Things to Do in Kanazawa

As you exit the modern cruise terminal building at Kanazawa port on the northwest coast of Japan, the humid air of the Sea of Japan coast greets you. You have brought an umbrella, though, because Kanazawa is known for its rain and you want to be ready for anything on your day ashore. The city is steeped in history, with a satisfying mix of Edo-period gardens, preserved samurai and geisha districts and an enduring artisan gold leaf tradition. This relatively compact, walkable city survived World War II largely intact, giving guests an unusually well-preserved look at historic Japan in a single day ashore.

Key takeaways

Kenrokuen, one of Japan’s three “Great Gardens,” and the adjacent Kanazawa Castle Park anchor most excursions in the city.
Kanazawa produces more than 98 percent of Japan’s gold leaf, a tradition guests can experience hands-on.
Beyond the city, Princess® excursions reach the UNESCO-listed village of Shirakawago and the dramatic Tojinbo cliffs.

Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle

Kenrokuen Garden is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, offering approximately 25 acres (10 hectares) of carefully designed landscapes in the heart of Kanazawa. Originally developed by the daimyo (feudal lord) who ruled from neighboring Kanazawa Castle, the garden has evolved over generations into an elegant retreat filled with ponds, streams, trees, bridges and other traditional Japanese structures.

Among Kenrokuen’s notable features is one of Japan’s oldest fountains, which operates using natural water pressure created by the difference in elevation between ponds. Guests can also see a historic teahouse dating to 1774, as evidence of the hugely important tea culture in Japan’s history, which endures within the garden and other traditional spaces. Another distinctive feature is a pagoda associated with the powerful Maeda clan, traditionally said to have been donated by warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Directly across the road, Kanazawa Castle Park provides a fascinating look at the city’s feudal past. The castle served as the seat of the influential Maeda clan, which governed the region for generations during the Edo period.

Today, guests can explore the spacious castle grounds and see reconstructed gates and turrets alongside other original and restored defensive features. The massive masonry walls demonstrate the careful craftsmanship used in the castle’s fortifications, while the surrounding moat remains as evidence of a defensive perimeter that once protected the entire complex.

Princess guests can elect to visit these sites on their own, or for the most relaxed and hassle-free experience, book either the Best of Kanazawa excursion or the Kenrokuen Gardens and Omicho Market excursion.

A tranquil view of a reflective pond in Kenrokuen Garden showing the famous Kotoji-doro stone lantern, a curved stone bridge and surrounding maple trees vibrant with red, orange and green autumn leaves. — Stroll through Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa, Japan, where the famous two-legged Kotoji-doro stone lantern and a small curved bridge reflect perfectly across a glass-like pond framed by vibrant autumn maple foliage.

A group of people stands on the deck of a cruise ship, enjoying the view of the open sea. The wooden deck and railing are visible, with the ship's wake trailing behind. The setting sun casts a warm glow over the scene, creating a serene and relaxing atmosphere.

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Omicho Market and the kitchen of Kanazawa

Omicho Market has been at the center of Kanazawa’s food culture for approximately 270 years. The city’s largest market is home to more than 170 shops and stalls today, creating a lively maze of vendors selling seafood, produce, prepared foods and other regional specialties.

Known as the “kitchen of Kanazawa,” Omicho is particularly celebrated for its fresh seafood. Kanazawa’s location near the Sea of Japan gives market vendors access to an abundant variety of seasonal catches. Depending on the time of year, displays may feature crab, shrimp, oysters, urchins and numerous varieties of fish, offering visitors a close look at ingredients that play an important role in local dishes.

While local visitors shop for fresh ingredients, cruise guests can stop at market restaurants and food stalls to sample seafood and other specialties during their visit. The bustling atmosphere also provides a glimpse into everyday life in Kanazawa, where local residents, chefs and travelers shop side by side. If you book the Kenrokuen Gardens and Omicho Market excursion, you can visit the gardens, the castle grounds and Omicho Market, with transportation between locations and a return to the ship in time for lunch onboard.

