Location: Kanazawa
Top Things to do in Kanazawa
What to do and see in Kanazawa, Chubu: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do
Kanazawa (金沢市, Kanazawa-shi) is a city located in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 January 2018, the city had an estimated population of 466,029 in 203,271 households, and a population density of 290 persons per km². The total area of the city was 468.64 square kilometres (180.94 sq mi). It is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture.
Restaurants in Kanazawa
1. Dolls Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 122 reviews
Japan is one of the biggest doll’s possession country that the world has ever seen. In Japan, people have used various crafting methods in order to create dolls. We establish Doll’s Museum in Nishi Chaya district, Kanazawa city, Ishikawa prefecture so that you can enjoy traditional Japanese dolls which have been loved by Japanese people for long time.
Reviewed By fkt2019
Saw this museum at Tripadvisor and we decided to pay a visit. Location is easy to find and the ladies from the museum are kins enough to welcome us with home made green tea. It is awesome to see the ko collection of dolls that the owner keeps and truly interesting to see how different provinces producing their own unique dolls. Personally like the wooden dolls from all over Japan, too bad it is not for sell. Go earlier so that u can spend more times there seeing the doll one by one.
2. Kenrokuen Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,780 reviews
This beautiful park contains one of the top three celebrated gardens in Japan. The name Kenrokuen literally translates to “garden combining six”, referring to the six attributes all gardens should have: seclusion, antiquity, spaciousness, human ingenuity, water and scenic views.
Reviewed By 400kayl - Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Outside Kanazawa Castle, these magnificent gardens attract visitors near and far to experience the serene, peaceful, zen ambience and the tranquil, calm waters with lots of quiet time amongst the pine trees and cherry blossoms. Located at Kanazawa, this region is famous for its gold leaf industry, which can be sampled as gold-decorated ice-cream. It is now a regional commercial centre and transportation hub for Ishikawa Prefecture. There are multiple outlets, selling gold-themed items, cosmetics and desserts. Choose ice-cream with gold sprinkles, gold (See my HAKUICHI review) sheets or gold tinsel garlands. Besides the lacquer and gold-mix-lacquer-work, the plum and cherry blossoms are also a major attraction here. There are some engineering feats, designs and techniques in the garden, such as the natural water fountain without any pressure system, or the bamboo supports which form the backbone for juvenile and senile trees. Many famous pictures show snow on the supporting ropes and bamboo, which illuminated at night appear as Christmas tree props. There is an earthy tone throughout the park, emphasizing the wonders and powers of nature interspersed with the gentle, soft colors and texture of the flora. Walk to Kasumigaike Pond and see the karasaki pine tree with its horizontal branch propped up by sticks. There are many bridges and footpaths traversing ponds and streams. The kotoji lantern at the lake is another photogenic site. The 6 Confucian virtues and elements; seclusion, antiquity, spaciousness, human ingenuity, water and scenic views are embodied in the design, character and layout of this traditional Japanese garden. Our group visited on a sunny morning, then continued our journey to snowy SHIRAKAWAGO (see my review) in the afternoon!
3. Gyokusen-en
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 64 reviews
This 300-year-old garden has a tearoom that offers a serene setting for sipping green tea and eating sweet bean cakes.
Reviewed By JnJapan
It's a great place to catch your breath after walking around the castle. Not too many places to sit, but there is a teahouse to enjoy a beverage. Great place for pictures! Cross the bridge behind the teahouse and make your way to Korinbo/Katamachi area for food.
4. D. T. Suzuki Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 440 reviews
Reviewed By 759chinh - Singapore, Singapore
A wonderful example of contemporary Zen architecture. On a quiet day, the spaces are perfect for contemplation. Using light, lack of light, walls, windows and long corridors, the designers created an expansive space with a small footprint.
5. Kanazawa Phonograph Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 91 reviews
Reviewed By Emily2018_G_Scott - Sydney, Australia
Came into the phonograph museum using the day bus ticket and you will get 50yen discount, 250 yen entrance fee. It houses a wide collection of phonographs, music recorder in the older days before digital music. It is so impressive and historical, forgot that music recorder was invented by Thomas Edison, same inventor who gave us light bulb. There are a few sessions a day to showcase and explain the workings of some phonograph so try to catch that. In addition, on Sunday, they show case the oldest piano recorder in the world. On level 3, you can listen to some of the LPs in collection. I listened to Wham - Make it Big LP. Careless Whispers sounded like live. Highly recommended if you love music.
6. Kanazawa Station Tourist Information Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 313 reviews
Kanazawa City Tourism Association
Reviewed By 952fabians
the lady at the info desk solved the problem for us to arrive in Shirakawa-go, after we discovered that the only bus company service in the city was already fully booked. fantastic, thank you
7. Kanazawa Station
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,671 reviews
Reviewed By DGandJudy - Ann Arbor, United States
The new Kanazawa station, built for the coming of the Shinkansen bullet trains in 2014, is great - has every amenity you could want, and is small enough to be easily negotiated. Be sure to stop by the Tourist Information Center, staffed by knowledgeable and friendly Good Will Guides volunteers, before setting out into the city. The east entrance (shown in the picture) is a striking combination of the old and new, with the traditional wooden torii gate juxtaposed in front of the ultramodern station building; the water clock (behind the photographer) is a fun place for photos.
8. Gyokusen-immaru Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 171 reviews
Reviewed By 31hartonot - Medan, Indonesia
This beautiful small park with pond is one of the well preserved park inside the castle park. A few steps up and down in order to reach the park from the castle and if you are in wheelchairs then you can reach this park from Ohori dori avenue. A tea pavilion just facing the small pond to enjoy the beauty. Worth a visit and it is free. During night time the garden is litted up and more beautiful..
9. Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 166 reviews
Many national treasures are housed in this museum, including a precious 17th-century incense burner, scrolls, paintings and samurai costumes.
10. Ishikawa Prefectural History Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 84 reviews
While adults dig into the history of the Ishikawa region, children can try on period clothes, beat drums, and try their hand at various crafts in a hands-on room inside this stately brick building, once used to stock weapons.
