This Ultimate Two Day Kanazawa Itinerary covers all the key sights in Kanazawa.
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Experiencing the Best Culture and Gourmet Kanazawa has to Offer
Ultimate Two Day Kanazawa Itinerary
See MoreThe Heart of Kanazawa
Discover Omicho Market, Ninjadera, Nagamachi, Oyama Shrine, and Kanazawa Castle Park
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This day covers all the sights in Central Kanazawa that are all a walking distance away from one another.
Starting off the day with some nice seafood at Omicho Market (近江町市場, Omichō-shijō), walking over to the nearby Oyama Shrine (尾山神社, Oyama-jinja) with its unique gate, then crossing over to Kanazawa Castle Park (金沢城公園, Kanazawa-jō Kōen), checking out the famous Kenrokuen Garden, and digging into some Kanazawa Curry at Turban Curry (ターバンカレー, Tāban Karē) for dinner.
Itinerary Details
Start off the day at Kanazawa Station
Recommended Time:
09:00
金沢駅
Kanazawa Station
北陸新幹線
Hokuriku Shinkansen
IRいしかわ鉄道線
IR Ishikawa Railway Line
Walk over to Omicho Market
Est.
09:00
15 mins
15 mins
1.2km
Kanazawa Station
to
Omicho Market
Est.
09:25
1 hour
Omicho Market (近江町市場)
Explore streets and streets of seafood
Walk over to Kanazawa Hakomachi
Est.
10:25
2 mins
2 mins
200m
Omicho Market
to
Kanazawa Hakomachi
Est.
10:35
30 mins
Kanazawa Hakomachi (金沢箱町)
Check out some of the interesting shops on the first floor
Kanazawa Hakomachi is a small shopping mall opposite Omicho Market (近江町市場, Omichō-shijō) with the concept of being a "Miniaturised Kanazawa" (金沢小町, Kanazawa Komachi) in a "box full of thoughts". The shop selection is designed around the keywords of beauty (美, bi), food (食, shoku), wellness (健康, kenkō), and omotenashi (お持て成し, Japanese spirit of hospitality). So rather than having a mall full of large chains, each shop with Kanazawa Hakomachi feels like an indie shop with interesting concepts that showcase local produce, local crafts, wagashi (和菓子, Traditional Japanese sweets), and more. While the mall itself is rather small, with the first floor being for retail, the second floor being for food, and the third being for wellness, it is still well worth a quick stop after visiting the nearby Omicho Market
Est.
11:05
1 hour
Kanazawa Temakizushi Coil (金沢手巻き寿司コイル)
Roll up your very own DIY Hosomaki for Lunch
Coil is a modern take on the classic hosomaki (細巻き, Thin Sushi Roll) in a classy minimalist ambience. The restaurant aims to fuse together tradition and modernity, which can be seen from the shop's sleek modern interior, combined with the rather traditional menu it offers. Coil offers a unique do-it-yourself (DIY) experience where you pick a selection of fillings for your hosomaki, which you will then roll up the hosomaki yourself before eating it. Apart from the hosomaki, they also offer a DIY tea ceremony (茶道, Sadō, Japanese tea ceremony) experience, as well as monaka soups (もなかスープ, Monaka Sūpu) as a side.
Head over to Ninjadera by Bus
Est.
12:05
9 mins
9 mins
¥200
Bus 21, 22, 26, 29, & Loop Bus (RL)
Omicho Market
to
Ninjadera (Ninja Temple)
Est.
12:25
1 hour
Ninjadera (Ninja Temple) (忍者寺)
Discover the hidden trap doors and secrets of this temple
Myoryu-ji Temple (妙立寺), colloquially called Ninja-dera (or Ninja Temple), is a temple was built with hidden defenses, escape rooms, tunnels, traps and more, in order to allow scouts to escape and inform the castle. As such, the temple has no actual relation to ninjas (忍者), covert spies of the era, and was only nicknamed that for its presence and use of traps.
Head over to Nagamachi
Est.
13:25
11 mins
5 mins
¥200
Bus 32 or 80
Ninjadera (Ninja Temple)
to
Nagamachi Samurai District
Est.
13:45
1.5 hours
Nagamachi Samurai District (長町武家屋敷跡)
Explore the residences of samurais
The Nagamachi district was formerly home to samurai (侍) and their families during the Edo Period (1603-1867, 江戸時代, Edo-jidai). A stark contrast to the wide open alleys and lined-wooden buildings of the Higashi Chaya District, the Nagamachi district consists of narrow alleys lined with earthen walls, and private gates to residences. There is also a beautiful water canal that flows alongside the road just outside the entrance to many of the samurai residences.
Head over to Oyama Shrine
Est.
15:15
8 mins
8 mins
600m
Nagamachi Samurai District
to
Oyama Shrine
Est.
15:35
30 mins
Oyama Shrine (尾山神社)
Witness the fusion of Japanese and Western architecture
Most shrines (神社, Jinja) in Japan have the same style of wooden buildings, with torii (鳥居) gates, and traditional Shinto symbols. Oyama Shrine stands out for its unique gate, the Oyama Shrine Shinmon Gate (神門, Shin-mon, lit. heavenly gate), that mixes Japanese, Chinese, and Western architecture.
Head over to Turban Curry
Est.
17:35
9 mins
9 mins
650m
Kanazawa Castle Park
to
Turban Curry
Est.
17:55
1 hour
Turban Curry (ターバンカレー)
Get Kanazawa's Soul Food
Turban Curry is one of the long time staples of Kanazawa, having served Kanazawa Curry (金沢カレー, Kanazawa Karē) since 1971. They use their own secret curry spice mix with over 20 different kinds of spices, and locally sourced ingredients to bring out the umami and richness of their curry. It’s one of the best places to try Kanazawa’s “Soul Food” of Kanzawa Curry.
End off at Korinbo
Est.
18:55
This lively shopping district boasts a number of large malls, shopping streets, shops, and arcades.
From here, you can easily take a bus back to Kanazawa Station, or take a 30 minute walk (2.2km) back too.
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