Kanazawa Museum Guide

There are many museums throughout Kanazawa, with a number of them, including the Prefectural Art Museum, Prefectural History Museum, Honda Museum and 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, concentrated around Kenrokuen. Note that various combination tickets are available for the museums.

Around Kenrokuen

  • 21st Century Museum
    Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (Friday and Saturday until 20:00)
    Closed: Mondays and New Year holidays
    Admission: Varies by exhibition, typically 1400 yen
    The 21st Century Museum is a popular museum which exhibits contemporary art by acclaimed artists from across the world. Well known, permanent installation include Leandro Erlich's "Swimming Pool" and James Turrell's "Blue Planet Sky".
  • Prefectural History Museum
    Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
    Closed: December 28 to January 3 and irregular closures for maintenance
    Admission: 300 yen (permanent exhibition)
    Located in former factory buildings used for silk production, this well done museum introduces the natural and cultural history of Kanazawa and Ishikawa Prefecture. Information is available in English and Japanese. It displays both a permanent and temporary exhibitions.
  • Honda Museum
    Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
    Closed: Thursdays in winter, December 29 to January 3
    Admission: 400 yen
    This museum exhibits treasures of the Honda family, the second most powerful family of Kanazawa during the Edo Period. Objects on display include samurai weapons and armor as well as paintings and calligraphy. The museum is located in the same brick building complex as the Prefectural History Museum.
  • D.T. Suzuki Museum
    Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
    Closed: Mondays (or Tuesday if Monday is a holiday), December 29 to January 3
    Admission: 310 yen
    This museum commemorates the life and works of Buddhist philosopher Suzuki Daisetz Teitaro who was born in Kanazawa. The exhibitions introduce the visitor to Suzuki and his writings, while the architecture of the museum is an embodiment of his life and philosophy.
  • Prefectural Museum of Art
    Hours: 9:30 to 18:00 (entry until 17:30)
    Closed: No closing days
    Admission: 370 yen
    This museum hosts permanent and temporary exhibitions of local fine arts from the 15th to 20th centuries. On display are pieces of lacquerware, porcelain, swords, kimono, paintings, sculptures and more.
  • Museum for Traditional Products and Crafts
    Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:45)
    Closed: 3rd Thursday of the month (every Thursday in winter), New Year holidays
    Admission: 260 yen
    This museum displays famous handicrafts and products produced in Ishikawa Prefecture. Gold leaf and dyed silk kimono (using the local Kaga Yuzen technique) are some of the numerous products on exhibit.
  • Kanazawa Noh Museum
    Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (entry until 17:30)
    Closed: Mondays (or Tuesdays if Monday is a holiday), New Year holidays
    Admission: 310 yen
    Standing not far from the 21st Century Museum, the Kanazawa Noh Museum introduces the traditional Japanese theater Noh with exhibits about theater architecture, costumes, masks and props used in performances. Visitors can also try on Noh masks and costumes in the experience corner.

Nagamachi District

  • Maeda Tosanokami-ke Shiryokan
    Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
    Closed: Mondays (or next day if Monday is a holiday), New Year holidays
    Admission: 310 yen
    This museum is dedicated to the Maeda family who once ruled over the region that is now Ishikawa Prefecture. The museum features samurai armor and other relics of the Maeda Clan.
  • Shinise Kinenkan Museum
    Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 (entrance until 16:30)
    Closed: Mondays (or next day if Monday is a holiday), New Year holidays
    Admission: 100 yen
    The Shinise Kinenkan is a restored shop from the Edo Period (1603-1868). Once a prominent pharmacy, it now is a museum that also displays local Kanazawa crafts.
  • Ashigaru Shiryokan Museum
    Hours: 9:30 to 17:00
    Closed: No closing days
    Admission: Free
    The ashigaru, or foot soldiers, were the lowest ranked soldiers of the samurai class. This small museum consists of two of their reconstructed homes, which illustrate the relatively austere lifestyle of the ashigaru.

