City Essentials: First Day • 3 hours 5.0
(24)

Kickstart your trip to Kanazawa

Begin your Kanazawa journey with this essential tour; see key sights and get insider tips to enrich your stay in this historic city.

If you have time, consider making the one hour journey to the historic, picturesque villages of Shirakawago

What makes this experience special

Key highlights

  • See some of central Kanazawa’s most famous attractions (and a couple reserved for in-the-know locals)
  • Explore beautiful nature, bustling city and historical sites in just three hours
  • Take the opportunity to try some of Kanazawa’s most popular cuisine at Omicho Market
  • Set yourself up for a successful trip by learning how to navigate the city like a local
  • Have a helpful host to share expert tips and recommendations for the rest of your trip

What to know before you go

Here’s everything you need to know before your day unfolds.

3 hours
Fully tailored to your preferences
English Other languages may be requested

What’s included

Private and personalized experience
3 hours with a Host
Walking experience (other transport can be arranged at an additional cost)

What’s not included

Food and drinks
Tickets to any attractions
Transportation costs
Gratuities (optional)

Meeting point

Your hotel/apartment or any other central location

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience

What to bring

  • We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and carrying a light bag for your essentials.
  • Public transport may be used during the experience - please bring a travel card or small amount of cash for fares.

How your day could unfold

A flexible, unscripted experience designed entirely around your interests. Your host will adapt the day based on what excites you most

What you’ll do

Buckle up for a practical crash course in getting around Kanazawa like a pro – and a golden opportunity to check out a couple of the city’s must-sees along the way. With your sensei – er, local host – leading the way, you’ll get a feel for the city center, starting at the 120-year-old Kanazawa Station and its surrounding hub of stores, restaurants, and, of course, the exquisite Tsuzumi Gate, an unofficial symbol of the city. At Omicho Market, the “Kitchen of Kanazawa”, join locals browsing stalls packed with mouthwatering food (and get plenty of delicious recommendations from your local insider), then head to Kenroku-en Garden, a famous Japanese landscaped garden that’s conveniently situated right by the bustling downtown Katamachi shopping district.

1. Select a date
2. Select start time
3. Tailor your experience
Answer a few quick questions to help your host craft the perfect day tailored to you.
1. What’s your preferred hosting style?
2. How would you like the pace of your day?
3. What’s your walking comfort level?
4. Are you celebrating something special?

Real Stories, Real Connections

See our hosts and guests creating memories
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What travelers think of this experience

Samantha May 2025

Ike was amazing today she was a great host and ensured we were taken to places we may have missed ourselves. Great host thank you very much.

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Julianne May 2025

Iku was a wonderful guide from early communication in the lead up to the tour right through to our goodbyes at the end. Iku was knowledgeable and shared this with us in a very inclusive and warm manner. Iku tailored the tour around areas of personal interest to us and was very flexible and accommodating for any last minute alterations. Would highly Iku for anyone

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Steven May 2025

Katie is an excellent guide. Her communication prior to the tour was very good, leaving no uncertainty regarding the initial meeting place and the tour’s itinerary. She is a very friendly person with warm personality, very knowledgeable and her English is excellent. For any tourist planning a walking tour in Kanazawa, I definitely recommend Katie as their guide.

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Jaki May 2025

We wanted to see a lot in Kanazawa. So we hired a private guide for 3 hours to help us navigate all the logistics. Yukari proved invaluable in doing that. Yukari helped to get us to the more off beat places so we could see the more usual tourist places by ourselves. We got day passes for transportation on the loop bus. She pre booked us an appointment at the Myoryu-ji Ninja Temple at our request, and afterwards, we walked around a small Geisha district, ate delicious chili tofu (not hot chili) and tofu ice cream. We went to the Kimono Cente, and Yukari helped us purchase matcha mochi on our way to the park. We communicated well even if we had to clarify Yukari's English sometimes. Yukari went over and beyond to help us experience Kanazawa. It was very pleasant and memorable. We would definitely use Yukari again.

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Michael May 2025

We had a great day with Katie. She showed us the best places of Kanazawa. Her deep knowledge made our tour of Kenrokuen Garden and the city to something special. Katie is aware of the western mentality. Thats makes her tour fascinating. We learned a lot about the difference between Western and Japanese culture. Understanding Japanese mentality and culture makes our further trip in this wonderful country even more enjoyable.

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Michael May 2025

Katie was delightful and gave us a choice of Kanazawa highlights to visit in our 4 hours. The Kenrokuen park was my favourite - incredibly beautiful. We saw a lot without rushing and Katie was very personable, great company and even ran over time in order to help me find her recommended instant dashi in a store.

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