This tour will start at Kanazawa Station at 9:00 am, where your guide will meet you in front of the Information Center near the Shinkansen Ticket Gates. You will have the opportunity to put your belongings in a coin locker at the station as well if you feel the need. If you want to start the tour from your hotel, it will also start at 9:00 am from there.
Once you have left the inside of the station building, the first sight to see on the tour will be immediately visible. The Tsuzumi-mon gate, a modern take on a traditional building style and a new symbol of Kanazawa is a great spot for some photos to commemorate your trip. Don’t miss the fountain clock as well. Watching the clock change seems so ordinary but is actually a cool thing to watch.
Once you have left the inside of the station building, the first sight to see on the tour will be immediately visible. The Tsuzumi-mon gate, a modern take on a traditional building style and a new symbol of Kanazawa is a great spot for some photos to commemorate your trip. Don’t miss the fountain clock as well. Watching the clock change seems so ordinary but is actually a cool thing to watch.
Kanazawa is famous for its production of gold leaf which is gold hammered to within 1/10,000th of a millimeter and is a UNESCO Culturally Intangible Property. At this first experience, you can choose the shape of plate you wish to make and are guided by the experienced workers at the shop. When you’re finished you can even take it home as a souvenir!
After you complete your work of art, we’ll have a short walk through Omicho Market, the central market for seafood in Kanazawa. This is an excellent place to look around and get a feel for how this city, which faces the great Sea of Japan to its west, makes use of the great resources it has. This market has been here in some function for the past 200 years and you can feel the tradition that has been passed down. If you want to grab a quick bite, feel free to do so, there are plenty shops where you can try just about type of seafood. This is also a good time to get a feel for the market if you want to stop by the next day for breakfast or lunch.
The next stop on the tour is the Oyama Shrine, a unique shrine that combines both Japanese and Western elements in a fusion that testifies to the history of Japan in the 19th century. At the back of this shrine is a koi pond and a small garden, as well as a path which leads to a big wooden bridge. This is the bridge you will cross before passing through an impressive gate to enter the Kanazawa Castle grounds. Once a place reserved for high ranking warriors, now it is open for you to enjoy its spacious gardens and lawns. It’s now time for lunch! You will have the chance to make hosomaki, or sushi rolls.
After lunch it’s decision time! Choose between three afternoon activities:
The Main Sights of Kanazawa, Samurai, Ninjas and retro-modern Kanazawa or Traditional Sense, Modern Art