A close-up view of a vendor in a black cap and maroon apron working behind a market counter filled with trays of freshly grilled Japanese yakitori skewers with labeled signs in Japanese in the foreground. — Savor authentic freshly grilled yakitori skewers and seafood delicacies at Omicho Market in Kanazawa, Japan.

Higashi Chaya geisha district and Seisonkaku Villa

Higashi Chayamachi (or commonly, the Higashi Chaya district) offers guests a glimpse into Kanazawa’s refined entertainment culture. Established in 1820, it became one of the city’s four traditional pleasure districts, where geisha entertained guests with music, dance and conversation. Though these highly trained women have dwindled in number, geisha traditions continue here today, with artistic performances and private gatherings still taking place inside traditional teahouses and other locations.

The district’s narrow streets are lined with distinctive two-story wooden chaya, or teahouses, that preserve the atmosphere of Edo-period Kanazawa. Historically, these elegant establishments hosted drinking parties and entertainment for prosperous merchants and artisans. Today, the preserved architecture makes Higashi Chayamachi a delightfully atmospheric place to explore on foot, with historic buildings now joined by shops, cafés and cultural attractions.

Another window into Kanazawa’s Edo-period heritage is Seisonkaku Villa, located beside Kenrokuen Garden. The beautifully preserved residence was built by the Maeda family, the powerful feudal clan that ruled the region for generations. Its elegant rooms showcase refined architectural details, decorative craftsmanship and the sophisticated lifestyle associated with the Maeda household.

The Kenrokuen Gardens, Samurai Villa and Geisha Districts excursion makes touring the area convenient and stress-free.

Women clad in floral kimonos hold open red umbrellas under falling snow, standing along a stone-paved street flanked by traditional wooden teahouse facades in Kanazawa. — Step back in time in the historic Higashi Chaya District of Kanazawa, Japan, where women wear elegant traditional kimonos.

Two women in floral kimonos and other visitors walk away down a wet, stone-paved street in the Higashi Chaya district of Kanazawa under purple, yellow and blue umbrellas, between rows of traditional wooden teahouse facades with a forested hill in the distance. — Step back in time in the historic Higashi Chaya District of Kanazawa, Japan, where women wear elegant traditional kimonos.

The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art

Opened in 2004, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art brings a modern perspective to a city celebrated for its historic gardens, samurai heritage and traditional arts. The museum focuses primarily on art created since 1980, presenting works by artists from Japan and around the world through exhibitions, installations and interactive experiences.

The building itself is as distinctive as the collection it contains. Designed as a low, circular structure with a glass exterior, the museum avoids traditional front and back facades, allowing visitors to approach from multiple directions. Galleries and public spaces are arranged throughout the interior, creating an open and accessible environment for exploring contemporary art.

Among its best-known installations is Leandro Erlich’s The Swimming Pool, which creates the illusion of visitors standing beneath the surface of a pool. The museum’s combination of innovative architecture and thought-provoking art provides a striking contrast to Kanazawa’s nearby historic attractions. The Best of Kanazawa excursion includes a visit to the museum.

An abstract, close-up photograph taken looking upward through a layer of rippling, translucent water, capturing shimmering light patterns and aquatic reflections. — Experience the surreal perspective inside “The Swimming Pool” installation by Leandro Erlich at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Japan, looking up through shimmering water ripple reflections.

Nagamachi Samurai District

Nagamachi preserves the atmosphere of Kanazawa’s former samurai quarter, where members of the famed warrior class once lived near Kanazawa Castle. Its narrow streets, traditional buildings and distinctive earthen walls offer a glimpse of the neighborhood as it appeared during the Edo period. The remaining stone pathways and canals add to the historic feeling, making the district particularly rewarding to explore on foot.

