Kanazawa, Ishikawa · Things to do
Things to Do in Kanazawa: 12 Places with Hours, Prices and Access
12 things to do · checked October 20, 2026
12 things to do in Kanazawa, from the station outward
Hours, prices and access checked against each place's own page on October 20, 2026. They change; check before you go.
1Kanazawa Station and Tsuzumi-mon Gate金沢駅 鼓門
Station gate and landmark · Kanazawa Station
The gate at the station's Kenrokuen (East) Exit, built in the shape of the tsuzumi hand drum. Beside it, the glass Motenashi (Welcome) Dome shelters people waiting for buses. The gate is lit every night from sunset to midnight and changes colour for two minutes on the hour.
- Access
- Just outside the Kenrokuen Exit (East Exit) of JR Kanazawa Station; the bus terminals are under the dome.
- Hours
- Lit from sunset to midnight; colours change on the hour for two minutes
2Omicho Market近江町市場
Fresh food market · Omicho
A market of about 170 shops running since the Edo period, with many fishmongers selling Sea of Japan seafood as well as vegetables, fruit, meat and sweets. The attached Omicho Ichibakan building holds seafood restaurants.
- Access
- About 15 minutes on foot from Kanazawa Station, or by Hokutetsu bus from the East Exit to Musashigatsuji (Omicho Market), about 1 minute from the stop.
- Hours
- 9:00–16:00; varies from store to store
- Closed on
- New Year holidays
3Higashi Chaya Districtひがし茶屋街
Historic geisha district · Higashiyama
The largest of Kanazawa's three geisha districts, with two-storey wooden teahouses that have latticed ground floors. Some interiors are open to see, and many old buildings now hold restaurants, cafes and craft shops. The city tourism association holds geisha performances here and in the other two districts on set Saturdays.
- Access
- About 5 minutes on foot from the Hashiba-cho bus stop (Kanazawa Loop Bus, Hokutetsu local bus, West JR Bus); about 10 minutes by car from Kanazawa Station.
4Kazue-machi Chaya District主計町茶屋街
Historic geisha district · Kazuemachi
One of Kanazawa's three chaya districts, alongside Higashi Chaya and Nishi Chaya: narrow alleys lined with latticework.
- Access
- About 5 minutes on foot from the Hashiba-cho bus stop (Kanazawa Loop Bus, Hokutetsu local bus, West JR Bus); about 10 minutes by car from Kanazawa Station.
5Kenrokuen Garden兼六園
Landscape garden · Kenrokuen
An 11.4-hectare garden kept by the Maeda family, lords of Kaga, and counted among Japan's three most beautiful gardens. The large Kasumigaike pond is its centre; in winter the pines are held up with rope supports called yukitsuri. Early entry is free: the Renchi-mon and Zuishinzaka entrances open from 5:00 in September–October and from 6:00 from 1 November.
- Access
- Bus from Kanazawa Station to Kenroku-en shita (Katsurazaka gate), Hirosaka (Mayumizaka gate) or Dewa-machi (Kodatsuno gate); taxi about 10 minutes.
- Hours
- 16 October–28 February 8:00–17:00 (1 March–15 October 7:00–18:00)
- Price
- Adults (18+) ¥320; children 6–17 ¥100; over 65s exempt on showing ID. Kenrokuen+1 ticket ¥500 (garden plus one other cultural facility)
6Kanazawa Castle Park金沢城公園
Castle park · Kenrokuen
The grounds of the Maeda family's castle, next to Kenrokuen. The park is free; the Hishi-yagura turret, Gojikken-nagaya storehouse and Hashizume-mon Tsuzuki-yagura turret are a paid area. The castle walls are lit until 22:00 every day.
- Access
- Five entrances. Ishikawa-mon: about 5 minutes on foot from the Kenrokuen · Kanazawa Castle Park bus stop. Gyokusen'inmaru: about 5 minutes from Hirosaka · 21st Century Museum, or 7 minutes from Korinbo.
- Hours
- Park 16 October–end of February 8:00–17:00 (1 March–15 October 7:00–18:00); paid area 9:00–16:30 (last entry 16:00). Open until 21:00 on Sundays and in tourist season (sunset–21:00)
- Closed on
- None
- Price
- Park free. Paid area: adults (18+) ¥320; children 6–17 ¥100; infants free; over 65s exempt on showing ID
7Seisonkaku Villa成巽閣
Historic villa · Kenrokuen
A mansion built for the mother of a Kaga lord, in the Kenroku-machi area next to the garden.
- Access
- About 2 minutes on foot from the Dewa-machi bus stop (Hokutetsu local bus).
- Hours
- 9:00–17:00 (enter by 16:30)
- Closed on
- Wednesdays (next day if Wednesday is a holiday); 29 December–2 January
- Price
- Adults ¥700; junior high and high school ¥300; schoolchildren ¥250
821st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa金沢21世紀美術館
Contemporary art museum · Hirosaka
The city's contemporary art museum, with a free public zone and paid exhibition rooms. It will close for renovation from 6 May 2027 to March 2028. Admission to exhibitions differs by exhibition.
