Kanazawa Exploration: Art, Culture, Tradition with a Local Guide

Discover the art, culture, and traditions of Kanazawa, Japan with a local guide. Explore historic neighborhoods, visit beautiful gardens, and indulge in street food at the vibrant Omicho Market.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Ruins of Nagamachi Bukeyashiki - See the perfectly preserved Nagamachi samurai district

IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalized experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences

  • Omicho Market - Browse Omicho Market, the “Kitchen of Kanazawa”, and try one of its famous croquettes

IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalized experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences

  • Kanazawa Castle - Explore the iconic Kanazawa Castle, the historic seat of power of the Maeda samurai clan

IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalized experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences

  • Kanazawa - Explore the beautiful Kenroku-en, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan

IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalized experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences

  • Higashi Chaya District - Visit the city’s famous entertainment district, Higashi Chaya, and try to spot an elusive geisha

IMPORTANT: As this is a private and personalized experience, the places you visit may differ from those listed and these will be chosen by your host based on your interests and preferences

What's Included
  • Hotel meet-up (available on request for central locations)
  • 4 hour walking tour, exploring highlights and hidden gems
  • Private and personalized walking tour with a passionate local
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Transportation (primarily a walking experience however public transport may be used)
  • Tickets to any attractions
  • Gratuities (optional)
Additional Information

Competing with Kyoto for the title of Japan’s historical gem, Kanazawa blends art, culture, and history in a place where traditions are honored. It offers the opportunity to visit the Nagamachi district, a preserved samurai quarter, and Higashi Chaya, an area with converted geisha houses that now serve as teahouses and dining establishments. It’s essential to make time for a calming walk through Kenroku-en, recognized as one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens, and the longstanding ‘Kanazawa’s Kitchen’, the Omicho Market, infamous for its street food and a candid glimpse of local living.

After your booking is processed, within a day, you will receive a brief questionnaire regarding your character and hobbies. Your answers will be used to pair you with a host who shares your interests. This designated host will personally engage with you to propose a tailored itinerary that encapsulates the city’s distinctive qualities. You’ll also decide on a meeting venue and time. Your planned schedule is adaptable, enabling you to modify what you’d like to do even during your journey.

Location
Kanazawa Station Information Center
(The host will be waiting in front of the tourist information center by the main entrance) After booking, you can adjust the meeting point to fit your preferences with the help of our Experience Planners.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(23 Ratings)
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Samuel_m
Jun 8, 2024
Great walking tour in a beautiful city - Akari was a great guide, super responsive and helpful when planning the itinerary, and knowledgable when we were on the tour. She even helped us make lunch reservations afterwards to ensure we had a wonderful time in Kanazawa.
Review provided by Viator
Tricia_b
Jun 5, 2024
Excellent Experience! - My wife and I hired Megumi for a half-day tour of Kanazawa. Her English is excellent, and we found her to be fun, smart, and easy to be with. She took the time to get to know us as our day went on and was open to making changes in our itinerary that better suited our interests. We took a detour to the Zen museum which was fascinating; ate at a small, semi-hidden locals-only sushi restaurant within the Omicho food market that my wife and I could never have navigated on our own; negotiated with vendors to have prepared foods slightly altered to suit our preferences, etc. After we parted, Megumi got us a reservation at a wonderful yakitori restaurant that night (we were the only non-Japanese people in the place) which was fun, inexpensive, and excellent (they were expecting us when we arrived and made us very welcome). Megumi, having spent some time in the US, was able to help us bridge some hidden gaps in communication that opened up Kanazawa to us in a way that I am sure we would not otherwise have been able to experience. Lovely, competent, easy, on-time, excellent communicator, good sense of humor, kind: five stars all around.
Review provided by Viator
Papalombo
Jun 5, 2024
Great sunny day in Kanazawa - We had a great time meeting Kanasawa. Chris was super friendly, she made it feel like a friend showing you around the city. She tough us some history, showing us lovely places respecting our daughter timing. I'd recommend Chris to anyone. She was amazing!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Teri_g
May 28, 2024
Cris is the best tour guide! - Cris was a great tour guide. Knowledgeable and kind, we spent the day in Kanazawa seeing many places on my list. Cris accommodated my ideas and it was a beautiful day. I highly recommend this tour and Cris as your guide. Thank you Cris for sharing your beautiful city with me!
Review provided by Viator
Elaine_k
Apr 28, 2024
Very nice your - Fun flexible Criselda has great English and was lovely to talk to both about the sights the history of Japan and her experience in japan
Review provided by Viator
Daniel_a
Apr 26, 2024
Great Tour Great Guide - Selda was an excellent guide who was very knowledgeable about the local area and its history. She had a predetermined itinerary before we met but was quick to rearrange it to accommodate a member of our group how injured their foot and was in a wheelchair. We highly recommend her service.
Review provided by Viator
Kate_r
Apr 21, 2024
Wonderful tour! - Our guide, Megumi, was super fun and enthusiastic about showing us around Kanazawa. Her excellent communication with us before our tour helped us plan a perfect day. And when the re-entry immigration process for our cruise ship took a couple of hours longer than expected she accommodated with changing her schedule so that we were able to do most of what we had planned before we had to return to the ship.
Review provided by Viator
Ellen_l
Apr 9, 2024
Great morning! - The fish market and stunning gardens! Our guide was most informative on the history and traditions of the city.
Review provided by Viator
Carl_y
Apr 8, 2024
Thanks Mohamed! - Great tour of old samurai houses, Kenrokuen Garde, Kanazawa Castle, and Higashi Chaya district. Mohamed showed us a good time!
Review provided by Viator
Anca_z
Apr 5, 2024
Best day out - Loved our day out exploring Kanazawa with our guide Megumi! She took us to the best fresh seafood restaurant in the market, absolute best meal in our entire trip!!
Review provided by Viator
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up to 10 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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