All Kanazawa Tours & Excursions in 2026
What are people saying about Kanazawa
Jackie_H, May 2026
Samurai tour.
Gentle walk through the samurai district then on the the gardens and castle. About 3 hours overall. Stopped for a matcha tea and sweet (Y500 each) on the way. Gardens were free to over 65’s with proof. Samurai house (Y550) takes cash only, no cards.
Tour guide, Mako, was great. Very clear with interesting observations.
Meghan_W, May 2026
Excellent tour
We did a 3 hour walking tour with Marina. We were a family of 6 with my two parents. The tour was brilliant. Marina was wonderful and full of knowledge. We would have missed half the stuff she showed us. Highly recommend this tour and Marina! She also gave us great recommendations for food and drink. The bar she recommended was one of the best we have been to with such an amazing zen vibe.
Catherine_G, May 2026
A delightful half-day trip back in time
What an enjoyable morning! It's worth getting up a little early to avoid the crowds. Tour guide Yasushi is friendly, enthusiastic, very informative, and speaks excellent English. We learned so much about Japan, Kanazawa, and Shirakawa-go from him while on the bus. He also met us at the historic Wada House to explain the town's traditional and interesting industries.
Walking around Shirakawa-go is like stepping back in time. The wooden houses, the rice fields, the flowers, the mountains, the fresh air! We also enjoyed the gohei mochi and mitarashi dango.
(Both are snacks-on-a-stick made of grilled rice and tasty sauce.)
The bus is very comfortable, too, with roomy seats and AC. Though the road goes through several long tunnels, we were treated with awesome views of mountains, rivers, and farmlands. Kitahama-san gave us a smooth ride.
ありがとうございます!
Brigitte_H, May 2026
Great tour value...
Great tour value departing from Kanazawa station with accurate instructions provided about pickup locations and itinerary. Beautiful and interesting villages with nice vew points for photos. Loved the traditional lunch served in a private room for the group. Bus driver couldn’t have dropped us closer to attractions and avoided traffic congestion during Golden week (much better than using your own car). Good information and maps provided during the bus ride in English and Japaneese.
Richard_S, Apr 2026
A tasty and informative afternoon
A really fun, hands-on experience. We cooked a full multi-course meal (and eat it). The instruction was clear and very positive and supportive. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn to cook Japanese food and learn some interesting background to the cuisine.
Jacek_W, Apr 2026
The trip was amazing.
Our guide was an amazing tour guide. She made an all day tour relaxing, engaging and memorable. Her in-depth knowledge was matched by her sense of humour. Highly recommend if you are looking for a fully organised, stress free orientation of Shirakawa-go and takayama.
gayle12hx, Apr 2026
Fabulous night.
My husband and I had a fantastic evening with Nicola. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the area, the history of the geisha districts, and the nuances of Japanese tradition — we learned so much from him throughout the night. We ended the experience with a delicious traditional meal in a tucked‑away local restaurant we never would have found on our own. The whole evening felt thoughtful, authentic, and genuinely memorable. Thank you so much Nicola.
Douglas_G, Apr 2026
Great way to see Kanazawa
An excellent way to get around Kanazawa, very safe riding with an excellent guide. Several stops along the way. Lots to see but he kept us on time while still allowing time for photos, viewpoints, etc. Very good commentaries from our guide. We had the bikes all day, which was a bonus we didn't realize. So we went back to several sights in the afternoon before returning the bike.
Julie_T, Apr 2026
Exploring beautiful old villages outside Kanazawa.
Despite the wind and rain we loved this experience with Liam as a great guide. The wood carvers village was probably our favourite - fascinating and peaceful. Watching skilled carvers at work was amazing. The Gokayama village areas were very old and very intriguing and it was fun making our own piece of washi paper. Shirakawa-go was bigger and definitely more touristy but fascinating to find out about the history of silk making and how the houses were set up to facilitate this. Thanks for a great day exploring, Liam
Christopher_R, Mar 2026
Great Tour Highly Recommended
Very good tour. It was a rainy day. Yumiko was an excellent tour guide. We negotiated the weather without a problem. Moreover, when we visited Kenroku garden, she explained the meaning of the garden so that even I, who knows nothing of Japanese gardens, could appreciate this work of art. Please book Yumiko. She is excellent
Megan_J, Mar 2026
Magical morning in the snow with a fantastic guide!
We had a wonderful time on this tour, largely thanks to our guide, Yasushi-san. He was incredibly friendly, personable, and knowledgeable.
The highlight was definitely Shirakawa-go. The tour is timed perfectly—we arrived earlier than the bulk of the crowds, which allowed us to experience the historic village in a much quieter, more peaceful state. Seeing the thatched roofs covered in snow was a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience. Yasushi-san also stationed himself inside one of the house museums to provide extra context and history, which added a lot of value to the visit.
The afternoon in Kanazawa was very enjoyable, though the craft activities were a bit underwhelming for us. The daruma painting was unguided, and the gold leaf postcard activity felt very brief. Despite the crafts being a little simple, the overall experience and the quality of the guiding made this a trip well worth taking!
Erin_M, Oct 2025
Highly Recommended Private Tour to Shirakawa-go & Takayama
We booked the 1 Day Private Charter Tour to Shirakawa-go & Takayama and had a wonderful experience. Our guide, Ali, was friendly and flexible, happily customising the itinerary to suit our interests. He spoke English very well and made communication easy throughout the day. Ali was also a safe and skilled driver, making the journey comfortable and enjoyable. Highly recommend this tour for a smooth and personalised day trip!
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