outpost of Ishikawa’s oldest sake brewery (founded 1625); sample junmai styles and pick up umeshu for gifts. If you skipped gold leaf earlier, book a short gilding workshop—coasters and chopsticks make packable souvenirs. Late lunch at Menya Taiga (rich miso ramen with a spicy kick) or a set meal of seasonal Kaga vegetables.

Evening: Dinner in the chaya area: Kappo-style counters serve grilled river fish and mountain greens in season; ask for local nodoguro when available. End with wagashi at Morihachi (est. 1625)—their layered “rakugan” and seasonal sweets pair beautifully with roasted hojicha.

Day 7: Last Looks, Souvenirs, and Departure

Morning: Revisit a favorite corner of Kenrokuen at opening time for crowd-free photos, or browse artisanal shops: Hakuza for gold leaf accessories, KUTANI SEAL for playful Kutani-ware decals, and Omicho for vacuum-packed seafood and seaweed snacks.

Afternoon: Brunch on a final kaisendon or a hearty Kanazawa curry before checkout. Depart Kanazawa by Hokuriku Shinkansen to Tokyo (~2.5–3h) or via Tsuruga to Kyoto/Osaka (~3h). Confirm trains on Trip.com Trains; flyers can compare KMQ routes on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Evening: If you have a late train, unwind with matcha in Gyokusen-en’s tearoom beside Kenrokuen or steal one last riverside stroll in Kazuemachi before you go.

With a week in Kanazawa, you experience a full spectrum: iconic Kenrokuen, living geisha culture, samurai history, and the craft of gold leaf—balanced with day trips to hot springs and UNESCO-listed thatched villages. It’s a city that lingers, not because it is loud, but because it is precise: in flavors, craftsmanship, and quiet beauty.