Combination tickets

There are several combination tickets that provide entry to museums around Kanazawa and may be of interest to visitors. They can purchased at the ticket counters of each museum covered:

  • Kenrokuen Plus One Ticket (2-day pass for 500 yen)
    This ticket is valid over two consecutive days and includes admission to Kenrokuen Garden and one of the following attractions of your choice: Kanazawa Castle, the Prefectural History Museum, the Prefectural Museum of Art, the Honda Museum, the Museum for Traditional Products and Crafts and the Ishikawa Kikokinen Cultural Exchange Center.
  • Kanazawa Cultural Attraction Passport (1-day pass for 520 yen, 3-day pass for 830 yen)
    Available in one and three day versions, this pass covers entry to 17 cultural attractions around Kanazawa, including free admission to the Noh Museum, the D.T. Suzuki Museum, the Maeda Tosanokami-ke Shiryokan and the Shinise Kinenkan Museum. Passport holders also get discounted admission to the Prefectural History Museum, the Prefectural Museum of Art, the Honda Museum, the Museum for Traditional Products and Crafts and the Ishikawa Kikokinen Cultural Exchange Center.

Getting there and around

How to get to and around Kanazawa

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Links and Resources

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Hotels around Kanazawa

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      HOTEL 101 KANAZAWA
      Luxury
      Set in Kanazawa, 2 km from Kanazawa Castle, HOTEL 101 KANAZAWA offers accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a terrace and a restaurant. This 4-star hotel offers luggage storage space. Offering free WiFi throughout the property, the non-smoking hotel has a hot tub. At the hotel all rooms include air conditioning, a wardrobe, a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom and a balcony with a garden view. All guest rooms will provide guests with a fridge. Popular points of interest near HOTEL 101 KANAZAWA include Kanazawa Station, Saigen-ji Temple and Kokyo-ji Temple. Komatsu Airport is 32 km from the property.
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      Guest House Pongyi
      Budget-friendly
      Located in Kanazawa, 2.7 km from Kenrokuen Garden, Guest House Pongyi provides recently renovated accommodation with free WiFi and a terrace. It is set 2.7 km from Kanazawa Castle and offers a shared kitchen. The property is close to popular attractions like Kozen-ji Temple, Gankei-ji Temple and Senko-ji Temple. Each unit is fitted with air conditioning, a shared bathroom and a well-fitted kitchenette including a microwave, toaster, fridge and a stovetop. All units are equipped with a safety deposit box and selected rooms come with river views. The units include bed linen. There is a coffee shop on-site. A bicycle rental service is available at the guest house. Popular points of interest near Guest House Pongyi include Kanazawa Station, Fukunen-ji Temple and Hosho-ji Temple. Komatsu Airport is 31 km away.
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      Machi no Odoriba
      Mid-range
      Set 2 km from Kanazawa Castle, Machi no Odoriba offers 3-star accommodation in Kanazawa and features a garden. There is an on-site restaurant, plus free private parking and free WiFi are available. Guests can use the hot spring bath, or enjoy garden views. The ryokan will provide guests with air-conditioned units offering a wardrobe, a kettle, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV, a terrace and a private bathroom with a bidet. At the ryokan, the units are fitted with bed linen and towels. Guests at the ryokan can enjoy an Asian breakfast. There is a coffee shop on-site. Popular points of interest near Machi no Odoriba include Kanazawa Station, Saigen-ji Temple and Kokyo-ji Temple. Komatsu Airport is 32 km away.
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      Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi
      Luxury
      Set in Kanazawa and within 1.4 km of Kanazawa Castle, Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi has a shared lounge, allergy-free rooms, and free WiFi throughout the property. This 4-star hotel offers luggage storage space. The property is non-smoking and is situated 1.7 km from Kenrokuen Garden. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a desk, a kettle, a fridge, a minibar, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. All guest rooms feature a wardrobe. Guests at Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi can enjoy an Asian breakfast. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Kanazawa Station, Saifuku-ji Temple and Gankei-ji Temple. Komatsu Airport is 31 km from the property.
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      Sumiyoshiya
      Mid-range
