A lot to take in, especially there is a shrine/temple walk that people might miss if you don't move away from the main area. Lots to see around here, be careful of spiders but enjoy the beautiful scenery.

A lot of shops. Great place to buy gifts. Found a pretty cafe at the hidden corner "Glider" where we went for breakfast and afternoon tea. Highly recommended.

I have seen at night in the rain and during the day, I prefer it during the day because at night it appears as a ghost town. It is fascinating to meander and explore and enter all the various artisanal boutiques where you can find everything from high quality artistic production to mass produced souvenirs. Especially beautiful the stores that sell gold leaf cosmetics. This quarter cannot be missed

Wanna experience the culture of Edo period in Japan - Higashi Chaya district reflects the same .. Along with that you can also enjoy the gold foil ice cream

A very pretty area that boasts lots of history and culture. It’s great if you dress up in a kimono and visit one of the cafes and slowly enjoy the area. It’s very small and out the way so I’d plan getting lunch there to make it worth it.

Lovely district with traditional houses lining the streets. Unlike some other places most of the houses still retain their old world charm though many have been converted to restaurants and souvenir shops. Unfortunately most shops were closed when we visited after 6 pm

A traditional street with Geisha and Gold leaf plated foods…. Also a really nice place for beautiful snaps….

Beautiful travel back in time to 1 of the oldest fish markets in Japan. Relaxing, full of culture. Great traditional Japanese style restaurants and food.

Nice quaint old town feel for walking on the nice stone paved street with wooden houses and shops. It was great on a rainy day as there were less tourists. Lots of snack shops and cafes along the route as well as temple and handicraft shops. It's walkable from the Omachi fish market across the river. Near the entrance on the main road there is a bus stop for a loop bus for Kanazawa JR station as well as other popular sites.

Very interesting temple sometimes visited by the feudal lord. Not really related to ninjas but has traps and secret rooms. Unfortunately, no photography allowed inside. Tour reservation is necessary.

Please visit, if you like a ninja stuff.

Worth visiting! Don't let the website or guidebooks deter you: you can show up the day if and ask at the shrine shop for a reservation and hopefully join the next tour! Tours are in Japanese, but an English guidebook with pictures explains everything in sufficient detail. No photos allowed inside, but you'll remember what you saw. Not wheelchair accessible.

Myouryuji Temple, also known as the 'ninja' temple, is a fascinating place to visit in Kanazawa. While it's not actually a temple used by ninjas, it does have a lot of traps and nifty hidden tricks that make it an exciting and unique experience. If you plan to visit, it's important to note that you must book a tour prior to coming to the temple. You cannot buy tickets right off the bat. Unfortunately, we didn't know this and arrived at 9am, but we were able to book a tour for 11am afterwards.

Amazing place, but don’t neglect that bookings are mandatory (especially if you can’t understand Japanese and need an interpreter) Well worth visiting, and has nothing to do with ninjas!

Definitely worth the visit to this very unique temple with its secret rooms and hidden staircases. We found it easy to to get a tour reservation - just head to the intercom speaker next to the small shop and push the button to ask to be added to the next tour. While the tour is in Japanese, they provide a booklet that explains each of the stops along the tour in English. It costs ¥1,000 per person with payment in cash at the start of the tour. No shoes or photography allowed while inside.

Worth a visit - entry is about 1000 yen, we were allowed to join the next tour with no reservation but I believe it is dependent on spot availability. We were the last group for the day so perhaps this is why there were spots still. The tours are in Japanese, but an English guidebook with pictures explains everything in enough detail to put one and two together. Note, if you can speak Japanese and you are going with someone that can't, it is advised that you are not allowed to translate on their behalf as this is very disruptive to the tourguide's explanations. No photos allowed inside. Not wheelchair accessible. You will be required to walk down and up some narrow staircases.

No translation at all except an English booklet was handed out. I am very impressed that they are making an effort to preserve the language. Well done. No photos are allowed. That's wonderful and showing respect.

This neighborhood is all right to walk around in for a while, but from what we could see there's not much there other than residential buildings. They all have the traditional Japanese look, with paneled walls, gates, and walls on either side of roads. It can be quaint to stroll through for a while if the weather is right. There are a few buildings which you can enter, traditional "samurai" residences.

It’s a samurai district and very different from the ancient towns with fortified walls. There is one samurai house that was open and free for public but there is another one that you pay is absolutely delightful with their famous garden. Worth visiting in Kanazawa.

