Our walkCastle and samurai walk
Nagamachi, castle, Kenroku-en
- Length
- 2.5 to 3 hours
- Guide
- English
- Price
- from $61
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Guide · Planning
Things to do in Kanazawa, area by area
The best of the castle town in a sensible order: the castle hill and its gardens, the samurai lanes, three teahouse quarters, a temple full of traps, modern art and quiet evenings.
Check availabilityfrom $61 · cancellation is free
Editorial team, kanazawacastle.comUpdated October 25, 2026Reading time 6 min61 sources
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The castle hill and its gardens
Kanazawa grew around a castle, and that is still the best place to begin. Kanazawa Castle Park opens from 7:00 to 18:00 in the warm half of the year and from 8:00 to 17:00 in winter, with free entry and no closing days.1 Walk in through Ishikawa-mon, the gate rebuilt in 1788 and the oldest structure on the grounds, and climb to the lawns where the palace once stood.9
Inside the rebuilt Hishi-yagura turret and Gojikken-nagaya storehouse you can see the joinery of the castle up close, open daily 9:00 to 16:30 for 320 yen.1011 Below the walls, Gyokusen'inmaru is the lords' private garden, recreated in March 2015 and lit up on some evenings.1213 A short VR film at the Tsurunomaru rest house shows the lost palace in about 10 minutes, free.14
Across a footbridge lies Kenroku-en, one of the three great gardens of Japan, open from 7:00 in summer and costing 320 yen.151617 On its edge, Seisonkaku is the villa the 13th lord built in 1863 for his mother, a fine interior to pair with the garden, at 700 yen, closed on Wednesdays.1819
A plan
A full first and second day
Samurai lanes and teahouse quarters
Below the castle to the west, Nagamachi keeps its cobbled lanes and tiled earthen walls from the Edo period.3 Step into the Nomura house for its armor and a garden rated two stars by the Michelin Green Guide, and into the Ashigaru Museum to see how the lowest samurai lived.242526 Our separate guide to the samurai district covers both houses.
Across the Asano River, Higashi Chaya is the largest of the three teahouse districts, founded in 1820, with Ochaya Shima and Kaikaro open to visitors.42127 Kazuemachi, its small neighbour along the water, is protected as a preservation district of just 0.6 ha.28 Gold leaf is everywhere: Kanazawa produces 99 percent of Japan's supply.29
South of the Sai River, the Nishi Chaya quarter has a free museum in an old teahouse, and nearby Myoryuji, nicknamed the Ninja Temple, hides four floors behind a two-storey front.2330 It takes guided visits only, booked ahead, so reserve before the trip.7 Both sit away from the main crowds and make a good half day.
Hours
Opening times and closing days at a glance
| Sight | Hours | Closed |
|---|---|---|
| Castle Park | 7:00-18:00 in summer | Never |
| Kenroku-en | 7:00-18:00 in summer | Never |
| Hishi-yagura | 9:00-16:30 | Never |
| Art museum | 10:00-18:00 | Mondays |
| D.T. Suzuki Museum | 9:30-17:00 | Mondays |
| Gold Leaf Museum | 9:30-17:00 | Tuesdays |
| Seisonkaku | 9:00-17:00 | Wednesdays |
| Myoryuji | 9:00-16:00, booked | Irregular |
Winter hours at the castle park and garden run 8:00-17:00 from 16 October.11610336311932
With a guide
Three guided ways to cover the sights
Our walk
Most ground
All dayFull day with tea
Samurai, gardens, geiko
- Length
- 1 day
- Start
- 9:00, the station
- Price
- from $142
Decision helper
Where to spend your time
Is Kanazawa worth visiting? Start from what you came for
The 21st Century Museum
Free public zones and permanent works, paid exhibitions.5
The Tsuzumimon Gate in front of Kanazawa Station blends current architecture with traditional inspiration and has become a modern symbol of the city.
Museums and modern Kanazawa
The city's modern face is just as rewarding. At the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, the public zone, the permanent installations and the outdoor works are free, and only the temporary exhibitions need a ticket.5 It opens 10:00 to 18:00, until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and closes on Mondays.33 The round building has entrances all the way around, so you can drift in from the garden side.
A few minutes away, the D.T. Suzuki Museum is dedicated to the Buddhist thinker D.T. Suzuki (1870-1966), credited with bringing Zen to the West.36 Its water mirror garden is one of the calmest spaces in the city, and entry is 310 yen, from 9:30 to 17:00, closed on Mondays.6 Go late in the afternoon, when the light on the water is softest.
For crafts, the Yasue Gold Leaf Museum in Higashiyama opens 9:30 to 17:00 and costs 310 yen, closed on Tuesdays.31 At Kanazawa Station, the wooden Tsuzumimon Gate has become a modern symbol of the city, worth a look even if you are only passing through.35 Mind the closing days: Mondays and Tuesdays can catch out a tight plan.
Map
Castle, garden, the teahouse quarters and the road to Shirakawa-go
The walk from Korinbo through Nagamachi to the castle and Kenroku-en first, then the teahouse districts and the station, then the mountain road to the thatched villages.
1Starbucks Korinbo (meeting point)2Nomura house, Nagamachi3Oyama Shrine4Nezumita-mon Gate5Gyokusen-inmaru Garden6Hishi-yagura Turret7Kahoku-mon Gate8Ishikawa-mon Gate9Kenroku-en10Seisonkaku Villa1121st Century Museum12D.T. Suzuki Museum
13Kanazawa Station14Higashi Chaya District15Kazuemachi16Nishi Chaya District17Myoryuji (Ninja Temple)18Kanazawa Castle (Ishikawa-mon)19Nagamachi
20Kanazawa21Shirakawa-go (Ogimachi)22Gokayama (Ainokura)23Takayama24Toyama25Komatsu Airport
- 1Starbucks Korinbo (meeting point)
The walking tour sold on this site meets in front of this cafe; Nagamachi is the first stop, a short walk away.
In Google Maps ↗ - 2Nomura house, Nagamachi
A samurai residence with a full suit of armor on display and a garden of streams, rated two stars by the Michelin Green Guide.2425
In Google Maps ↗ - 3Oyama Shrine
A shrine across the moat from the western gate of the castle, reached over the restored wooden bridge.
In Google Maps ↗ - 4Nezumita-mon Gate
The one castle gate with black plaster between its wall tiles; gate and bridge were finished again in 2020.3738
In Google Maps ↗ - 5Gyokusen-inmaru Garden
The private garden of the lords, with a 22-meter drop from its highest wall to the pond bottom, recreated in March 2015.391234
In Google Maps ↗ - 6Hishi-yagura Turret
A diamond-shaped turret built on angles of 80 and 100 degrees, open daily from 9:00 to 16:30.4010
In Google Maps ↗ - 7Kahoku-mon Gate
The working main gate of the castle, rebuilt in 2010 and free to walk through.4142
In Google Maps ↗ - 8Ishikawa-mon Gate
Rebuilt in 1788, the oldest structure on the grounds, an Important Cultural Property since 1950.943
In Google Maps ↗ - 9Kenroku-en
One of the three great gardens of Japan; adults pay 320 yen, in cash only.151744
In Google Maps ↗ - 10Seisonkaku Villa
A villa built in 1863 by the 13th lord for his mother, on the edge of Kenroku-en.18
In Google Maps ↗ - 1121st Century Museum
The free public zone and outdoor works sit beside paid exhibitions; closed on Mondays.533
In Google Maps ↗ - 12D.T. Suzuki Museum
A quiet museum with a water garden for the Zen philosopher D.T. Suzuki, entry 310 yen.366
In Google Maps ↗ - 13Kanazawa Station
The fastest Hokuriku Shinkansen, Kagayaki, reaches it from Tokyo in about 2.5 hours.45
In Google Maps ↗ - 14Higashi Chaya District
The largest of the three historic teahouse districts, established in 1820.4
In Google Maps ↗ - 15Kazuemachi
A small teahouse quarter on the river, protected as a preservation district since 2008.28
In Google Maps ↗ - 16Nishi Chaya District
Founded in 1820 as well; its little museum in a former teahouse is free.4623
In Google Maps ↗ - 17Myoryuji (Ninja Temple)
Two storeys from the street and four inside; visits only on a guided tour booked ahead.307
In Google Maps ↗ - 18Kanazawa Castle (Ishikawa-mon)
The castle park costs nothing to enter and opens at 7:00 from March to mid-October.1
In Google Maps ↗ - 19Nagamachi
Cobblestone lanes and tiled earthen walls of the old samurai quarter.3
In Google Maps ↗ - 20Kanazawa
Starting point for the tours and buses to the thatched villages.
