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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Kanazawa
金沢
Give Kanazawa 1–2 nights: Kenroku-en, two teahouse districts and Omicho market fit in a day and a half on foot, no car needed.
Kanazawa keeps its Edo-period shape: samurai lanes, geisha teahouses and a castle garden sit within about an hour's walk of each other. The Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo takes 2.5–3 h, so it works as a stop between Tokyo and Kansai rather than a day trip. Two nights cover the core; one night if you arrive early and leave late.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 金沢
- Best months
- Apr–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, heavy snow), mid-Aug (heat and humidity)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥7,000–11,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥11,000–18,000 excl. bed · High ¥18,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | ¥400–700 |
| Seafood rice bowl at Omicho market | ¥1,500–3,500 |
| Gold-leaf soft-serve ice cream | ¥500–900 |
| Kenroku-en garden entry | ¥320 |
| Local bus ride | ¥200–300 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ¥2,000–4,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KMQ · Komatsu Airport
- Bus to Kanazawa Station about 40 min, ¥1,300 (2026 estimate); some flights connect via Tokyo Haneda.
Typical fares
- Komatsu Airport → Kanazawa Station, bus
- about ¥1,300, about 40 min
- Kanazawa → Tokyo, Hokuriku Shinkansen reserved
- about ¥14,380, 2.5–3 h
- Tourist loop bus, one ride / day pass
- ¥200 / ¥500
Get around
The centre is compact and walkable: east (Higashiyama) to west (Teramachi) is about an hour at a stroll. City buses and a loop tourist bus cover the rest; a one-day bus pass is worth it if you ride three or more times. Bicycles rent at the station and through the Machi-Nori share scheme. Driving in the old town is a maze of one-way lanes: skip it.
See and do
Known for
- Kenroku-en garden
- Higashi-Chayagai geisha district
- Nagamachi samurai district
- Omicho market seafood
- Gold leaf crafts
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Komatsu | Hokuriku Shinkansen or local train from Kanazawa Station | About 30–45 min |
| Kaga | Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kaga Onsen, then local buses | About 1 h |
| Nonoichi | JR or local train from Kanazawa Station | About 20 min |
| Hakui | JR Nanao line from Kanazawa to Tsubata, then onward | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Kanazawa Station and Omicho market
- Modern hotels, easiest with bags, market and buses on the doorstep.
- Kohrinbo and Katamachi
- The liveliest evening area: shops, bars and restaurants; walk to Nagamachi.
- Higashi-Chayagai
- Quiet lanes north of the Asano river, traditional inns and teahouses.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| This one, please | これをくださいkore o kudasai |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Can I pay by card? | カードで払えますか？kādo de haraemasu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Kanazawa is one of Japan's wettest cities: carry an umbrella year-round, and expect snow in January and February.
- Myōryū-ji (the 'Ninja Temple') admits visitors on guided tours only: reserve ahead, and the tour is in Japanese with an English folder.
- Some geisha-district houses are private: check for a sign before entering.
- National Route 157 south of the city is closed in bad weather: check before driving toward Ono.
Kanazawa is a low-crime city and safe to walk at night in the centre. The real risks are weather (rain, snow, icy lanes), narrow roads if you drive, and bars without posted prices: ask the total before you sit.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kanazawa yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Kenroku-en garden
- Higashi-Chayagai geisha district
- Nagamachi samurai district
- Omicho market seafood
- Gold leaf crafts
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Kanazawa (official city guide): visitkanazawa.jp/en/
- Kanazawa City official site: www4.city.kanazawa.lg.jp/
- Wikivoyage: Kanazawa, revision 5306289 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5306289
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Kanazawa金沢
ここまでお願いします
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in Kanazawa; most countries keep embassies in Tokyo and consulates in Osaka. Check your own country's list before you travel.
Tourist Information Lobby at Kanazawa Station has English-speaking staff and free maps.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/kanazawa). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.