Kanazawa on a Budget: 4 Days of Adventure!

Discover the beauty of Kanazawa on a budget without compromising on experiences.

21 June 2023

Visiting Kanazawa on a limited budget is an achievable feat. Enjoy a host of affordable traditional attractions, such as strolling through the beautiful Kenroku-en garden or exploring the samurai district of Nagamachi. Try local foods at a reasonable price, including the famous sushi, bento boxes and traditional wagashi sweets.

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Travel plan

Getting latest place information
Day 1

Arrival and Exploration

  • Check-in at Budget Hotel Good Neighbors, a cozy and affordable accommodation in Kanazawa.
  • Visit Kanazawa Castle, a stunning 17th-century fortress with beautiful gardens. Don't miss the Ishikawa-mon Gate and the Gojikken Nagaya (longhouses).
  • Stroll through the Kenroku-en Garden, one of Japan's top three gardens, and enjoy its ponds, hills, waterfalls, bridges, and teahouses.
  • Browse the stalls and food shops at Omicho Market, a lively indoor market that sells fresh seafood, fruits, vegetables, snacks, and souvenirs. Try the crab cakes, oden, and sake.
  • Watch a Noh theater performance at Kanazawa Noh Museum, a museum that showcases the history, costumes, masks, and music of Noh, a traditional Japanese form of drama.
Day 2

Crafts and History

  • Take a bus to Higashi Chaya District, a preserved geisha district with traditional wooden houses, tea houses, galleries, and shops. Try a cup of green tea and a sweet.
  • Participate in a pottery workshop at Kutaniyaki Kiln Village, a facility where you can make your own Kutaniyaki ceramics or paint pre-made ones. Choose from a variety of colors and designs.
  • Visit Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum to learn about the history, production methods, and artistic uses of gold leaf, a specialty of Kanazawa. See the exhibits and demonstrations.
  • Admire the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, a futuristic and interactive museum that hosts avant-garde artworks, exhibitions, installations, and events. Don't miss the swimming pool.
  • Explore the old samurai district of Nagamachi, where you can see the former residences of samurai families, such as the Nomura-ke and the Naga-machi Bukeyashiki.
Day 3

Nature and Food

  • Go for a hike in the nearby Hakusan National Park, a scenic natural reserve that boasts waterfalls, hot springs, lakes, mountains, and forests. Choose a trail that suits your fitness level and interests.
  • Have lunch at Morimori Sushi, a sushi restaurant that serves fresh, seasonal, and creative sushi rolls, nigiri, and sashimi. Watch the chefs prepare your dishes with precision and flair.
  • Visit the D.T. Suzuki Museum, a museum that honors the life and works of Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki, a prominent figure of Zen Buddhism and Japanese culture. See the exhibits and watch the videos.
  • Try Kanazawa's famous Kaga cuisine at Asadaya, a cozy and elegant restaurant that serves local specialties such as jibuni (duck soup), kaga-yasai (vegetables), and soba (buckwheat noodles). Don't forget to reserve a table in advance.
  • End the day with a relaxing onsen (hot spring) experience at Yamashiro Onsen, a nearby hot spring resort that offers various pools, saunas, and massages. Enjoy the healing waters and the peaceful surroundings.
Day 4

Gardens and Goodbyes

  • Return to Kenroku-en Garden and explore its seasonal beauty, such as the cherry blossoms, the autumn leaves, or the winter illuminations. Take a boat ride on the pond or climb the lookout tower.
  • Have breakfast at Curio Espresso and Vintage Design, a hipster café that serves specialty coffee, homemade pastries, and vintage finds. Browse the records, books, and clothes.
  • Buy some souvenirs at Kanazawa Station, a modern and stylish transportation hub that houses various shops, restaurants, and attractions. Choose from green tea, gold leaf products, crafts, snacks, and more.
  • Say goodbye to Kanazawa and head for your next destination, feeling enriched, inspired, and grateful for the memories. Thank you for visiting our city!

Length of stay

1 day 2 days 3 days 4 days 5 days

Type of trip

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How to get there

Plane

The best way to get to Kanazawa by plane is to fly into Komatsu Airport, which is approximately 25 km away from the city center. From there, you can take a bus or train to Kanazawa Station.

Car

To get to Kanazawa by car, you can take the Hokuriku Expressway from Tokyo or Osaka. From Tokyo, the trip takes approximately 5-6 hours, while from Osaka it takes approximately 3-4 hours.

Train

There are several train options to get to Kanazawa, including the Hokuriku Shinkansen, which links Tokyo to Kanazawa. Other options include the Thunderbird Limited Express and the Shirasagi Limited Express. Both of these trains run between Osaka and Kanazawa.

Boat

There are no direct routes to Kanazawa by boat. However, you can take a ferry from Vladivostok, Russia to Toyama Port, which is approximately 60 km away from Kanazawa. From there, you can take a bus or train to Kanazawa.

Bus

If you prefer to travel by bus, you can take a highway bus from Tokyo's Shinjuku Station or Osaka's Umeda Station. The trip takes approximately 8-9 hours from Tokyo and 4-5 hours from Osaka, depending on traffic and weather conditions.

Destination

Kanazawa

Welcome to a city where the fish are fresh and the pedestrians are cautious. Kanazawa, where you can admire traditional Japanese architecture while avoiding colliding with bicycles.

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Number of days

1 2 3 4 5

Type of trip

Standard trip Budget Family Friendly Romantic Stag do

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Kanazawa on a Budget: The Ultimate 5 Day Guide

Kanazawa is a charming city to explore in Japan even with a limited budget. There are many affordable accommodations and restaurants scattered across the city that serve delicious traditional Japanese cuisine. Visitors can also visit beautiful gardens and parks, as well as museums and galleries, which offer free admissions or discounts.