3-Day Kanazawa Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Kanazawa is one of Japan's best-kept secrets. Tucked along the Sea of Japan coast on Honshu Island, this city survived World War II almost entirely intact, which means it still holds centuries-old samurai districts, geisha quarters, and traditional craft workshops that many other Japanese cities lost long ago.
Fun Fact: Kanazawa produces over 99% of Japan's gold leaf. You will find this shimmering material on buildings, food, crafts, and even on soft-serve ice cream sold on street corners in the old town.
Discover Kanazawa’s enchanting blend of history and modernity in our Full-Day Private Walking Tour. Journey through ancient samurai districts, vibrant markets, and chic urban streets, all while guided by a local expert.
Day 1 – Geisha Districts, Omicho Market & Gold Leaf
Start your first day by diving into the most atmospheric parts of Kanazawa. This day is all about the city's cultural soul — geisha culture, fresh seafood, and the gold leaf tradition that makes Kanazawa unlike anywhere else in Japan.
Kanazawa Station (Morning Arrival)
Start at Kanazawa Station — itself a beautiful piece of architecture. The famous Tsuzumi-mon gate at the East Exit is shaped like the traditional hand drums of Japanese Noh theater and is one of the most photographed spots in the city. Pick up your free map from the Tourist Information Center inside the station.
Higashi Chaya District (9:00 AM)
Take the Right Loop Bus to the Higashi Chaya District — the most famous and best-preserved geisha district in Kanazawa. The streets here are lined with two-story wooden teahouses that date back to the early 1800s.
Walk slowly through the lanes, peer into the shops selling gold leaf goods, wagashi sweets, and traditional crafts, and step inside Shima House, a restored geisha residence that is open to visitors for a small fee. The Kaikanro teahouse is another highlight — it still operates as a geisha venue at night, but opens during the day as a café serving sweets and tea.
Omicho Market (11:00 AM)
Head over to Omicho Market, Kanazawa's most famous covered food market and the city's "kitchen" for over 300 years. More than 170 shops and stalls crowd this lively market, selling fresh fish, seafood, vegetables, pickles, and local snacks.
The market is famous for its crab in winter and for the freshest sushi you will find anywhere. Try a sushi bowl (kaisen-don) for lunch at one of the many sushi restaurants inside the market. Arrive before noon to see the market at its busiest and most colorful.
Kazuemachi Geisha District (Early Afternoon)
After lunch, walk south along the Asano River to reach Kazuemachi, the smallest and most intimate of Kanazawa's three geisha districts. Unlike the more touristy Higashi Chaya, Kazuemachi feels genuinely local. The wooden teahouses line the riverbank, and the entire scene is especially beautiful at dusk or early evening when the lanterns glow.
Enjoy a fun night in Kanazawa with this 3.5-hour foodie tour. Try delicious local dishes, sip sake, and explore historic Samurai streets with a friendly guide.
Hakuza Gold Leaf Shop & Gold Leaf Ice Cream (Afternoon)
No visit to Kanazawa is complete without experiencing the gold leaf culture. Stop by the Hakuza Gold Leaf shop, where you can watch artisans beat gold into impossibly thin sheets and see products covered in shimmering leaf.
Then try Kanazawa's most famous street food: soft-serve ice cream topped with a large sheet of edible gold leaf. It tastes delicious, and the photos are unforgettable.
Evening: Have dinner in the Katamachi area, Kanazawa's nightlife hub, full of izakaya bars, ramen shops, and local restaurants. Try Kanazawa-style sushi or a bowl of fresh kani (crab) if you visit in winter.
Day 2 – Kenroku-en Garden, Kanazawa Castle & Contemporary Art
Kenroku-en Garden (8:00 AM – Early Morning)
Arrive at Kenroku-en as early as possible, ideally right when it opens at 7:00 AM (March–October) or 8:00 AM (November–February). The garden is at its most peaceful in the morning before the day-trippers arrive.
Kenroku-en is one of Japan's Three Great Gardens — a title it shares with Kairaku-en in Mito and Koraku-en in Okayama. The name means "garden with six attributes" and refers to the six qualities of a perfect landscape garden: spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, abundant water, and broad views.
It lives up to all six. Wander the paths past pine-lined ponds, stone lanterns, waterfalls, and teahouses. Allow at least 90 minutes. Admission is ¥320 for adults.
Seison-kaku Villa (Inside Kenroku-en)
While you are in Kenroku-en, consider the short walk to Seison-kaku Villa, a gorgeous Edo-period villa built in 1863 for the mother of a Maeda clan lord. The interior decorations are extraordinary — you will see rooms done in different regional styles, each with unique materials and colours. Entry costs a little extra at ¥700, but it is genuinely worth it.
