a group of people standing in front of a statue

Kanazawa

Kanazawa is a former castle town on Japan's Sea of Japan coast, known for Kenroku-en garden, gold leaf crafts, old districts and seafood at Omicho Market.

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Kanazawa is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, on the Sea of Japan side of Honshu in the Hokuriku region. Until the end of the Edo period it was the castle town of the Maeda clan's Kaga Domain, whose wealth supported the arts and crafts still found here: gold leaf, Kutani ceramics and Kaga Yuzen dyed textiles. Kanazawa makes about 98% of Japan's gold leaf, and UNESCO named it a City of Crafts and Folk Art in 2009.

The best-known stop is Kenroku-en, one of Japan's three great gardens, next to Kanazawa Castle. Higashi Chaya is a former geisha district with wooden facades, and Nagamachi is the old samurai district, though few original samurai houses remain. Omicho Market, a covered market dating back to the Edo period, sells mostly seafood. Kanazawa was one of the few major Japanese cities spared large-scale air raids in World War II, so its winding old streets survive. Expect hot, humid summers, cold winters with heavy snowfall, and about 193 rainy days a year.

Kanazawa in five

Kenroku-en at openingThe garden opens at 7am from March to mid-October and at 8am in winter. Go before the tour coaches.
Lunch at Omicho MarketSeafood bowls at the counters inside the market. Crab season opens in early November.
Ride the loop busThe Kanazawa Loop Bus links the station, the garden, the castle and Higashi Chaya. A one-day bus pass pays off after a few rides.
Change at Tsuruga for Kyoto and OsakaThe shinkansen now runs on to Tsuruga, where you change to the Thunderbird limited express.

Things to do in Kanazawa

See all attractions in Kanazawa

Sight · KanazawaKansui Park

Sight · KanazawaZuiryū-ji

Sight · KanazawaToyama Municipal Folkcraft Village

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to KanazawaPut the places you like in Kanazawa on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Komatsu (KMQ), about 40 min by bus
Getting there: Hokuriku shinkansen from Tokyo, about 2.5 hours
Getting around: Loop buses and walking; the center is compact
Best base: Near the station for trains, Korinbo for the sights

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain25 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh6°Low0°Snow, crab
FebruaryRain19 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh7°Low0°Snow on the garden
MarchRain16 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°Cold rain
AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Blossom
MayRain13 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Mild, green
JuneRain14 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Rainy season
JulyRain17 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Humid
AugustRain18 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Hottest
SeptemberRain17 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Warm
OctoberRain16 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Clear
NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Crab season opens
DecemberRain25 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh9°Low3°Wet, cold

Average daily high and low in Kanazawa, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Kanazawa

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 11°
Humidity: 85%
Wind: 9 km/h
Chance of rain: 65%

Kanazawa

02:03 PM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+9

Today18°13°65%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 65%.
Wed19°11°8%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 8%.
Thu20°13°90%Thursday: Rain. High 20°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 90%.
Fri19°11°88%Friday: Rain. High 19°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 88%.
Sat12°8°93%Saturday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 93%.
Sun12°7°73%Sunday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 73%.
Mon13°7°42%Monday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 42%.

Updated 10:57 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 157.9 JPY

Amount

Converted to

JPY · Japanese Yen

Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Kanazawa

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Apr–OctTakayama FestivalTakayama, a day trip

Day trips by train

Day trips from Kanazawa, the full guide

Before you go to Kanazawa

Tokyo to Kanazawa ticketsSingle tickets often beat a passSee pass prices

Shirakawa-go and TakayamaGuided day trips from KanazawaCompare day trips

eSIM for JapanData from the moment you landRead the guide

Travel insurance for JapanMedical and cancellation coverRead the guide

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Rules for Kanazawa, checked

Check entry requirements on the Immigration Services Agency of Japan site before you fly. Visa-free entry depends on your passport.Source
Declare meat, plant and animal products at customs. Officers can confiscate some of them, and some items need inspection or quarantine.
Do not tip. Tipping is not expected at restaurants, taxis or hotels in Kanazawa, and staff may hand the money back.
Ask before photographing geiko or maiko in Higashi Chaya and Nishi Chaya, and follow posted photo rules at temples and shrines.
After the January 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, check current status of roads, rail and castle access before you travel.

All Kanazawa guides

Where to stayWhere to stay in Kanazawa: station, Korinbo, Omicho or Higashi ChayaChecked Oct 3, 2026

Plan around Kanazawa

Japan in 10 days

The first-timer loop, with Kanazawa between Tokyo and Kyoto

Read the guide Takayama and Shirakawa-go

Highway bus from Kanazawa and how to plan the day

Read the guide Is the JR Pass worth it?

Price the Kanazawa leg before you buy

Read the guide Best time to visit Japan

Snow, blossom and crab season by month

Read the guide Best eSIM for Japan

Compare plans before you land

Read the guide

Kanazawa FAQ

How many days do you need in Kanazawa?

Two days is enough for Kenroku-en, the castle, Omicho Market and the two teahouse districts. Add a day for Shirakawa-go, or go straight on to Takayama or Nagano.

Is Kanazawa worth visiting?

Yes, if you like gardens, crafts and seafood without Kyoto's crowds. It is a smaller city with fewer headline sights, so it works best as a two-night stop between Tokyo and Kyoto.

How do you get from Tokyo to Kanazawa?

Take the Hokuriku shinkansen: about 2.5 hours from Tokyo Station. There is no need for a JR Pass just for this leg. Kyoto and Osaka are reached via the shinkansen to Tsuruga and a limited express.

Can you visit Kanazawa as a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka?

Not comfortably. The ride takes about 2.5–3 hours each way with the change at Tsuruga. Stay at least one night, or pick Kanazawa as a stop on a Tokyo to Kyoto route.

Where should I stay in Kanazawa?

Near the station for trains and day trips, Korinbo for the sights and dinner, Higashi Chaya for machiya inns. All are within 15 minutes by bus.

Is there an accommodation tax in Kanazawa?

Yes. Kanazawa charges a small tax per person, per night that rises with the room rate; bands were revised recently. Hotels usually collect it at check-in, so check your booking for the current amount.