Things to Do in Kanazawa (2026): Two-Day Plan, ¥220 Loop Bus

The main things to do in Kanazawa (金沢) are Kenroku-en garden and the castle park, the three chaya (teahouse) districts, the 21st Century Museum, the D.T. Suzuki Museum, the gold leaf museum in Higashiyama, Omicho Market for food and the samurai houses of Nagamachi. Most of them lie within a 2-kilometer radius of Kanazawa Castle, and the Kanazawa Loop Bus links them for a flat ¥220 per adult ride.^[7] One day covers the core; two days let you add the quieter districts and the smaller museums. If this is your first trip and you have only a week or so for Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, you can skip Kanazawa and come back on a second visit.

Key facts

• Top sights: Kenroku-en, Kanazawa Castle Park, Higashi Chaya, the 21st Century Museum, Omicho Market; with a second day, Kazue-machi, Nishi Chaya, the D.T. Suzuki Museum, the gold leaf museum and Nagamachi.
• Time needed: one full day for the core sights, two days for everything below (our planning suggestion).
• Kenroku-en fee: ¥320 for adults, cash only.^[1]
• Closing days: the 21st Century Museum’s Exhibition Zone and the D.T. Suzuki Museum close on Mondays,^[3][19] the gold leaf museum on Tuesdays.^[20]
• Getting around: the Kanazawa Loop Bus from the station’s East Gate, ¥220 per adult ride.^[7]

What are the main things to do in Kanazawa?

This table puts the hours and fees side by side, so you can see which sights fit which day.

Sight	Hours	Adult fee	Watch out for
Kenroku-en	7:00–18:00 to Oct.15, then 8:00–17:00	¥320, cash only	shorter hours after Oct.15
Kanazawa Castle Park buildings	9:00–16:30	¥320 (grounds free)	last entry 16:00
21st Century Museum, Exhibition Zone	10:00–18:00 (Fri–Sat to 20:00)	per exhibition	closed Mondays
D.T. Suzuki Museum	9:30–17:00	¥310	closed Mondays
Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum	9:30–17:00	¥310	closed Tuesdays
Nomura Samurai Residence	8:30–17:30 (Oct–Mar to 16:30)	¥550	earlier closing in winter
Omicho Market	9:00–16:00, varies by store	—	many fish shops closed Wednesdays

Sources for the table: Kenroku-en,^[1][1] the castle park,^[2] the 21st Century Museum,^[3] the D.T. Suzuki Museum,^[19] the gold leaf museum,^[20] the Nomura residence^[9] and Omicho Market.^[10][11]

Kanazawa’s three chaya districts are free to walk through. Many venues and shops in the city close on one day between Monday and Wednesday, so plan the museum days first.^[11]

Kenroku-en and Kanazawa Castle Park — what should I see first?

Start with Kenroku-en (兼六園), then cross to Kanazawa Castle Park. Ishikawa Prefecture publishes the hours for both, and the garden’s hours change with the season: 7:00–18:00 from Mar. 1 through Oct.15, and 8:00–17:00 for the rest of the year, through Feb.28/29.^[1]

If you are up early, the garden and the castle park let you in free before regular opening, from 4:00 to 6:00 depending on the month, but only through the Renchi-mon and Zuishinzaka entrances, and you must leave 15 minutes before the regular opening time.^[1]

The castle park grounds are free. The Hishi Yagura, Gojukken Nagaya and Hashizume-mon buildings charge ¥320 for adults and ¥100 for children, and are open 9:00–16:30 with last entry at 16:00.^[2] If you also plan one of the city’s museums, the Kenrokuen+1 ticket covers the garden and one more cultural facility for ¥500.^[1]

When does Kenroku-en look different — snow ropes and night illuminations?

From November 1 to mid-December, gardeners put up the yukitsuri (雪吊り), the snow ropes that fan out from a pole above the pine trees to protect the branches from heavy snow.^[13] If you come in November, you see the work in progress; from mid-December the ropes are in place for the winter.

On a few autumn evenings the garden and the castle park are lit up. In 2026 the dates are Sep. 19-22 and Nov. 7, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29, from 18:00 to 20:45 (closing time 21:00), and entry is free. In Kenrokuen the foliage and the yukitsuri ropes are lit; the ropes go up from November 1.^[14],[13] Most of the November dates are Saturdays and Sundays, so plan the evening around them rather than expecting a light-up every night. If you want maples beyond the city as well, the Natadera autumn leaves guide covers the temple’s season and the car-free route from Kanazawa.