      Offering free Wi-Fi and free-use bicycles and in-room Japanese meals, Sumiyoshiya is a traditional Japanese-style hotel. It features a garden, hot public baths and coin-operated laundry facilities. A free-use internet PC is available at the lobby. Rooms feature paper sliding doors, Japanese futon bedding and a seating area. All come with an LCD TV, a tea/coffee maker and a sink, and some have a private bathroom. Sumiyoshiya offers laundry services, luggage storage and free parking. A Japanese and a Western breakfast are served in the hotelfs dining room, while Japanese dinners featuring local ingredients can be enjoyed in either the guest room or the dining room. Sumiyoshiya is a 10-minute walk from Kenroku-en Garden, and a 15-minute walk from both JR Kanazawa Stationfs East exit and the historical Higashi Chaya-machi district. Omicho market is only a 1-minute walk.
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      Yamanoo
      Mid-range
      Featuring 3-star accommodation, Yamanoo is situated in Kanazawa, 1.7 km from Kenrokuen Garden and 2.9 km from Kanazawa Station. This ryokan provides free private parking, a 24-hour front desk and free WiFi. The property offers allergy-free units and is located 1.8 km from Kanazawa Castle. The ryokan will provide guests with air-conditioned units offering a wardrobe, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. The units are equipped with heating facilities. Guests can also relax in the garden. Popular points of interest near the ryokan include Utasu Shrine, Tokuda Shusei Kinenkan Museum and Kanazawa Yasue Gold-Leaf Museum. Komatsu Airport is 34 km away.
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      UTAIMACHI
      Mid-range
      Set in Kanazawa within 1.5 km of Kanazawa Castle and 1.4 km of Kenrokuen Garden, UTAIMACHI offers accommodation with free WiFi, seating area and a kitchen. The 3-star ryokan has garden views and is 2.5 km from Kanazawa Station. The accommodation provides luggage storage space and a concierge service for guests. The ryokan will provide guests with air-conditioned units with a wardrobe, a kettle, a microwave, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a TV and a private bathroom with a walk-in shower. At the ryokan, units are equipped with bed linen and towels. Popular points of interest near the ryokan include Utasu Shrine, Tokuda Shusei Kinenkan Museum and Kanazawa Yasue Gold-Leaf Museum. Komatsu Airport is 34 km from the property.
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      Hanaakari
      Luxury
      Set in Kanazawa and within 2 km of Kanazawa Castle, Hanaakari has a garden, non-smoking rooms, and free WiFi throughout the property. This 4-star hotel offers luggage storage space. Kenrokuen Garden is 2.5 km away and Myoryuji - Ninja Temple is 3.9 km from the hotel. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms with a wardrobe, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. Popular points of interest near Hanaakari include Kanazawa Station, Saigen-ji Temple and Kokyo-ji Temple. Komatsu Airport is 32 km from the property.
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      Machiya Guest House Carta
      Budget-friendly
      Offering a shared lounge and garden view, Machiya Guest House Carta is set in Kanazawa, 1.7 km from Kanazawa Castle and 1.3 km from Kenrokuen Garden. Featuring a garden, the 2-star guest house has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a shared bathroom. Private parking can be arranged at an extra charge. At the guest house, each unit is equipped with a tatami. At the guest house, the units include bed linen and towels. Popular points of interest near the guest house include Myoryuji - Ninja Temple, D. T. Suzuki Museum and Shofukaku Garden. Komatsu Airport is 32 km from the property.
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      Ryokan Yamamuro
      Mid-range
      Located a 5-minute drive from JR Kanazawa Station, Ryokan Yamamuro offers Japanese-style guestrooms with free WiFi. Omicho Market and Kanazawa Castle Park can both be reached with a 5-minute walk. Guests can stroll around the Higashi Chaya District, a historical entertainment district with various shops, located a 8-minute walk away from Yamamuro Ryokan. Kenrokuen Garden is 10-minutesf away on foot while the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art is a 15-minute walk away. Myoryuji - Ninja Temple is a 10-minute drive from the property. With heating and air-conditioning facilities, rooms are fitted with tatami (woven-straw) flooring and feature Japanese futon bedding. One room comes with a private bathroom. Free services offered at the property include luggage storage, newspaper and daily maid services.
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Experiences around Kanazawa

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