Omicho Market is one of the best places to experience Kanazawa’s food culture. Known as “Kanazawa’s Kitchen,” the market has been feeding the city for more than 300 years and contains more than 170 shops and businesses selling everything from fresh Sea of Japan seafood to local vegetables, fruit, dried goods and prepared food. But … Read more
Eating well in Kanazawa doesn’t have to be expensive. The city may be famous for premium sushi, snow crab and traditional Kaga cuisine, but some of Kanazawa’s most enjoyable meals are also among its cheapest. Think: Kanazawa curry for around ¥1,000 bowls of ramen udon after a night in Katamachi casual sushi local set meals … Read more
Kanazawa is one of the best food cities to add to a Japan itinerary. Its location near the Sea of Japan gives the city access to exceptional seafood, while the historic Kaga region has developed its own distinctive food culture around seasonal ingredients, local vegetables, sake and beautifully presented Japanese cuisine. For first-time visitors, there … Read more
Kanazawa isn’t usually the first city travellers think of when planning nightlife in Japan. That’s exactly why its bar scene is worth exploring. Instead of the enormous nightlife districts of Tokyo and Osaka, Kanazawa offers something much more compact. Most of the action is concentrated around Katamachi and Kiguramachi, where tiny cocktail bars, whisky bars, … Read more
Travelling from Kyoto to Kanazawa is straightforward, but there’s one important change first-time visitors need to understand. There is no longer a direct Thunderbird limited express train from Kyoto all the way to Kanazawa. The standard rail journey now involves one transfer: Kyoto → Tsuruga → Kanazawa You’ll take the Thunderbird Limited Express from Kyoto … Read more
Travelling from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go is surprisingly easy. The best option for most travellers is the direct highway bus from Kanazawa Station to Shirakawa-go, which takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. The current one-way adult fare is around ¥2,800, making Shirakawa-go one of the easiest day trips from Kanazawa. You don’t need to rent a … Read more
Three days in Kanazawa gives you enough time to see the city’s famous gardens, castle, samurai districts, historic teahouses and food markets without rushing, while also adding one of Japan’s most spectacular mountain villages. For most first-time visitors, I recommend spending: Day 1 exploring classic Kanazawa Day 2 discovering samurai history, museums and quieter neighbourhoods … Read more
Two days in Kanazawa is enough time to experience the city’s famous Japanese garden, castle, samurai district, historic teahouse streets, seafood market and modern art without rushing from attraction to attraction. The secret is planning your route properly. Kanazawa is compact, but its attractions are spread across several distinct neighbourhoods. Instead of constantly crossing the … Read more
Kanazawa is one of the best cities in Japan for travellers who want traditional neighbourhoods, samurai history, Japanese gardens, seafood and art without the scale and crowds of Tokyo or Osaka. The city is surprisingly compact. Many of Kanazawa’s major attractions sit within walking distance of Kanazawa Castle, which means you can see an impressive … Read more
Choosing where to stay in Kanazawa is relatively easy once you understand the layout of the city. Unlike Tokyo or Osaka, Kanazawa is compact. Most of the major attractions are concentrated around Kanazawa Castle, with Kanazawa Station sitting slightly north of the main sightseeing area. For most first-time visitors, there are three areas worth considering: … Read more