Which chaya district should I visit — Higashi, Kazue-machi or Nishi?

See Higashi Chaya if you have time for only one; add Kazue-machi, across the river, for a quieter walk, and Nishi Chaya if you are on the Nagamachi side of town.

Higashi Chaya

Higashi Chaya (ひがし茶屋街) is a geisha district. Visit Kanazawa, the city’s official tourism guide, describes it as the largest of the three districts to which the city’s geisha houses were moved in 1820, and as a designated cultural asset along with Kazue-machi and Kyoto’s Gion. It suggests about 60 minutes there, and the district is about 5 minutes on foot from the Hashiba-cho bus stop.^[8] Go in the morning or after 16:00 if you can. Visit Kanazawa says the crowds peak in the early afternoon, when most visitors arrive after lunch at Omicho, and that the shops begin to close at 17:00.^[11] If you are coming from Takayama, the bus route through Shirakawa-go is covered in the Takayama guide.

To see geiko perform rather than only walk past the teahouses, the guide to geiko performances in Kanazawa compares the scheduled shows and how to book them.

Kazue-machi

Kazue-machi (主計町) is the small, quiet one: narrow alleys, ryokan and teahouses along the Asanogawa River, a short walk across the river from Higashi Chaya. Visit Kanazawa suggests about 60 minutes, and it is about 5 minutes on foot from the same Hashiba-cho bus stop, so you can do both districts from one stop.^[17]

Nishi Chaya

Nishi Chaya (にし茶屋街) is the third geisha district, with two-story wooden teahouses along its main street. The Kanazawa Nishi Chaya Shiryokan Museum is a reproduced teahouse where you can see the guest room, and volunteer guides show visitors around the district for free. The district is about 3 minutes on foot from the Hirokoji bus stop, which only the Left Loop of the Loop Bus serves.^[18]

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art — do I need a ticket?

The museum (金沢21世紀美術館) has two parts. The Public Zone is open 9:00–22:00. The Exhibition Zone, where you need a ticket, is open 10:00–18:00 (until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays) and is closed on Mondays, or on the following weekday when Monday is a national holiday.^[3] Check the museum’s own page for the ticket price of the exhibition running when you visit.

Can I see “The Swimming Pool” from below?

Only with an exhibition ticket. The way down into the pool’s underground space is inside the Collection Exhibition area, so you buy an exhibition ticket and then get a same-day waiting list number. Numbers are issued from 9:00 to 17:30 (19:30 on Fridays and Saturdays), online or at the reservation machine by the General Information desk at the Honda Street entrance. The slip from the machine has a code that shows your place in the queue in real time on your phone. When you are called, go to Exhibition Room 6; the stay below is limited to 5 minutes. The installation is temporarily closed from October 19 to October 30, 2026.^[12],[4] Get your number first, then see the rest of the exhibition while you wait.

D.T. Suzuki Museum — is it worth a visit?

Yes, if you want a quiet hour after the busier sights. The museum commemorates Daisetz (D.T.) Suzuki (鈴木大拙館), the Kanazawa-born Buddhist philosopher, and is built as three wings and three gardens meant for reflection as much as for exhibits. It is open 9:30–17:00 (enter by 16:30) and costs ¥310 for adults, ¥210 for those aged 65 or over, and nothing below high-school age. It closes on Mondays (the next day when Monday is a holiday), during exhibit changes and from Dec. 29 to Jan. 3, and it is about 5 minutes on foot from the Honda-machi stop of the Loop Bus.^[19]

It also closes during exhibit changes, so check the museum’s own closing-day calendar before you fix the day.^[19]

Where can I see Kanazawa’s gold leaf?

Go to the Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum (金沢安江金箔工芸館) in Higashiyama, in the Higashi Chaya area. It exhibits gold-beating tools and shows how gold leaf is made. The museum is open 9:30–17:00 (enter by 16:30) and charges ¥310 for adults, ¥210 for those aged 65 or over, and nothing below high-school age. It closes on Tuesdays (the next day when Tuesday is a holiday), from Dec. 29 to Jan. 3 and during exhibit changes.^[20]

Omicho Market — when should I go for food?