Personally I feel that the place is overrated. It’s filled with touristy shops along its route. Not really much to see. Ah, quick mention to ‘street vendor’ hotdog shop inside, that made the trip worthwhile for me. Cheap yet delicious hot dogs brought a smile to my face.

Very well-preserved samurai district. We went at night time and there was no one around. Highly recommended for an atmospheric stroll in the evening after dinner. The river flowing through this area gives a great soundtrack to the district.

Really nice area to walk around and imagine the history coming to life. Very quite and pretty small area, in my opinion best to combine in with the castle and the gardens, doesn't take a lot of time to walk around.

Cute district you can stroll through slowly to watch the beautiful small houses are artful roofs. They also sell rather expensive pottery in several spots.

The ticket was a bit expensive, but the Japanese styled garden made it worth it. Sitting by the garden feels so relaxing and peaceful, it’s the perfect place to spend some time after a tiring walk through the samurai district.

A worthwhile visit to see how an important samurai’s house looked like but this house also has one of the most amazing Japanese garden ever. Kids would love the large colourful koi fish in pond. Adults 500Y. There is a tiny museum as well there that’s also interesting to see older swords, coins and collectibles. Tip: bring cash and use only smart phones for cameras! Bring student ID for discount.

Another recommend sightseeing when you are in Kanazawa. It is convenience to take tourist loop bus and drop off here. Inside the house is real Japanese style, small garden, some seats to sit and relax & green tea room upstairs. You can enjoy the history of Samurai too. Around the house there are cafe, restaurant & alley to walk around.

The house is beautiful, the many inner gardens, big and small, are extremely poetic and we spent quite a while sitting down in contemplation. Beauful samurai armature at the entrance. Once out of the house, we meandered along the ways around the house where you can see more houses in old Japanese style and artist pottery studios. Absolutely worth the visit. By the way, entrance fee of 500yen must be paid in cash.

When we went there on a Friday afternoon there were simply way too many tourists cramped into a petite Japanese house; it felt like an open house with way too many people in it. They should really limit the number of people as it affects the experience and the narrow corridors and stairways are tricky with so many people. There were tourists entering the gardens when they weren’t supposed to just to take pictures and no one to police them. The samurai armour at the entrance was impressive but strangely cannot be photographed. There was a lack of explanation about the house, its history and samurai owner. The swords in the museum similarly felt devoid of history and a narrative. The gardens were amazing but overall the experience felt like visiting a tea house rather than that of a high ranking samurai. Some work and investment needs to be made to make this worthy to be a tourist attraction (and actually the samurai’s neighbour’s house look more impressive).

Beautiful traditional Japanese house with a beautiful garden. It's a small house with a small museum. My only suggestion would be to add more information about each room/area. There are some bits of info in English and Japanese but I feel it needs more to add to the experience. Worth a visit if you're in the area.

Entrance fee: 750yen. Open until 4:30. It's totally worthwhile to spend 2 hours here. It has very unique & beautiful garden. The whole house is a harmonious melody of arts, nature, light blended into every corner. Walk slowly, and you will see a little garden in any footstep ahead. There's a museum inside as well. Don't miss it ;)

Samurai House with nice gardens. At the Tea Room, you can have a bowl of Macha (green tea) for ¥300 and contemplate on life as you look at the beautiful garden

We visited this residence during spring. It is not the biggest place but worth every Yen. The residence is well cared for and it is fascinating to step into the past. The absolute highlight is the garden. It was very lush and well cared for. I imagine it being different kinds of beautiful, depending on the time of year.

t’s so beautiful and good seeing a great gate, Tsutsumi mon, in the Kanazawa station, which makes us feel happy to preserve the traditions and culture of Kaga.

An unexpected well crafted modern interpretation of the Tori Gate. Using real wood in large timber format, the Tori Gate is abstracted into subcomponents that act as brush strokes in an impressionist painting in order to evoke the classic gate. The remaining roof is aluminum or stainless steel space frame. This makes for a fabulous juxtaposition of old and new.

The 13.7-meter-high Tsuzumi (drum) Gate is an unofficial symbol of Kanazawa. It is supported by two thick pillars, and is designed to evoke the image of the tsuzumi, drums played by hand in Noh theater and Kaga Hosho performances. The Tsuzumi Gate is located at the JR Kanazawa Station East entrance. Very grand architecture!

Came out of Kanazawa Station and saw this extremely huge but yet beautiful structure. Looks intimidating with lots of metals being twisted, bound and formed together. A technological or artistic project??? But however, when photographed with the pool at the foreground, the whole scene looked phenomenal. An excellent artwork! A masterpiece!!

