The Home of the Samurai: A Traveler's Kanazawa Guide
How to get there, best places to see, & more
By Raphael M., a travel photographer and writer based out of New York City
Last Updated on August 18th, 2026
Kanazawa, otherwise known as 'Little Kyoto' or the Home of the Samurai, is a quaint town filled with character, historical sites, and world-class gardens. With it's blend of heritage and history, Kanazawa embodies the best of Japan, a must-visit.
As the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa is a short two and a half train ride from Tokyo and has almost everything you'd ask for in a Japanese town. From fresh seafood markets, historical Samurai residences, and a small-town feeling, Kanazawa just feels like home. It was also the home of the Maeda Clan, the second-most powerful clan during the Edo Period.
Kanazawa is a short two and a half train-ride from Tokyo, the closest major city. For me, Kanazawa was the second stop I took on my trip down the country, stopping in Nagano beforehand. If you're coming from Kyoto or Osaka, it's roughly the same amount of time. It really is in a great location, and has a much lower amount of tourists compared to the big three.
As per, I would fly into Tokyo and take the train over. I don't think you can get direct international flights from other countries here, but you might be able to catch a flight if you're flying domestically.
I stayed at Henn na Hotel Kanazawa Korimbo, located right in the middle of the downtown area. It offers convenient access to Lawson's, shopping districts, and many of the top tourist attractions. It's also a 'dinosaur hotel,' and has animatronic dinosaurs that greet you when you check in. Definitely a fun place to stay.
I found that Kanazawa is a pretty walkable/compact town, and getting around is pretty easy. If you find there's longer distances, the bus system gets you around perfectly fine, and we did use it to get from the train station to the hotel. As long as you book within the center of town, you'll be in a good position.
Kanazawa Castle is a partially restored Castle complex that was once the home of the Maeda Clan for 14 generations.
You can walk the inner walls, and in them are some of the top displays of Japanese craftsmanship and restoration. There's a video compilation that shows the modern restoration process of the building we were standing in, as well as future plans to re-construct the actual castle.
While Kanazawa Castle may not be as stunning as Himeji, Matsumoto, or Osaka Castle, it has a beautiful aesthetic that will only get better, hopefully when the restorations are finally complete.
Located 5 minutes from the castle grounds is Kenroku-en (Kenrokuen Garden), one of the three signature gardens in all of Japan. This garden was actually one of the main reasons I came to Kanazawa in the first place, as one of its one of the most stunning displays of the art form: bonsai.
Supported by stilts and ropes, this garden is one of the most visually stunning and unique displays in the entire country, a sight that is truly under appreciated in its difficulty and value.
Why Kanazawa?
How to get there:
Where to stay:
Kanazawa Castle:
Myōryū-ji Temple:
Despite it's small size, there's surprisingly a lot to see in Kanazawa. The key spots I would recommend are: Kanazawa Castle, Kenrokuen Garden, Myōryū-ji temple, Omicho Market, the Honda Museum, the Ninja Weapon Museum, and strolling both the Nagamachi district and Higashi Chaya District.
Kenrokuen is one of the greatest displays of this art form, and truly unlike anything else. The trees, constantly manipulated to create overhands, specific shapes, and impossible growth patterns are centuries-old, requiring the meticulous care of generations of skilled workers. In reflection, these trees are the work of lineages of families, dedicating their entire lives to the preservation of Japanese culture.
The temple was created in the potential attack from the Tokugawa Clan, the ruling clan at the time. Maeda Toshitsune, or the third hereditary heir to the Maeda family, ordered the creation of Myōryū-ji, and designed it with booby traps and escape routes for protection from ambushes.
The temple features incredible craftsmanship, creativity, and deception tactics. They don't allow photography within the temple (which I think makes it that much more special), and only have private tours that must be scheduled in advance. The booking process was easy, as there's a small buzzer at the front of the temple where you make a reservation (generally the next day, or same day depending on availability) and make your payment.
Known as the Ninja-dera, Myōryū-ji Temple is a Buddhist temple that was designed as a retreat and defensive home base for the Maeda Clan.
This temple would be reason enough for me to visit Kanazawa. I haven't found a single experience in Japan that allows you to appreciate the culture and history as much as this, and it truly is a experience that values being there rather than simply reading about it or looking at photos.
Located about 15 minutes from the train station is Omicho Market. Because of it's proximity to the sea, Kanazawa has some of the freshest seafood in all of Japan. Omicho Market is absolutely massive, filled with hundreds of stalls and restaurants serving fresh fish and seafood. I unfortunately didn't visit during the main season (so a lot of stalls were closed), but this is definitely worth a stop.
This is not the Honda Auto Museum (which I initially thought it was, haha). It's actually one of the countries most comprehensive collections of Samurai memorabilia, and has all sorts of valuable artifacts that give you a better glimpse into Feudal Japan.
Kaga-Honda Museum:
When I visited, the museum was closed for renovations, and I was really disappointed that it wasn't open for exhibition. But I'd come back to Kanazawa just for this museum.
Top places to visit:
While it may seem like a lot (it is), you could realistically do this with a two-day itinerary, maybe three. There's a ton more to see in this city, and it definitely has a ton of qualities that would make me revisit this city.
The Maeda Clan rose to power during the Edo Period, and was second only to the Tokugawa Clan. The castle was repeated burned down and reconstructed, with the second iteration moving to a different location within the complex. Currently, the only restored section of the castle is the surrounding outer wall, which in itself is stunning.
Kenrokuen Garden:
Omicho Market:
Ninja Weapon Museum:
The Ninja Weapon Museum is a small private museum, showcasing the private collection of a collector of Feudal Japan memorabilia. While it looks unassuming from the outside, the museum actually has extremely valuable artifacts, with centuries-old Samurai swords, armor, weaponry, and interesting things like candle-holders for light.
The people running the museum are also extremely hospitable and knowledgeable, giving me a essentially private tour, and even letting me handle some of the weapons. I would definitely visit again and support a truly passionate museum.
Nagamachi District and Higashi Chaya District:
All throughout Kanazawa are distinct districts, all of which are preserved to retain their historical appearance. The main one I went to was the Nagamachi District, which was filled with former Samurai residences, small museums, and beautiful alleyways.
I think the snow just made everything 10x better, as the temples, gardens, and streets were just covered in the most gentle blanket of snow. The character of these districts really do come from just walking the alleys, reminiscing on the centuries these alleys have existed, and the generations of people that walked them just like you.
The most popular geisha district in Kanazawa is the Higashi Chaya District, and you can find fully adored geishas roaming the streets. I chose not to photograph any of them, as many of them face extreme harassment from tourists. Please do not try to harass them or impede them, like I saw many other tourists. This is the reason many Japanese institutions, restaurants, and cultural practices have becoming growingly isolated from tourists, and definitely needs to be improved.
Final Thoughts:
