Kanazawa Essentials Private Tour 4 hours
Visit six of Kanazawa’s most renowned cultural and historical sites, guided by a dedicated private guide who offers clear and engaging explanations of the city’s rich heritage. Discover the essence of Kanazawa during a comprehensive four-hour afternoon tour,covering all the key landmarks. Experience samurai culture at the beautiful Nomura Samurai Residence and garden, learn about the legacy of the Maeda family at Oyama Shrine, Kanazawa Castle, and Kenroku Garden, and conclude your journey with a stroll through the atmospheric Kazue-machi and Higashi Chaya districts, where you can savor the timeless charm of Kanazawa’s historic teahouse quarters.
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Kanazawa Essentials Private Tour 4 hours
What's included in Kanazawa Essentials Private Tour 4 hours
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Kenrokuen Garden
Kenrokuen Garden is one of Japan’s most celebrated landscape gardens. Located in Kanazawa, it was originally built by the Maeda Clan, who ruled this region during the Edo period. The name “Kenrokuen” means “Garden of Six Attributes,” referring to six qualities considered ideal in a landscape garden: spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, abundant water, and broad views. You’ll notice how beautifully each element is balanced—stone lanterns, ponds, tea houses, bridges, and seasonal flowers are all placed with harmony. One of the highlights is the Kotoji-tōrō, a stone lantern with two legs, which has become a symbol of the garden. This garden is especially beautiful in all four seasons: cherry blossoms in spring, irises in early summer, maple leaves in autumn, and snow-covered landscapes in winter. In fact, during winter, you’ll see the famous Yukitsuri—ropes tied to trees to protect branches from heavy snow.
Kanazawa Castle
This was the seat of the powerful Maeda Clan, who ruled the Kaga Domain for over 250 years during the Edo period. At its peak, it was one of the largest and wealthiest domains in Japan, second only to the Tokugawa shogunate. The original castle burned down several times, and what you see today are beautiful reconstructions, carefully rebuilt using traditional methods—no nails were used! The Ishikawa Gate is one of the few original structures still standing, and you can also see unique features like the white lead-tiled roofs and diamond-shaped windows. If you look closely at the stone walls, you’ll see different construction styles—this shows how the castle evolved over centuries.
Higashi Chaya District
This area was built in the Edo period as an entertainment district for samurai and wealthy merchants. A “chaya” means a teahouse, where geisha would perform traditional music, dance, and games to entertain guests. As you walk down the stone-paved streets, you’ll see rows of elegant wooden buildings with lattice windows—these are original chaya-style architecture. Some are still active teahouses, while others have become cafes, souvenir shops, and galleries. If you’d like a closer look at geisha culture, you can visit Kaikaro or Shima, historical teahouses open to the public. These places let you imagine what entertainment was like over 200 years ago. This district is also very photogenic, especially in the early morning or at sunset!
Inclusions
- Admission fee
- Entrance fee
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Food is not included
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting Points
- We will pick you up at Katsurazaka. Our guide will be waiting for you with a signboard with the lead travel name.
End Points
- We will end our tour at around Nomura House