Closed for renovation from 6 May 2027 to March 2028.
- Access
- About 1 minute on foot from the Hirosaka · 21st Century Museum bus stop. Hokutetsu local bus from East Exit bus terminals 3 or 8, or the Kanazawa Loop Bus from terminal 7 (about 20 minutes).
- Hours
- Exhibition zone 10:00–18:00 (to 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays); public zone 9:00–22:00 every day, Mondays included
- Closed on
- Exhibition zone: Mondays (next weekday if Monday is a holiday) and New Year holidays; fully closed 29 December 2026–1 January 2027; open Monday 26 October 2026 and closed Tuesday 27 October instead; closed 6 May 2027–March 2028 for renovation
- Price
- Public zone free; exhibition tickets vary by exhibition
9D.T. Suzuki Museum鈴木大拙館
Museum and contemplation space · Honda-machi
A museum on the Zen scholar Daisetz Suzuki, who was born in Kanazawa in 1870. Designed by Yoshio Taniguchi and completed in July 2011, it has three wings, an exhibition wing and a contemplative wing among them, and three gardens including the Water Mirror Garden.
- Access
- About 4 minutes on foot from the Hondamachi bus stop (Hokutetsu bus; Jokamachi Kanazawa Excursion Bus). No parking.
- Hours
- 9:30–17:00 (enter by 16:30)
- Closed on
- Mondays (next weekday if Monday is a holiday); 29 December–3 January; some days during exhibition changes
- Price
- Adults ¥310; 65 and over ¥210; high school age and under free
10Nagamachi Samurai District長町武家屋敷跡
Historic townscape · Nagamachi
The quarter where middle- and high-ranking samurai of the Kaga domain lived. It escaped the large fires and wartime bombing that hit other cities, and many residences keep their earthen walls, which are covered with straw mats in winter against frost.
- Access
- About 5 minutes on foot from the Korinbo bus stop (Hokutetsu local bus, West JR Bus). A municipal tourist car park is nearby.
11Nomura Samurai Residence武家屋敷跡 野村家
Samurai house · Nagamachi
The former home of the Nomura family, who held senior posts under the Maeda clan, with an upper-level room, garden and tea room. Adult admission rises from ¥550 to ¥750 on 1 April 2027.
Adult admission ¥550 now; ¥750 from 1 April 2027.
- Access
- About 5 minutes on foot from the Korinbo bus stop; about 1 minute from the Nagamachi Buke Yashiki Ato stop (Kanazawa Flat Bus, Nagamachi route).
- Hours
- 8:30–17:30 (until 16:30 from October to March)
- Closed on
- 26–27 December; 1–2 January
- Price
- Adults ¥550; high school ¥400; junior high and primary ¥250. From 1 April 2027: adults (high school included) ¥750; junior high and primary ¥350
12Myoryuji Temple (Ninja Temple)妙立寺
Temple with guided tour · Nomachi
A temple known as the Ninja Temple for its hidden stairs and pitfalls. Visits are by phone reservation only, announcements at the temple are in Japanese only, and children below preschool age cannot enter.
Reservations by phone only.
- Access
- About 3 minutes on foot from the Hirokoji bus stop (Kanazawa Loop Bus, left loop; Hokutetsu local bus); about 5 minutes from Nomachi Hirokoji (Kanazawa Flat Bus). No parking.
- Hours
- 9:00–16:30 (until 16:00 in winter); reservations by phone only
- Closed on
- 1–2 January and Buddhist memorial service days
- Price
- Adults ¥1,200; schoolchildren ¥800; cash only
Good to know
Start with Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle Park, which sit side by side on the hill above the centre. Seisonkaku Villa and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art are nearby: the museum's bus stop is about 5 minutes on foot from the Castle Park's Gyokusen'inmaru entrance. Omicho Market is about 15 minutes on foot from Kanazawa Station, and the Higashi Chaya and Kazue-machi districts are each about 5 minutes on foot from the Hashiba-cho bus stop.
Hours change on 16 October: Kenrokuen and the Castle Park open 8:00–17:00 until the end of February, and the Castle Park's paid area takes its last entry at 16:00. Entry is free in the early morning: from 5:00 until 31 October and from 6:00 from 1 November, at the Renchi-mon and Zuishinzaka entrances of Kenrokuen. The Tsuzumi-mon gate at the station is lit until midnight, and the 21st Century Museum's free public zone stays open until 22:00.
Dates to plan around: the 21st Century Museum closes for renovation from 6 May 2027 to March 2028, and adult admission to the Nomura Samurai Residence rises from ¥550 to ¥750 on 1 April 2027. Omicho's crab season begins in November.