An icon of Kanazawa and a modern torii gate designed when budget and creativity is unhinged. It's worth visiting both night and day, as they have different feels when night lights are shone on it.

Coolest train station I've seen yet in Japan. There is a light show that starts at 8PM that is a must see.

Pretty cool to see at least once and grab a selfie with.

I have no idea what goes on behind the architecture for this structure but it’s impressive to look at. They even have a water fountain clock which I found to be even cooler than the structure itself!

PRO'S: The Kanazawa Train Station is a masterpiece of architectural engineering. The Tsuzmi-mon Gate is a spectacular entry point to the station. CON'S: None SUMMARY: The Tsuzmi-mon Gate along with the Eastern Entrance to the Kanazawa Train station are a feast for the eyes worth a repeat visit.

Pricy as a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, but indeed good quality (probably cost you 4000-5000 JPY in avg) Be expected a long queue. No online or phone reservation is available so be onsite earlier and take a ticket to block your seats. (Unfortunately cannot reserve it beforehand)

Came to take queue number at about 5pm on Sunday and got called at about 6pm. The queue seems to be never ending so either come earlier or get a queue number then go shop around. There is a wide variety of sushi available and the price is reasonable. In terms of freshness, I think it’s acceptable.

The sushi is big and fresh! We had a wide variety of food, so we were very happy with the variety of sushi we had. However, it's best to check in advance how to do the reception and what time you should be there as it gets really busy on weekends☺️.

Simply spectacular. It’s reasonably priced and they offer a wide selection. Chef’s selection is something you don’t want to miss. Tuna, Salmon, Nodoguro (Blackthroat)…all of them were excellent. I’d happily come back again. You get a ticket from a machine in front of the restaurant. There is a long queue but half of them seem to give up waiting so actual wait is shorter.

You could either come really early or late to avoid the rush hour wait. Pick up the que number from the vending machine at the front and wait for the call out. Very fresh sushi quality! Probably one of the most famous brand in town. Fun experience if you never had revolving sushi bar before.

Very fresh fishes. I highly recommend the sashimi, tasting really good and even a bit sweet from its freshness. We came around 5pm and waited 1 hour. For lunch it would take even more, which might have influence on whole experience.

English menu available. Long queue. Be prepared to wait an hour or so. Sushi is decent, otoro really melts in your mouth. Price is reasonable for sushi and sashimi.

Great food, service, and atmosphere! Located just behind the castle, it offers an authentic atmosphere, with a counter and a few small tables shared between locals and foreigners. The staff is very helpful and can speak English (on top of having an English menu). Locals would happily engage in conversations making it a good place if you are travelling alone. I had a lovely evening chatting with the nearby table's locals. The sushi set and was delicious!! 😋. Price is also good considering the quality and the location! Definitely recommend.

When we walked in we were the only customers. The couple that own and run the place do not speak much English, but she has a book of pictures with the names of the different fish that he prepares in each sushi portion. We got 10 different portions, and they explained how to eat each - with or without soy. A bit more expensive than we really wanted, but superb fresh sushi, so worth it!

This was my husband's and my best sushi experience so far. The fish was so soft and tender...it just melted in our mouths. Lovely service as well :) We paid 3800 yen approx. (cokes included). We especially enjoyed the grilled eel on rice bowl. Stunning! The restaurant is nicely decorated and we were offered to take a tiny origami crane ♥️ 100% great experience!

Absolutely my favorite restaurant in Kanazawa. The staff are friendly, the food is made with care and is delicious. I think the quality level for sushi you get for the price is just uncompareable. Be aware that the restaurant is small so make sure to book a reservation or go there early otherwise you'll have to wait. Thank you so much for the experience. If I ever visit Kanazawa, I will come eat here again.

This place had awesome fresh sushi at a great price. The staff were very helpful with english and had english menus readily available. We ordered a deluxe sashimi bowl which featured uni and ikura for only ¥1320. We also tried the local fish nodoguro shioyaki which was grilled to crisp on the outside but still juicy on the inside. The female snow crab was also in season for ¥1980. To finish we ordered various nigiri such as ark shell clam, whelk, and hamachi. The hamachi was quite fatty and flavorful compared to hamachi available in North America. The most memorable part of the dinner was that my girlfriend spilled some hot tea on herself by accident. The staff came rushing to help with ice and cold towels. Our server actually ran to the local convenient store 2 blocks away to get some medicinal cream for her, which was very touching. The staff here are very warm, welcoming and kind and will be forever remembered as this was the first restaurant experience we had after arriving in Kanazawa. 10/10 for food 11/10 for generosity and hospitality

Incredible value for quality omakase, everything was delicious. Staff very kind and welcoming, but the shop is small so reservation recommended. We arrived shortly before they opened and they only let a couple groups in before the shop is full.