One of Nagamachi’s highlights is the Nomura Residence, a well-preserved traditional samurai home whose elegant interior reflects the lifestyle of a prosperous samurai family. The carefully crafted architectural details and a tranquil garden on the property exemplify the refined aesthetics of the period.

Another notable example of Kanazawa’s landscape design is the Chida Residence Garden, admired for its carefully arranged plants, stones and water features, with seasonal changes bringing different colors and textures throughout the year.

Visitors interested in exploring the region’s past in greater depth can also stop at the Ishikawa Prefectural History Museum. Its exhibits trace the history and culture of Ishikawa Prefecture, providing useful context for Kanazawa’s samurai heritage, traditional communities and development over the centuries. Many of these highlights are included in the Kanazawa Samurai Life, Homes, History and Gardens excursion.

A quiet, sunny street paved with stone cobblestones winding between warm yellow-ochre mud walls topped with wooden tile roofs and traditional Japanese entryways. — Wander down the historic cobblestone lanes of the Nagamachi Samurai District in Kanazawa, Japan, where preserved earthen mud walls (dobei) and traditional wooden gates echo the city’s rich Edo-period samurai heritage.

Gold leaf and traditional sweets

Traditional Japanese gold leaf, known as kinpaku, involves a small piece of gold being beaten into an ultra-thin sheet of a gold alloy about 0.000004 inch (0.0001 millimeter) thick. The gold is then used to decorate artwork, shrines, structures and even food. Today, more than 98 percent of Japan’s gold leaf is produced in Kanazawa. Guests who book a Gold Leaf Art and Japanese Sweet Making excursion will watch a demonstration of how gold leaf is pounded, then make and keep their own piece of gold leaf art. Then they’ll get to join in the creation of Japanese sweets, an essential part of the nation’s renowned tea ceremony. Called wagashi, these sweets are often tailored to reflect the current season. Guests get to mix and decorate their own sweet dough made from rice and bean paste and then enjoy their handmade creations.

An assortment of colorful, delicately sculpted Japanese wagashi confections in shades of green, pink and purple served on a white plate over a bamboo mat with wooden chopsticks. — Delve into the refined confectionery arts of Kanazawa, Japan, with exquisitely handcrafted wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets), delicate floral creations crafted to complement the local tea ceremony culture.

Shirakawago and the Tojinbo cliffs beyond Kanazawa

For guests wishing to venture beyond Kanazawa, day trips reveal historic villages, Buddhist traditions and dramatic coastal landscapes. Shirakawago is one of Japan’s most scenic UNESCO World Heritage sites, known for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses. The steeply pitched thatched roofs of these homes were designed to withstand heavy winter snowfall, creating a distinctive landscape against the mountains and Shokawa River valley. In nearby Gokayama, visitors can also experience local craftsmanship through a hands-on traditional paper-making demonstration.

Another important cultural destination is Eiheiji Temple. Founded in 1244 and known as the “temple of eternal peace,” the complex is one of Japan’s largest Zen Buddhist training centers. Surrounded by forest, its temple buildings, covered walkways and tranquil setting offer guests a sense of the many centuries of Zen Buddhist practice in this region.

Along the Sea of Japan, the Tojinbo cliffs present an entirely different landscape. The coastline is defined by unusually shaped rock columns that rise as high as 82 feet (25 meters) above the water. Formed by volcanic activity roughly 12 to 13 million years ago, the cliffs stretch along the rugged coast and provide dramatic views of the sea. Tojinbo is part of the Echizen Kaga Coastline Quasi National Park, which protects this distinctive coastal environment.

Consider booking an excursion to Shirakawago Village and Gokayama Village or the Eiheiji Buddhist Temple and Tojinbo cliffs.

Kanazawa’s mix of gardens, historic districts and craft traditions offers a rich variety of experiences for cruise guests, along with the option to venture further to Shirakawago or Tojinbo. Explore Japan cruises and find your perfect itinerary for visiting Kanazawa.

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