The 10 Best Things to Do in Kanazawa: What Activities I Enjoyed the Most 2026

Kanazawa is definitely one of my favorite places I’ve visited in Japan, mainly because it feels so much less touristy and more “off the beaten path” than the usual places like Tokyo or Kyoto.

Kanazawa is a smaller city, about a two-hour ride from Kyoto, and it’s famous for its beautiful castle, stunning Japanese gardens, and traditional samurai and geisha districts.

I spent three full days in Kanazawa, and in that time, I pretty much ticked off everything I was interested in. For me, Kanazawa wasn’t a place where I felt like I needed to rush around visiting a million shrines (like I did in Kyoto). Instead, my experience was more about just wandering around and exploring the different neighborhoods.

After exploring the city pretty thoroughly, I figured I’d put together a quick guide of my favorite things to do in Kanazawa. I know how hard it can be to figure out an itinerary sometimes, so here is everything I loved, all in one view, to help you plan your 2026 trip!

Things to Do in Kanazawa Japan – My Experience

I spent three full days in Kanazawa, which was plenty of time to explore most of the city. To be honest, I think you could even get away with two full days because Kanazawa is fairly small compared to the chaos of Osaka or Tokyo. 

Funny enough, I hadn’t even planned on going to Kanazawa originally. I only added it to my Japan itinerary at the last minute because I felt like I needed to see something a bit more authentic and less touristy.

I absolutely loved just wandering around all day, the whole city is so walkable! My daily routine usually involved hitting up the most amazing coffee shops (seriously, Kanazawa has an amazing cafe scene) before exploring the beautiful Geisha districts. Walking past the traditional wooden houses and through the Japanese gardens and castle grounds felt so much more real and authentic if that makes sense.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved the high-energy sightseeing in Kyoto, but sometimes all those temples and shrines can feel like you’re just “ticking off boxes.” 

Kanazawa felt much more relaxed and chill. Since I spent a whole month in Japan, I was so happy to have some downtime where I didn’t need a strict schedule. I highly recommend leaving some room in your itinerary to just “be” in Kanazawa, you won’t regret it.

The 10 Activities in Kanazawa I Enjoyed The Most

1. Visit Kanazawa Castle Park

If you’ve read any of my other Japan guides, you probably already know that I am a massive fan of Japanese architecture. From the shrines to the temples and the castles, I honestly love all of it. So, needless to say, I started my time in Kanazawa by heading straight to the Kanazawa Castle Park.

My favorite way to do it was grabbing a coffee first and then just wandering through the park. The castle is seriously stunning (and free to walk around!), and it’s easily one of my favorite castles in the country. 

I did get a little unlucky because parts of it were under construction when I was there, but that’s actually pretty common in Japan since they’re always maintaining those historic wooden structures.

I did end up going inside the castle itself, which costs a small fee, but if I’m being totally honest? I don’t think it was worth it. Just walking the grounds on the outside and taking in the scale of it was definitely the highlight for me!

2. Eat Your Way Through Omicho Market (I Did This More Than Just Once)

This was easily one of the best things I did in Kanazawa, mostly because I am absolutely obsessed with Japanese food, so a local market really hates to see me coming! 

I got so lucky because my hotel was literally a two-minute walk away from Omicho Market, which meant I ended up visiting multiple times. I usually aimed for the morning because that’s when the fish is the freshest, though I definitely had to get used to the idea of eating sushi for breakfast.

I’m not kidding, at 9:00 AM, I was already diving into sashimi, fresh oysters, Noto beef croquettes, and takoyaki. Every single bite was so delicious. 

I’ve been to a lot of food markets across Japan, and Omicho definitely feels like it’s “from locals, for locals.” It’s a nice change of pace from the massive markets in Kyoto or Tokyo which, while I loved them, are obviously a lot more tourist-focused.

3. Wander Around Hagashi Chaya District

The Higashi Chaya District is probably the most famous geisha district in Kanazawa. If you aren’t familiar with the term, it basically means this is where you’ll find the traditional tea houses where geisha and maiko perform. I unfortunately didn’t get a chance to see a show myself this time around, even though I really wish I could’ve!

While the famous Gion district in Kyoto is almost strictly tea houses, this area felt like a cool mix of traditional architecture, cute boutiques, and cafes. It honestly feels like walking through a beautiful, preserved village.

