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Willer Express - Inexpensive Highway Bus Reservations in English

Home - Travel - Sightseeing Guide - Chubu
Kanazawa 
# 20   of 160 destinations
in our travel guide

jump to:   access  -  hotels  -  ratings  -  links

Kenrokuen

During the Edo Period, Kanazawa (金沢) served as the seat of the Maeda Clan, the second most powerful feudal clan after the Tokugawa in terms of rice production and fief size. Accordingly, Kanazawa grew to become a town of great cultural achievements, rivaling Kyoto and Edo (Tokyo).

During World War Two, Kanazawa was Japan's second largest city (after Kyoto) to escape destruction by air raids. Consequently, parts of the old castle town, such as the Nagamachi samurai district and chaya entertainment districts, have survived in pretty good condition.

Today, Kanazawa remains an important city in its region and serves as the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture. The city boasts many historical attractions such as restored residences and districts, as well as modern museums. But Kanazawa's unchallenged main attraction is Kenrokuen, one of Japan's "three best landscape gardens" and by many considered the most beautiful of them all.

Any Questions? Ask them in our question forum.
Attractions
 1  Kenrokuen
Japan's most celebrated landscape garden.
User rating: 91/100 (379 votes)
Visited by: 688 users
 2  Ninjadera
Temple equipped with secret doors and traps.
User rating: 85/100 (123 votes)
Visited by: 235 users
 3  Chaya Districts
District of teahouses where geisha perform.
User rating: 82/100 (204 votes)
Visited by: 365 users
 4  21st Century Museum
Spectacular contemporary art museum.
User rating: 81/100 (89 votes)
Visited by: 180 users
 5  Seisonkaku Villa
Beautiful Japanese villa next to Kenrokuen.
User rating: 79/100 (60 votes)
Visited by: 107 users
 6  Nagamachi
Kanazawa's former samurai district.
User rating: 79/100 (138 votes)
Visited by: 253 users
 7  Omicho Market
Busy market near Kanazawa Station.
User rating: 74/100 (158 votes)
Visited by: 299 users
 8  Oyama Shrine
Shrine dedicated to the former local lord.
User rating: 73/100 (94 votes)
Visited by: 173 users
 9  Kanazawa Castle
Slowly being reconstructed.
User rating: 72/100 (273 votes)
Visited by: 531 users
Side Trips from Kanazawa
 1  Shirakawa-go
Mountainous region, known for its farmhouses.
User rating: 93/100 (247 votes)
Visited by: 484 users
 2  Noto Peninsula
Rural peninsula with beautiful coastlines.
User rating: 76/100 (58 votes)
Visited by: 162 users
 3  Kaga Onsen
A collection of four historic hot spring towns.
User rating: 75/100 (21 votes)
Visited by: 89 users

Access and Orientation
Access and Orientation
How to get to and around Kanazawa.

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Hotels and Ryokan
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Kanazawa Hakuchoro Hotel
Perfect location for sightseeing in Kanazawa.
Easy access to Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen.
Recommended Hotels around kanazawa - with lowest rates by selected hotel reservation websites
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Convenient hotel just in front of Kanazawa Station.
Reserve through
Agoda
Dormy Inn Kanazawa
Good value business hotel with onsen next to Kanazawa Station.
Reserve through
Agoda or Japanican
Kanazawa Excel Hotel Tokyu
Convenient hotel located in the center of Kanazawa.
Reserve through
Japanican
Nikko Kanazawa Hotel
One of the best hotels in town, located just in front of Kanazawa Station.
Reserve through
Agoda or Japanican

User Ratings
Ratings for Kanazawa:
japan-guide.com Rating:
  best of Japan  
User Rating (by 504 users):
84/100
  recommended

Best rated destinations (out of 148):
39.  Kinosaki   85/100
40.  Takachiho   85/100
41.  Yokohama   85/100
42.  Kumano   85/100
43.  Sapporo   84/100
44.  Kanazawa   84/100
45.  Obuse   84/100
46.  Daisetsuzan   84/100
47.  Kume Island   84/100
48.  Otaru   84/100
Most visited destinations (out of 160):
15.  Fuji Five Lakes   1619
16.  Sapporo   1569
17.  Narita   1299
18.  Nagasaki   1242
19.  Okinawa Island   1199
20.  Kanazawa   1070
21.  Nagano   1033
22.  Sendai   1003
23.  Takayama   947
24.  Uji   912

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We strive to keep japan-guide.com up-to-date and accurate, and are always looking for ways to improve the user experience. If you have any updates, suggestions, corrections or opinions, please let us know:

English Links
City of Kanazawa
Official website of the city government.
Kanazawa Tourist Information Guide
Official website by the tourist association.

Japanese Links
City of Kanazawa
Official website of the city government.

Online Reservations
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Related Pages
Travel
Sightseeing
Chubu Region
Ishikawa Prefecture
Cities

Kenrokuen Garden
Seisonkaku Villa
Kanazawa Castle Park
Oyama Shrine
Nagamachi Samurai District
Ninja Temple
Chaya Districts
Omicho Market
21st Century Museum

Kanazawa Museum Guide

Kanazawa: Access and Orientation

News and Reports
April 10, 2013
Kanazawa Cherry Blossom Report
by sean
April 15, 2012
Kanazawa Cherry Blossom Report
by sean
November 23, 2011
Kanazawa Autumn Color Report
by schauwecker
April 14, 2011
Kanazawa Cherry Blossom Report
by francois
Kanazawa Cherry Blossom Report
April 9, 2010
Kanazawa Cherry Blossom Report
April 13, 2009

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