Kanazawa, located in Ishikawa Prefecture, is a castle town where tradition and modernity exist in perfect harmony. Its preserved Edo-era streetscapes and cutting-edge contemporary art museums offer visitors the rare experience of walking between centuries. Just 2.5 hours from Tokyo via the Hokuriku Shinkansen, Kanazawa is the ideal setting for a 2-night, 3-day journey that reveals the city’s quiet sensibilities and powerful aesthetic spirit.
Your first day begins with arrival at Kanazawa Station, where the striking Tsuzumi-mon Gate welcomes you with symbolic elegance. From here, make your way to the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa—a circular, glass-walled structure designed to be open and integrated with the surrounding city. The building itself is an architectural statement, inviting exploration and engagement.
Among its most iconic installations is Leandro Erlich’s Swimming Pool, a participatory work that plays with perspective and perception, delighting both domestic and international visitors. The museum encourages slow, personal interaction with art—you can lie on the lawn, unwind at the café, or simply move through the space at your own pace.
Nearby, you’ll find other cultural gems like the Kanazawa Noh Museum and the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History, all part of the city’s vibrant cultural district. If time allows, these spots are well worth a visit, adding depth and texture to your artistic exploration.
On your second day, step into the old-world charm of Higashi Chaya District, where cobbled lanes and vermilion-latticed townhouses evoke the spirit of the Edo period. Here, you’ll find exquisite examples of Kanazawa’s traditional crafts—gold leaf, Kutani porcelain, and Kaga Yuzen textiles—displayed in ateliers and boutiques that reflect the region’s cultural richness. Among the highlights are century-old machiya converted into cafés and tea houses, where you can enjoy matcha and seasonal Japanese confections in peaceful, nostalgic settings. For a deeper immersion, consider a ride in a jinrikisha (rickshaw), offering a slow-paced tour through the district’s historic streets.
Extend your stroll across the Asano River to discover Kazue-machi Chaya District and Nishi Chaya District, each with its own subtle atmosphere. These areas, though less traveled, offer a quiet dignity and an authentic glimpse into the coexistence of everyday life and cultural refinement—a hallmark of Kanazawa’s identity.
Conclude your journey with a morning visit to Omicho Market, Kanazawa’s bustling kitchen since the Edo era. Here, you can sample the best of Hokuriku’s seafood—kaisendon (sashimi rice bowls), aburi nodoguro (grilled blackthroat seaperch), and more—all freshly prepared and deeply flavorful. Surrounded by the cheerful energy of vendors and locals, it’s the perfect place to reflect on your time in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa is not a city to rush through—it is one to walk, to feel, and to converse with. In this town where contemporary art and centuries-old traditions coexist in harmony, you’ll find your inner pace naturally slowing, your senses sharpening, and your spirit quietly renewed. Though just a short ride from Tokyo by shinkansen, Kanazawa has a way of reminding you—again and again—of Japan’s enduring sense of beauty.