Wonderful experience. Family owned very small but cute and cozy. Lovely food and it’s quite popular, you need to book upfront as they only have 3 tables and 6 sits in the counter. They have several types of fish. I recommend the chef choice.

Fresh fish with small portion of rice. Cozy place.

Walked in without reservation and was lucky enough to get a seat. (The waitress informed us that they were actually fully booked and had to leave in about 1.5hrs) The food was excellent. Highly recommend the grilled nodoguro fish, grilled eel, (specials for that day), zucchini, grilled pork belly wrapped vegetables and the pork intestines. Recommend that you book in advance to not be disappointed.

It has been a while since I visited such high quality izakaya in Japan... and this place had a high quality drink and food I wont be easily forgetting for a while. I highly recommend any of you out there to try this place but make sure to make a reservation so that you can stay here longer.

We visited the restaurant for our second wedding anniversary and we couldn’t choose better! The staff were so friendly and warmly welcomed us. We could see chefs preparing and cooking our dishes which we ordered. We can definitely recommend this place

Absolutely amazingly fantastic !!! Best Izakaya we’ve been to. Food is incredible. Sit at the counter if you can but warning : We tried to order everything ! Everything was delicious. Service was fantastic. Atmosphere is super fun and busy but relaxed and casual. They’ve nailed it. Our favourite in Kanazawa so far !!!

What a bunch of good lads and lassies ! One of the most fun bars in Kyoto. I made a reservation and when I showed up, they were eagerly waiting outside. Once inside, I discovered our Oshiburi ( warm napkin) had a welcome message! The staff is so GENKI and they just make the night entertaining . Great food, fantastic service, good prices. I really can’t recommend this place highly enough.

This is by far one of the best izakayas I have been. The service is exceptional and the food to die for! Although the food took a while to be served, they were all super fresh and delicious! Definitely worth the wait. I personally recommend the oshizushi (presse sushi) and the sashimi assortment, if you are into raw fish. Their “King croquette” was also super yummy!

Tapas menu, so much choice, great menu, every choice made was just a mouthful of delicious curiosity. Must book in advance as they have booking slots, definitely worth it. We had plenty of beer and wine with our meal, it was a proper treat.

You are hard pressed to find a bad review because this place is amazing. Totally worthy of a Michelin star or at least a Bib Gourmand nod. Izakaya-style dining. Most menu item are between ¥400-1200. They have an English menu. However the daily specials board is only in Japanese. Be sure to ask the staff about what’s not in the menu, because you won’t want to miss those options. We loved everything we ordered: pork wrapped in ginger, chicken breast with spicy cod roe Mayo, filet mignon, nodomaguro, eel, tempura shrimp in a spicy sauce, tempura sweet potato, grilled zucchini with truffle oil. The staff are super friendly, even to foreigners like us who walk in with no reservation. We got lucky, but I would make a reservation to make sure you get a seat. If you are a party of two, you def want the counter seating. It’s a great show and interactive! Plus you get to see everything before you order!

Every thing is so delicious that i wished for more stomach space! Totally unexpected to walk into a boisterous place that is full house, when outside is pitch quiet! The appetiser, the grilled rice with dashi, the different grilled meats, beef croquettes and grilled mackerel are all fantastic choices. Perfect with beer!

Food was enjoyable but a bit flat in comparison to what we had in most other places. We were four so felt we had a good sample of the menu. Standout for me was horse mackerel with shiso

Atmosphere on point. The tables are more private but for couples the counter is more where the kitchen action is. Attentive service, good selection of Japanese rice wine/Nihonshu, a variety of Izakaya food, not just your regular menu options, daily specials... It was excellent. My mum has been covered to Japanese food 😆.

The coffee is of good quality with unique flavour and strong caffeine content. Hand crafted specialty brews. Owner is friendly and the cafe is cozy. We went there twice consecutively 2 days to get their coffee and food. I like their croissant and breakfast dishes. The Greek wrap was delicious with fresh ingredients.