I actually came back here a few times because I was just obsessed with the architecture and let’s be real, I really wanted to get some nice photos because the houses are just so pretty. Just a heads-up though: out of everywhere I went in Kanazawa, this was definitely the most touristy spot I experienced.

4. Join a Day Trip to Shirakawa-go

If you’re looking for a change of scenery, Shirakawa-go is one of the most popular day trips you can take from Kanazawa. I’m not always the biggest fan of booking guided tours, I usually love just figuring things out on my own, but in this case, it made life so much easier. 

I really didn’t want to deal with renting a car, so hopping on a tour was definitely the best move.

Shirakawa-go is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it’s famous for these incredible traditional farmhouses with steep, thatched roofs called Gassho-zukuri. 

The name actually means “constructed like hands in prayer,” because the roofs are built to withstand the massive amounts of heavy snow that fall in this region.

Book Here: Day Trip from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-Go

5. Explore Kenroku-en Garden (This Was My Favorite Spot for Cool Pictures)

Before I visited Kanazawa, I actually hadn’t heard of Kenroku-en, which is crazy because it is literally one of the most beautiful Japanese gardens in the entire country.

It’s located right next to Kanazawa Castle, so it’s super easy to hit both at once. The gardens are just stunning, filled with winding walkways, little streams, and a massive lake.

I was there during the fall foliage in November, and it was absolutely gorgeous; it was hands-down one of my favorite places to take some cool pictures. 

While I was wandering around, I actually got to see people putting up those rope structures I mentioned earlier, the Yukizuri. Seeing them prep the trees for the winter snow was a pretty cool and unique local experience and really cool to witness in person!

6. Join a Sake Tasting (It Was Fun… But I Hated It!)

Kanazawa is famous for its sake, so I figured I basically had to do a tasting while I was there. I’m honestly still on the fence about whether I’m glad I did it or not! 

I went to a sake bar called Fukumitsuya Higashi in the Higashi Chaya district, which was actually a great experience, the staff were amazing and super helpful throughout the whole process.

We got to choose from three different tasting sets, and we went for the mid-range one because it was described as more “fruity” and came with five different sakes. 

Well… turns out I absolutely hate sake! Honestly, you might as well have asked me to do a vodka tasting; it all tasted the same to me. 

However, I can still really appreciate the bar and the craftsmanship, it felt very authentic and professional, but sake is just not for me. Sorry, you guys! That being said, if you’re into rice wine at all, you should totally give it a go.

7. Try Gold Leaf Ice Cream (This is Definitely NOT a Must-Do)

Well, I actually wasn’t sure if I should even put this on my list because it is definitely not a must-do at all, but I still did it because it was fun, okay?! 

Kanazawa is actually famous for its gold leaf production, so naturally, they’ve turned that into a whole touristy thing. Everywhere you look, especially in the famous Geisha districts, you can buy pretty much anything covered in gold leaf.

I knew going in that it was a total gimmick, but I still decided to shell out for some overpriced soft-serve ice cream with a sheet of gold on top just for the laugh and the picture. It didn’t taste any different, obviously, but hey, when in Kanazawa!

8. Explore Nagamachi Samurai District

Out of all the traditional neighborhoods in Kanazawa, the Nagamachi Samurai District was probably my favorite. The whole area is filled with cute little cobblestone alleyways, traditional houses, and a peaceful canal flowing through it. It just felt so quiet and beautiful.

I actually spent quite a bit of time here because, as I mentioned, I’m a huge fan of cool architecture. 

While I was wandering, I stopped at the Nomura-ke Samurai Heritage Residence, which is a small museum and old samurai house with a stunning garden. I think I only paid about $3 USD for the entrance fee, so it was totally worth it just to see what a traditional house looks like on the inside.

Oh, and I also stumbled upon my favorite cafe here by total chance called Moron Cafe. I know, the name is hilarious and I’m not entirely sure if the owner knows what it means in English! But it’s a super cute spot right in the heart of the district. Their breakfast and flat whites were absolutely on point.

9. Visit Oyama Shrine

To add a little bit of culture and history to this list, I figured I’d include one of my favorite shrines in Kanazawa: Oyama Shrine. 

