Getting from Kanazawa to Takayama is easier than it looks on the map. The two cities sit on opposite sides of a mountainous part of central Japan, and there isn’t a simple direct train between them. Instead, the best option for most travellers is: Kanazawa → highway bus → Takayama The journey takes approximately: 2 … Read more
Kanazawa isn’t famous for nightlife. That’s one of the reasons going out here can be so good. Unlike Tokyo or Osaka, you don’t need to navigate enormous entertainment districts or spend half your night travelling between neighbourhoods. Kanazawa nightlife is: compact + relaxed + local + easy to explore on foot. The centre of the … Read more
Kanazawa has a much better whisky scene than you might expect. The city doesn’t have the enormous selection of whisky bars you’ll find across Tokyo, but that’s not necessarily a disadvantage. Kanazawa’s best whisky bars tend to be: small + intimate + bartender-led. You’ll find everything from dedicated malt whisky specialists to old-school bars pouring … Read more
Kanazawa isn’t usually the first Japanese city people think of for cocktails. That’s part of what makes drinking here interesting. The city’s cocktail scene is smaller than Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto, but Kanazawa has a surprisingly strong collection of intimate bars, experienced bartenders, serious spirit selections and creative drinks. Most of the action is concentrated … Read more
Getting from Tokyo to Kanazawa is surprisingly easy. Despite Kanazawa sitting on the opposite side of Honshu from Tokyo, you don’t need to fly or make complicated train connections. The easiest route is: Tokyo Station → Hokuriku Shinkansen → Kanazawa Station It’s direct. No transfers. And the fastest trains complete the journey in roughly: 2.5 … Read more
Kanazawa Castle is one of the essential places to visit in Kanazawa. Once the seat of the powerful Maeda family, the castle stood at the centre of the Kaga Domain for more than 280 years. Today, the original castle tower is gone. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that means there’s nothing to see. … Read more
Higashi Chaya District is one of the most beautiful areas in Kanazawa. Rows of traditional wooden townhouses line narrow streets where geisha once entertained wealthy merchants and visitors during the Edo period. Today, many of these historic buildings have become: But the historic streetscape remains the main attraction. And there’s an important trick to visiting: … Read more
Kenrokuen Garden is one of the places you shouldn’t miss in Kanazawa. Considered one of Japan’s great landscape gardens, Kenrokuen combines ponds, streams, bridges, carefully shaped pine trees, seasonal flowers and traditional teahouses directly beside Kanazawa Castle. But there’s an even better reason to visit: Kenrokuen changes dramatically with the seasons. Spring brings cherry blossoms. … Read more
Kanazawa is one of Japan’s most underrated food cities. Most first-time visitors know about the city’s seafood. And they’re right. Kanazawa’s position near the Sea of Japan gives it access to exceptional fish, shellfish, crab and shrimp. But stopping at sushi would be a mistake. Kanazawa also has its own traditional Kaga cuisine, distinctive oden, … Read more
Kanazawa is one of the best cities in Japan for sushi. Its location near the Sea of Japan gives restaurants access to outstanding seafood from Ishikawa and the wider Hokuriku region, including seasonal fish and shellfish that many first-time visitors rarely encounter elsewhere. And you don’t need to spend ¥20,000 on omakase to eat well. … Read more