Hokuriku · Japan Sea side
Kanazawa
Kyoto's atmosphere without Kyoto's crowds — old districts, a famous garden, and gold leaf on everything.
Best seasonApril–May and October–November
How long to stay1–2 days
AreaHokuriku · Japan Sea side
Why go
- Kenroku-en, counted among the three great gardens of Japan, and at its best in snow.
- The Higashi Chaya district: preserved wooden teahouses, quiet in the morning.
- The samurai quarter of Nagamachi, with earthen walls and water channels running through it.
- The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, round and glass-walled, free to walk around.
Practical notes
- Kanazawa is compact. A bus day pass and comfortable shoes cover it.
- Seafood dominates the Omicho market; vegetarians will do better at the temple and tofu restaurants.
- Gold leaf is the local craft — the edible kind on ice cream makes a photograph people remember.
Getting there
About 2h 30m from Tokyo by shinkansen. Often added between Tokyo and Kyoto.