I’ll be totally honest, I didn’t think it was quite as massive or “grand” as some of the temples I saw in Kyoto, but it’s still really beautiful in its own way.

It’s located right next to Kanazawa Castle and it’s free to enter, so I figured I might as well check it out. I’m so glad I did! The shrine has these beautiful strolling gardens with a cute little pond, but the real star is the main gate. It has this super unique, almost European look with Dutch-style stained glass at the top.

I did get a little unlucky (again!) because the gate was actually under construction while I was there, but even with the scaffolding, you can tell how different it is from any other shrine in Japan. Definitely worth a quick stop while you’re in the area!

10. Try Ramen at Ramen Taiga (Menya Taiga)

You might think, “Ugh, eating ramen isn’t really an activity,” but in my world, it absolutely is!

Food in Japan was such a massive part of my experience, and I made it a mission for pretty much every meal to be amazing. I wasn’t necessarily going to fancy places with reservations, but I always made sure I was eating the good stuff.

One of my absolute favorite local spots is Ramen Taiga. Fun fact: I actually had to wait in line for over an hour, and it was raining and hailing on me the entire time, which feels a bit ridiculous in hindsight! But honestly? The ramen was incredible and totally worth the frostbite.

They are famous for their miso ramen, and they even serve you a little shot of ginger juice before your meal to “prep your stomach” (which I thought was such a cool, local touch). I had the regular miso ramen, and it was 10/10. If you’re a ramen fan, you have to check this place out!

FAQs About My Favorite Activities in Kanazawa Japan

What to do in Kanazawa with family?

I’ll be honest, there aren’t a ton of “super exciting” activities specifically for kids in Kanazawa, but I’m sure they would still have a blast. The Kanazawa Castle Park is massive and great for running around, and let’s be real, they’ll definitely love getting a gold leaf soft-serve ice cream just as much as I did!

Is Kanazawa worth visiting?

I would absolutely say so! If it’s your first trip to Japan, I probably wouldn’t choose it over the heavy hitters like Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka. But, if you’ve already seen those or you’re just looking for an addition to your itinerary that feels more “off the beaten path,” then it’s a fantastic choice.

What are the best things to do in Kanazawa with kids?

One of the best things to do with kids is probably heading to the Omicho Market. It’s such a sensory experience! They can try all sorts of Japanese treats and snacks, and it’s always fun for them to see the live crabs and fresh fish on display at the stalls.

What are some unique things to do in Kanazawa?

Out of everything I did, I’d say the Kenroku-en Garden was pretty unique, especially with those Yukizuri ropes. I also thought the Nomura-ke Samurai Residence was super cool. I haven’t seen anything quite like it anywhere else in Japan, so it felt very special.

Final Thoughts on What I Did In Kanazawa

All in all, I think Kanazawa is an amazing city to explore and I really loved it! After visiting the high-energy streets of Kyoto and Tokyo, I was really looking forward to a place that felt a bit more authentic and calm, and Kanazawa was exactly that for me.

The “things to do” list really matches that relaxed vibe. There aren’t necessarily any massive, stressful “must-see” sights; instead, the whole city is just beautiful and full of cool areas to discover. 

For me, it was much more about exploring on foot and seeing where the day took me. That being said, the castle, the gardens, and the traditional districts are all super unique and worth your time.

I hope this little guide on my favorite things to do in Kanazawa helps you plan your own itinerary!

Check Out My Other Kanazawa Guides

How Many Days in Kanazawa: A Day to Day Guide

The Best Time to Visit Kanazawa: My Favorite Season of the Year

Best Cafes in Kanazawa: My Favorite Coffee Shops in Kanazawa

Best Food in Kanazawa: My Number One Restaurants in Kanazawa

Is Kanazawa Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

2 Days in Kanazawa Itinerary: How I Spent 48 Hours in Kanazawa

Check Out My Other Japan Travel Guides

Japan Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Japan

Best eSIM for Japan: My Honest Comparison

Is Japan Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

Is Japan Expensive to Visit? Japan Budget Guide

7 Days in Japan Itinerary: How I Spent 1 Week in Japan

Where to Stay in Kanazawa: My Favorite Areas & Hotels I Stayed At

Things to Do in Kanazawa: Activities in Kanazawa I Enjoyed the Most