Omicho Market (近江町市場) has been Kanazawa’s kitchen for about 300 years. It has about 170 shops selling seafood, produce and souvenirs, and it is a 15-minute walk from Kanazawa Station.^[16] Visit Kanazawa lists the market’s hours as 9:00–16:00, but each store sets its own, and the market’s regular holidays are the New Year’s holidays.^[10]

Nagamachi — is the samurai district worth the time?

Nagamachi (長町) is a former samurai district. The house to enter is the Nomura Samurai Residence (野村家), which charges adults ¥550 and opens 8:30–17:30 (until 16:30 from October to March). It is closed Dec. 26 to 27 and Jan. 1 to Jan. 2.^[9]

Myoryuji (妙立寺), the Ninja Temple, is seen on a guided tour; the Ninja Temple booking guide explains how to reserve one before you fix the rest of the day.

How do I see Kanazawa in one day?

This route follows the Right Loop Bus (LR), which runs from Kanazawa Station East Gate past Omicho Market, Higashi Chaya, Kenroku-en and the castle, the 21st Century Museum and Nagamachi, every 15 minutes from 8:30 to 18:00. The Left Loop Bus (LL) runs the other way, every 20 minutes from 8:38 to 17:58. Each ride costs a flat ¥220 for adults.^[7] The order and the suggested times below are our planning suggestion; the walking times and visit lengths come from Visit Kanazawa.

1. Kanazawa Station to Omicho Market (morning)approx. 15 minutes

   Leave your bags at the station first (see below). Walk to Omicho, approx. 15 minutes,^[7] or take the first stop on the Right Loop Bus. Have an early lunch or a seafood breakfast while the stalls are open.^[10]

2. Omicho Market to Higashi Chaya (late morning)

   Take the Right Loop Bus on to Higashi Chaya and get off at Hashiba-cho, approx. 5 minutes on foot from the district. Allow approx. 60 minutes.^[8] Arriving before the 14:00–15:00 peak keeps the main street quieter.^[11]

3. Higashi Chaya to Kenroku-en and Kanazawa Castle Park (early afternoon)approx. 20 minutes

   Ride the loop bus one more stage, or walk: Visit Kanazawa gives approx. 20 minutes from Higashi Chaya to Kenroku-en’s Katsurazaka Gate.^[7] See the garden first, then cross to the castle park; the castle buildings take last entry at 16:00.^[2]

4. Kenroku-en to the 21st Century Museum (late afternoon)approx. 3 minutes

   From Kenroku-en’s Mayumizaka Gate the museum is approx. 3 minutes on foot.^[7] The Exhibition Zone is open until 18:00, or 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and is closed on Mondays.^[3] On a Monday, swap this stop for Nagamachi and the Nomura Samurai Residence.^[9]

5. Back to Kanazawa Station (evening)

   Catch the loop bus back to the East Gate before the last runs around 18:00,^[7] then collect your bags.

What does a two-day plan look like?

Spend the first day on the one-day route above. Use the second day for the quieter districts and the two smaller museums, on a Wednesday to Sunday: the D.T. Suzuki Museum closes on Mondays^[19] and the gold leaf museum on Tuesdays.^[20] The order is our planning suggestion, built on the published hours.

1. Gold leaf museum (from opening)from 9:30

   Start at the Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum in the Higashi Chaya area, which opens at 9:30.^[20]

2. Kazue-machi (morning)approx. 60 minutes

   Cross the Asanogawa River to Kazue-machi while it is quiet; Visit Kanazawa suggests approx. 60 minutes.^[17]

3. D.T. Suzuki Museum (midday)

   Ride the loop bus to Honda-machi, approx. 5 minutes on foot from the museum. Enter by 16:30.^[19]

4. Nagamachi and the Nomura Samurai Residence (afternoon)

   Continue on the loop bus to Nagamachi. From October to March the Nomura residence closes at 16:30, so go before mid-afternoon.^[9]

5. Nishi Chaya (late afternoon)approx. 3 minutes

   Take the Left Loop Bus to Hirokoji, approx. 3 minutes on foot from Nishi Chaya.^[18] The last Left Loop run is at 17:58.^[7]

Where do I leave luggage at Kanazawa Station?