Kanazawa Castle Park (10:30 AM)
Kanazawa Castle sits just across the road from Kenroku-en. The castle was originally built in 1580 but has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times throughout its history. The current structures are careful reconstructions that give a real sense of the original architecture.
The park surrounding the castle is free to enter, while the main interior buildings cost ¥310 to enter. The turrets offer great views over the surrounding city. Spend about an hour here exploring the grounds and the stunning Ishikawa-mon Gate at the entrance.
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art (1:00 PM)
This is one of the most unique museums in all of Japan. The circular glass building with no front or back is designed to feel open and welcoming from every angle. Inside, the interactive exhibits change regularly, but the permanent installation "Swimming Pool" by Argentine artist Leandro Erlich is the one everyone talks about.
It creates the optical illusion of an actual pool filled with water — you can stand below and look up through the "water" at people walking on top. Admission varies by exhibition, with some areas free. Budget 1.5–2 hours here. It draws over a million visitors a year, so avoid peak midday hours if possible.
D.T. Suzuki Museum (Late Afternoon)
If you want a quieter, more meditative experience, the D.T. Suzuki Museum is wonderful. It is dedicated to the life and work of Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki, a Kanazawa-born philosopher who introduced Zen Buddhism to the Western world in the 20th century. The museum is small, calm, and thoughtfully designed with a beautiful water garden where you can sit and reflect. It is a genuine hidden gem.
Evening: Head to the Nishi Chaya (Western Geisha) District for an evening stroll. This district is less visited than the eastern one and has a quieter, more genuine feel. Have dinner nearby and keep your eyes open for the occasional sound of shamisen music drifting from a teahouse window.
Day 3 – Samurai District, Ninja Temple & Day Trip Options
Nagamachi Samurai District (Morning)
Begin the morning in Nagamachi, Kanazawa's best-preserved samurai residential quarter. The streets here are paved with stone, lined with mud-plastered walls (dozo), and crossed by a small water canal — it is one of the most photogenic neighbourhoods in all of Japan.
Several old samurai residences can be explored, the most famous being the Nomura Samurai House. Inside, you will find original armour, antique weapons, hanging scrolls, and a beautifully maintained garden. The house has been designated an Important Cultural Asset. Entry is ¥550 per adult and the tour takes about 45 minutes.
Myoryu-ji Temple — The "Ninja Temple" (11:00 AM)
A short walk from Nagamachi is Myoryu-ji Temple, nicknamed the "Ninja Temple"—though it has no real connection to ninjas. The name comes from its incredibly complex interior: trick staircases, hidden rooms, trap doors, secret escape routes, and a moat hidden under the floor.
The temple was built in 1643 as a strategic defence against potential attack. You must book a guided tour in advance (phone reservations required), and all tours are conducted in Japanese, but English-language booklets are provided. The tour costs ¥1,000 per adult and takes about 40 minutes. It is genuinely fascinating and one of the most memorable things you can do in Kanazawa.
National Crafts Museum (Afternoon)
If you want to understand Kanazawa's deep connection with the crafts world, the National Crafts Museum (moved to Kanazawa in 2020) is excellent. It holds a major collection of traditional Japanese crafts, including lacquerware, textiles, ceramics, and metalwork. The building itself, a converted army storage house, is striking. Entry is ¥200 for the permanent collection.
Day Trip Option: Noto Peninsula or Shirakawa-go
If you have the time and energy, Kanazawa is an ideal base for exploring nearby destinations. The Noto Peninsula to the north offers a dramatic Sea of Japan coastline, fishing villages, and traditional seafood culture that feels completely untouched by mass tourism.
Alternatively, Shirakawa-go (a UNESCO World Heritage village of traditional thatched-roof farmhouses) is about 1.5 hours by bus from Kanazawa Station and makes for a magical day trip — especially in winter when the rooftops are covered in snow.
Final Evening: Return to the Higashi Chaya district at dusk for an atmospheric evening walk — the wooden teahouses lit up in warm golden light are the perfect final memory of Kanazawa. Have a farewell dinner at one of the local kaiseki restaurants where seasonal Kanazawa cuisine is served in multiple beautifully presented courses.
Estimated Budget for 3 Days in Kanazawa
Kanazawa is generally more affordable than Tokyo or Kyoto, though not dramatically so. Here is a rough daily cost breakdown to help you plan. Prices are in Japanese Yen (¥) and are approximate 2025 figures.
Note: The transport cost from Tokyo (Shinkansen: ~¥14,000 one way) is not included above. If you have a JR Pass, this journey is included and represents significant savings.