Very friendly staff and a very nice cafe. The pulled pork sandwich was one of the best I’ve ever had! Bread was perfect and pork was delicious. Had an espresso as well which was fantastic!

We tried veggie sandwich with extra melted cheese and it was so tasty. A couple is running the restaurant. Wife is Japanese and the husband is a foreigner. They were very friendly, both can speak perfect English and they also have an English menu.

Curio Espresso and Vintage Design Cafe is simply amazing and is definitely worth the visit if you are in Kanazawa. The cafe/restaurant is beautifully decorated, spacious and has a relaxing atmosphere to it - perfect for enjoying a coffee or meal. It’s also very clean and well maintained. The staff are very nice and accommodating - service with a smile. The cafe is English friendly and they also have an English menu available. Everything on the menu is wonderful. Ordered the pulled pork sandwich with chilli sauce, cheese and red onions, which was delicious. The bun was toasted to perfection. Also ordered the chicken salad wrap, which was equally delicious. All the ingredients were fresh and of high quality. They have an extensive selection of coffees/coffee drinks to choose from and offer daily specials. You can also order teas, juices and other beverages. They also have Covid safety measures in place, which was most appreciated. The next time you are in Kanazawa, I recommend you stopping by Curio Espresso and Vintage Design Cafe for a great coffee or meal experience - you’ll be happy you’d stopped by. Enjoy 😊

This is a very busy coffee shop that is often packed with people and a long wait. Luckily our hotel is nearby so we went just a bit right after they opened, and were able to sit down. I ordered a chai latte and pulled pork sandwich. Tasted great and recommend them both. They have an English menu and one of the waiters speaks English. They also switch their waiter depending on if they think you speak English or Japanese.

Curio Espresso and Vintage Design Cafe is simply amazing and is definitely worth a breakfast if you are in Kanazawa. Everything on the menu is wonderful and so tasty! Ordered the Vegetarian chickpea Sandwich and the soup, both were delicious. All the ingredients were fresh and of high quality!

A small cafe along omotesando serving simple food and drinks. I ordered a flat white and my friend ordered a matcha latte. I prefer coffee with more bitter taste but not too roasted, this one tasted too roasted for my liking. Matcha latte does not have strong matcha taste. Service is prompt and warm, the place is cosy and nice.

The staff is so polite. Service is fast. Very clean, airy place, with fewer tables which are distant from each other.

I visited Curio one day after Christmas Day since I stayed in Kanazawa for a few days. Maybe it was because during the holiday season, it was really slow, cozy and warm with pretty Christmas decorations. I had flat white, then I realized it wasn’t my taste because I normally have espresso drinks with specialty coffee. Their espresso is more traditional, close to Italian style, dark and bold. However, the barista lifted it up with his steaming skills. The steamed milk was silky, smooth and creamy. They warmed up a slice of banana loaf when it was served. The taste and the crunchiness of walnut in it reminded me of my life in North America. Loved it!

Had the special nigiri set, 3000 yen and the Kanazawa special and they were all very fresh and all tasted awesome, ordered warm sake and it was nice and smooth Lady’s english was very good too

Solid sushi and welcomes foreigners and Japanese alike. I recommend the "jo" (elevated) set menus.

Slightly mixed feelings here. On the one hand all the produce was fresh and tasty. On the other it seems like a place mostly catering to tourists (nothing wrong about it though!). The owners are a lovely elderly couple. They have really good sake from Fukumitsu. If you're in the neighborhood it's worth stopping by for few nigiri.

So good!! Best sushi I’ve had in a long time, generous portions and fresh. I had no idea Uni could taste this good :)

Really fresh fish with some of the best sushi rice I've had here in Japan. The shop is really tiny so there might be a wait, but it's well worth it. Shop is run by an older couple who speak a bit of English since it seems to be popular with tourists, but there were quite a few locals too when we ate there. Portions are generous, and eating off the (clean) bar was an interesting experience. Recommend going for the sets and then ordering whatever else you fancy alacarte. Negitoro rolls are incredible.

Great sushi with super affordable price. Omakase lunch for just 2000jpy.

Great cozy restaurant owned by wife and husband! Very english friendly and the meal was wonderful as well!

Place is nice, but sushi is far too rushed it’s not good. Comes out quickly but emphasis on speed rather than skill. Rice is poor and no care given - a shame as was told Kanazawa sushi was incredible.

Great sushi and great culinary experience. Lovely couple behind the counter 😍

First sushi experience in japan, I'm very pleased. Familiar enviroment