Use a coin locker if your bag fits, the staffed counter if it does not, and the same-day delivery service if you are moving to a hotel or ryokan that evening. If you have not booked a room yet, the guide to where to stay in Kanazawa compares the station area, Korinbo–Katamachi and Higashi Chaya.

Item	Coin lockers	Left luggage counter	Same-day delivery
Where	5 locations in the station, Anto and Rinto	Anto East Entrance, near the JR Ticket Office	Kanazawa Station Tourist Information Center
Hours	A, B and C: 24 hours	9:30–19:00	—
Fee per day	¥400 small, ¥600 medium, ¥800 large	¥600 locker-size, ¥1,200 oversized	paid; ask at the counter
Best for	day bags and carry-on cases	large cases, strollers	moving on to your hotel or ryokan

Sources for the table: the coin lockers^[15] and the counter and delivery service.^[15]

There are 892 lockers in all, and they take cash or IC cards such as Suica and ICOCA.^[15] Delivery covers hotels and ryokan in Kanazawa City, the Noto area, the Kaga hot spring resorts and Awara City in Fukui Prefecture.^[15] If you are moving on to the hot springs, the guide to onsen towns near Kanazawa helps you choose between Kaga Onsen, Yuwaku and Wakura for the night.

How do I get to Kanazawa?

From Tokyo, the Hokuriku Shinkansen runs straight to Kanazawa Station. JR West gives a travel time of 2 hours 28 minutes.^[5] If you are looping Tokyo–Kanazawa–Kyoto, the Tokyo–Kyoto Shinkansen guide covers the other side of the triangle.

For tickets, seat reservations and which trains to take, see the Tokyo to Kanazawa Shinkansen guide.

From Osaka or Kyoto, you take the Limited Express Thunderbird to Tsuruga (敦賀) and change to the Hokuriku Shinkansen. From Osaka Station that is 1 hour 20 minutes plus 40 minutes; from Kyoto Station, 45 minutes plus 1 hour.^[6] The Tsuruga transfer guide walks you through the change, the tickets and the late trains.

From Takayama, a highway bus runs to Shirakawa-go in 50 minutes and on to Kanazawa Station in 1 hour 15 minutes. By rail, the Hida limited express goes to Toyama in 1 hour 30 minutes, then the Shinkansen to Kanazawa takes 20 minutes.^[6] To see Shirakawa-go as a return day trip from Kanazawa instead, the Shirakawa-go day trip guide explains how to book the reserved bus.

Whether a rail pass pays off depends on your whole route. The Japan Rail Pass review works through loops that include Hokuriku.

If your week runs Tokyo–Kanazawa–Kyoto or Osaka, the Hokuriku Arch Pass review checks whether that regional pass beats single tickets on the same route.

In the city, the Kanazawa Loop Bus starts from the station’s East Gate. It charges a flat ¥220 per adult ride (¥110 for children) and accepts IC cards such as Suica, PASMO and ICOCA, as well as cash and contactless credit cards.^[7]

Plan the rest of your trip

• The Noto Peninsula guide: what has reopened up the coast and how to get there from Kanazawa.
• The Noto car, bus or tour comparison: which parts of the peninsula a rental car, the train and bus, or a guided tour reach.
• The guide to driving in Japan: licence translation, car rental and expressway tolls if you drive to Noto.
• The ryokan guide: how a ryokan stay works and what is included.

Tips

Put the museums on days they are open, and go to the garden first.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do I need in Kanazawa?

One full day covers Kenroku-en, the castle park, Higashi Chaya, Omicho and the 21st Century Museum, which are all close together. A second day adds Kazue-machi, Nishi Chaya, Nagamachi, the D.T. Suzuki Museum and the gold leaf museum. This is our planning suggestion, not an official figure.

Is there a combined ticket?

Yes. The Kenrokuen+1 ticket covers Kenroku-en and one more cultural facility in the city for ¥500.^[1]

How much do children pay at Kenroku-en?

Children aged 6 to 17 pay ¥100, and adults pay ¥320. Payment is cash only.^[1]

Are the museums free for children?

The D.T. Suzuki Museum is free below high-school age,^[19] and so is the gold leaf museum.^[20]