In Google Maps ↗ - 21Shirakawa-go (Ogimachi)
About 1.5 hours by highway bus from Kanazawa, on the UNESCO list since 1995.4748
In Google Maps ↗ - 22Gokayama (Ainokura)
Registered together with Shirakawa-go as one World Heritage Site.48
In Google Maps ↗ - 23Takayama
Buses link Takayama and Shirakawa-go with Kanazawa every day.49
In Google Maps ↗ - 24Toyama
Shirakawa-go is also about 1.5 hours away by highway bus from here.47
In Google Maps ↗ - 25Komatsu Airport
The nearest airport, about 40 minutes by bus from Kanazawa.50
In Google Maps ↗
Checklist
Planning your days
01
Before
- Reserve Myoryuji in advance
- Check museum closing days
- Consider the Kenrokuen+1 ticket
02
On the day
- Loop bus day pass from the station
- Cash for the garden gate
- Keep an evening for the lit walls
Price calculator
Guided sightseeing for your group
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Five things to do in Kanazawa
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Evenings in the castle town
Kanazawa is quiet after dark, which is part of its appeal. The outer walls of the castle are lit every day until 22:00, and on Sundays and in the busy seasons, including cherry blossom time, the castle park stays open from sunset to 21:00 with illuminations, free.2013 An evening walk along the walls and through the gardens makes an easy, free end to a day here.
Katamachi and Korinbo are the districts for shopping, dining and nightlife.51 The streets of Higashi Chaya and Kazuemachi turn atmospheric at dusk, when lamps light the wooden fronts, and on certain nights Kaikaro holds Geisha Evenings in Kanazawa, an interactive performance in English.52 Book that one ahead, and leave the rest of the evening open.
In winter, darkness comes early and the snow makes the lit walls even more striking. Dress for the cold, carry a small torch for the side lanes, and keep in mind that most museums and paid sights close in the late afternoon, so the evening belongs to the streets, the river and a long dinner.
A plan for your days
Here is a simple Kanazawa itinerary. On the first morning, join a guided walk through Nagamachi, the castle and Kenroku-en, which the walk sold on this site does in 2.5 to 3 hours. In the afternoon, see the contemporary art museum and the D.T. Suzuki Museum, then come back to the castle walls at dusk for the lights.
On the second day, start early in Higashi Chaya and Kazuemachi before the shops open, visit Ochaya Shima and try gold leaf, then cross the city to Nishi Chaya and your booked slot at Myoryuji in the afternoon.21227 Finish with dinner in Katamachi or Korinbo.51 That covers the city's essentials without rushing.
A third day is for leaving town. Shirakawa-go, the thatched World Heritage village, is about 1.5 hours away by highway bus, and guided morning tours run from the station.47 Kaga Onsen, a hot-spring area, is 15 minutes away by shinkansen if you would rather soak than sightsee.53
How long to stay, and is it worth it
So how many days in Kanazawa make sense? Give the city one full day for the castle side and another for the teahouse districts and the temple quarter, and add a further day if you want Shirakawa-go. With less time, the guided castle walk and a late afternoon in Higashi Chaya still show you the heart of it.
If you have already seen Kyoto, the city still offers something different: the castle town of one of the richest lordly houses of Japan, with its samurai lanes, teahouse quarters and gardens laid out close together.54 Most of it is walkable, and the sights sit close enough to change plans on a whim.
It is also easy to reach. The fastest Hokuriku Shinkansen, Kagayaki, takes about 2.5 hours from Tokyo, and limited express trains from Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya connect at Tsuruga.4555 That makes Kanazawa a natural stop between Tokyo and Kyoto rather than a detour, especially with a rail pass.
Getting around and saving money
Two tourist loop bus routes run from Kanazawa Station to the main sights, and a one-day pass covers them.8 The Hokutetsu One Day Pass also covers the Kenrokuen Shuttle, and JR runs a local bus between the station and Kenrokuen; most local JR buses are covered by the Japan Rail Pass.5657 Machi-Nori, the city's bicycle rental, is the fastest way between the districts in good weather.58
Combined tickets help too. The Kenrokuen+1 ticket at 500 yen covers the garden and one more cultural facility in the city, and visitors over 65 enter Kenroku-en free with a passport.5960 The castle park itself costs nothing, and free volunteer guides work there every day from 9:30 to 15:30, apart from New Year.161
If you prefer someone else to handle the logistics, a half-day e-bike tour covers Kazuemachi, Higashi Chaya, Kenroku-en, the castle and Nagamachi in 4 hours, with no more than 8 riders. The walking tour sold on this site sticks to the castle side on foot, with an English-speaking guide.
Your castle walk
Samurai lanes, castle gates and the garden in one walk.