In depth
Which part of Kanazawa: station, hill, river or Korinbo side
Getting there, what it costs to get in and when to be there. Adult prices.
| Where | Getting there | Entry (adult) | Hours to plan around |
|---|---|---|---|
| Station and Omicho: Tsuzumi-mon, Omicho Market | Tsuzumi-mon is outside the East Exit; Omicho is about 15 min on foot or by bus to Musashigatsuji | No entry fee stated for the gate or the market | Market 9:00–16:00, varies by store · gate lit sunset–midnight |
| River side: Higashi Chaya, Kazue-machi | About 10 min by car; 5 min on foot from the Hashiba-cho bus stop | Not stated on the official pages | No district-wide hours stated |
| The hill: Kenrokuen, Castle Park, Seisonkaku | Bus to Kenroku-en shita, Hirosaka or Dewa-machi; taxi about 10 min | Kenrokuen ¥320 · Castle Park free (paid area ¥320) · Seisonkaku ¥700 | Kenrokuen and Castle Park 8:00–17:00 · paid area last entry 16:00 · Seisonkaku last entry 16:30, closed Wednesdays |
| Korinbo side: 21st Century Museum, D.T. Suzuki Museum, Nagamachi, Nomura-ke | Bus from the East Exit to Hirosaka or Korinbo, about 10–20 min | Public zone free · D.T. Suzuki ¥310 · Nomura-ke ¥550 | Museum exhibitions 10:00–18:00 (to 20:00 Fri–Sat) · D.T. Suzuki last entry 16:30, closed Mondays · Nomura-ke to 16:30 from October |
| Nomachi: Myoryuji Temple | About 3 min on foot from the Hirokoji bus stop | ¥1,200 | 9:00–16:30, to 16:00 in winter; phone reservation only |
By kind of trip
First day: the hill
Kenrokuen and the Castle Park are next to each other and open at the same hours, 8:00–17:00 until the end of February. The Castle Park's paid area stops admitting at 16:00 and Seisonkaku at 16:30.
Kenrokuen Garden · Kanazawa Castle Park · Seisonkaku Villa · 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
Early morning
Kenrokuen and the Castle Park can be entered free before opening: from 5:00 until 31 October and from 6:00 from 1 November (Kenrokuen: Renchi-mon and Zuishinzaka entrances only). Omicho Market opens at 9:00.
After dark
The Tsuzumi-mon gate is lit from sunset to midnight and changes colour on the hour. The Castle Park walls are lit until 22:00 every day, and the 21st Century Museum's public zone is open until 22:00.
Kanazawa Station and Tsuzumi-mon Gate · Kanazawa Castle Park · 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
Rain or cold
These have indoor rooms: the museum exhibitions, the D.T. Suzuki Museum, the Nomura house and Seisonkaku. Myoryuji is visited inside the temple, by reservation.
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa · D.T. Suzuki Museum · Nomura Samurai Residence · Myoryuji Temple (Ninja Temple)
Samurai and Zen
Nagamachi and the Nomura house are in the same quarter, and the D.T. Suzuki Museum is about 4 minutes from the Hondamachi bus stop. Myoryuji needs a phone reservation.
Nagamachi Samurai District · Nomura Samurai Residence · D.T. Suzuki Museum · Myoryuji Temple (Ninja Temple)
Questions
What time does Kenrokuen Garden open, and what does it cost?
From 16 October to the end of February, 8:00–17:00 (1 March–15 October, 7:00–18:00). Adults 18 and over ¥320; children 6–17 ¥100; over 65s are exempt on showing ID. Entry before opening is free: from 5:00 from September to October and from 6:00 from 1 November, through the Renchi-mon and Zuishinzaka entrances only.
Is Kanazawa Castle Park free?
The park is free and has no closed days, open 8:00–17:00 from 16 October to the end of February. The Hishi-yagura turret, Gojikken-nagaya storehouse and Hashizume-mon Tsuzuki-yagura turret are a paid area: adults ¥320, children 6–17 ¥100, open 9:00–16:30 with last entry at 16:00.
Is the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art going to close?
Yes, for renovation from 6 May 2027 to March 2028. Until then the exhibition zone is open 10:00–18:00 (to 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays) and closed on Mondays; the free public zone is open 9:00–22:00 every day.
How far is Omicho Market from Kanazawa Station?
About 15 minutes on foot. By bus, take a Hokutetsu bus from the East Exit to Musashigatsuji (Omicho Market), then about 1 minute on foot. The market is open 9:00–16:00, varying by store, and closes for the New Year holidays.
How do I visit the Ninja Temple (Myoryuji)?
By phone reservation only (076-241-0888, 8:30–17:00). Visits run 9:00–16:30, to 16:00 in winter; adults ¥1,200, schoolchildren ¥800, cash only. Announcements at the temple are in Japanese only, and children below preschool age cannot enter.