Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (Friday and Saturday until 20:00) Closed: Mondays and New Year holidays Admission: Varies by exhibition, typically 1200 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 27 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.
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: No closing days 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. English audio guides are freely available.
Shinise Kinenkan Museum
Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 (entrance until 16:30) Closed: No closing days Admission: 100 yen
The Shinise Kinenkan is a restored shop from the Edo Period. Once a prominent pharmacy, it now is a museum that also shows 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.
North of Kanazawa Castle Park
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: the paid area of 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.