Pick a date, meet at Korinbo, and keep the option to cancel at no cost for up to 24 hours before.
You ask,we answer.
What should I see first in Kanazawa?
The castle park and Kenroku-en. They stand side by side across a footbridge; the park is free and the garden costs 320 yen for adults.117
Which sight needs a booking?
Myoryuji, the Ninja Temple. It takes guided visits only, with advance reservations, and the tours are in Japanese.7
Is the contemporary art museum free?
Partly. The public zone, permanent installations and outdoor works are free; temporary exhibitions need a ticket.5
What can I do in the evening?
Walk the lit castle walls. The outer walls are illuminated every day until 22:00, and the park opens late on Sundays and in peak seasons.2013
Which days do museums close?
Mostly Mondays or Tuesdays. The contemporary art and D.T. Suzuki museums close on Mondays, the gold leaf museum on Tuesdays.33631
How do I get between the sights?
Loop bus, bike or on foot. Loop buses run from the station with a one-day pass, and Machi-Nori rents bicycles.858
Can I fit in a day trip?
Yes, to Shirakawa-go. The thatched village is about 1.5 hours away by highway bus.47
Sources
Evidence for this guide
- 1Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeKanazawa Castle Park: Information for Visitors↩
- 2Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeKenroku-en: Access↩
- 3Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Nagamachi Samurai District↩
- 4Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Higashi-Chaya District↩
- 5Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa↩
- 6Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)D.T. Suzuki Museum↩
- 7Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Myoryuji Temple (Ninja Temple)↩
- 8Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Getting Around Ishikawa↩
- 9Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeThe Charm of Kanazawa Castle Park↩
- 10Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeKanazawa Castle Park: Opening Hours and Ticket Prices↩
- 11Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeKanazawa Castle Park: Opening Hours and Ticket Prices↩
- 12Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeGyokusen'inmaru Garden, Gyokusen-an Rest Area↩
- 13Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeKanazawa Castle Park: Extended Evening Hours & Illuminations↩
- 14Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeKanazawa Castle Park: Rest Areas, Exhibition Facilities, Theaters↩
- 15Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeWhat is Kenroku-en?↩
- 16Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeKenroku-en: Guidance↩
- 17Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeKenroku-en: Guidance↩
- 18Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Seisonkaku Villa↩
- 19Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Seisonkaku Villa↩
- 20Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeKanazawa Castle Park: Extended Evening Hours & Illuminations↩
- 21Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Higashi-Chaya District↩
- 22Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Higashi-Chaya District↩
- 23Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Nishi-Chaya District↩
- 24Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Nagamachi Samurai District↩
- 25Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Nagamachi Samurai District↩
- 26Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Nagamachi Samurai District↩
- 27Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Higashi-Chaya District↩
- 28Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of JapanImportant Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings: list (重要伝統的建造物群保存地区一覧)↩
- 29Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Kanazawa↩
- 30Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Myoryuji Temple (Ninja Temple)↩
- 31Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum↩
- 32Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Myoryuji Temple (Ninja Temple)↩
- 33Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa↩
- 34Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeGyokusen'inmaru Garden, Gyokusen-an Rest Area↩
- 35Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Kanazawa↩
- 36Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)D.T. Suzuki Museum↩
- 37Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeNezumita-mon Gate & Nezumita-mon-bashi Bridge↩
- 38Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeNezumita-mon Gate & Nezumita-mon-bashi Bridge↩
- 39Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeGyokusen'inmaru Garden, Gyokusen-an Rest Area↩
- 40Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeCharacteristics of Kanazawa Castle↩
- 41Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeKahoku-mon Gate↩
- 42Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeKanazawa Castle Park: Opening Hours and Ticket Prices↩
- 43Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeIshikawa-mon Gate↩
- 44Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeKenroku-en: Guidance↩
- 45Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Getting to Ishikawa↩
- 46Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Nishi-Chaya District↩
- 47Shirakawa-go Tourist AssociationAccess↩
- 48Shirakawa-go Tourist AssociationBriefly about Shirakawa-go↩
- 49Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Getting to Ishikawa↩
- 50Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Getting to Ishikawa↩
- 51Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Kanazawa↩
- 52Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Higashi-Chaya District↩
- 53Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Getting Around Ishikawa↩
- 54Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Kanazawa↩
- 55Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Getting to Ishikawa↩
- 56Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Kanazawa↩
- 57Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Getting Around Ishikawa↩
- 58Ishikawa Prefecture (Ishikawa Travel)Kanazawa↩
- 59Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeKenroku-en: Guidance↩
- 60Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeKenroku-en: Guidance↩
- 61Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management OfficeKanazawa Castle Park: Tour Guide Service↩
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