Kanazawa is home to centuries of preserved history – you could never see all of its top attractions in just one day, but what you could do is explore the heart of the city, and tick 10 of them off your bucket list! Higashi Chaya, the city’s famous geisha district, is a must-see, but Nichi Chaya in the south has a rich geisha tradition and some hidden gems of its own, like rakugan – Kanazawa’s pretty, pastel-colored sweets – and a geisha training ground. You’ll see iconic symbols of Japan’s historic heart, like the stately Kanazawa Castle, Omicho Market, and Kenroku-en Garden (one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens), but you’ll also explore the city’s contemporary side in Katamachi, a lively downtown district lined with trendy shops, cool cafes, restaurants, and bars.

You’ll go on a whirlwind experience of Kanazawa’s vibrant central districts, exploring Kanazawa Station and its surrounding hub of stores, restaurants, and the exquisite Tsuzumi Gate, then heading to the city’s culinary heart, Omicho Market, a 15-minute walk away. Of course, you’ll explore the beautifully preserved traditional districts that Kanazawa is famous for, specifically the old samurai district, Nagamachi, and the Higashi Chaya geisha district 1.5 miles east. But you’ll also get off the well-trodden tourist trail to the less famous but no less charming riverside district, Kazuemachi – an area rich in historic architecture and geisha tradition that’s rapidly developing into a modern hub of street art, craft beer taprooms, and independent galleries.