All Kanazawa Tours &amp; Excursions in 2026

Kanazawa/Nagano: Tateyama Kurobe Snow Wall Day Tour

12 hoursFree Cancellation

from $225

This full-day tour checks off two fascinating locations in one go—a great way to learn more about Japan's history and culture if you're short on time. Spend your morning exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shirakawa-go, a village famous for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses. In the afternoon, head to Kanazawa to visit the Kenrokuen Garden and Higashi Chaya District. Make and taste traditional Japanese sweets, and watch a craftsperson make gold leaf.

World Heritage Shirakawa-go and Experience Tours from Kanazawa

9 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Seeing Kanazawa's top attractions in a short time can take a lot of planning, so let this small-group tour do the hard work for you. A carefully planned itinerary takes you to Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle, the Samurai District, and the Higashi Chaya District, with admission to Kenrokuen Garden and Nomura House included to save time. Also, an included taxi ride between districts helps you cover more ground in less time.

(5,102)

from $119

Kanazawa Highlights: Garden, Castle, Samurai & Geisha+Taxi

3 hoursFree Cancellation

This private and customizable driving tour will allow you to take in the beauty of Shirakawago with out the worry of catching trains or busses. This driving tour is perfect for independent travelers that would like to take in the sites on their own. Allow your private chauffer to take you around in comfort and style. Once your tour is done, your chauffer will take you to traditional city of Takayama so that you can continue your travels across Japan. We hope to send you to gorgeous Shirakawago soon!

(234)

from $56

Kanazawa to Takayama via Shirakawa-go: Car & Driver Only

Kanazawa to Takayama via Shirakawa-go: Car & Driver Only

7 hoursFree Cancellation

(2)

from $473

Full-Day Tour from Kanazawa: Samurai, Matcha, Gardens and Geisha

9 hoursFree Cancellation

Kanazawa: Castle & Samurai History Walking Tour

(101)

from $143

2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hoursFree Cancellation

(381)

from $64

Visit two of Japan’s most picturesque UNESCO World Heritage villages in just one day, without the hassle of navigating rural bus schedules or planning a complex day trip. This guided tour combines round-trip transportation from Kanazawa, a local guide's insight, and free time to explore the historic gassho-style farmhouses (a style of traditional Japanese architecture) of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama at your own pace.

[One-day bus tour departing from Kanazawa Station] Shirakawa-go and Gokayama - Two World Heritage Villages Enjoyable Bus Tour

[One-day bus tour departing from Kanazawa Station] Shirakawa-go and Gokayama - Two World Heritage Villages Enjoyable Bus Tour

7 hours 45 minutesFree Cancellation

4.8

(309)

from $94

[One-day bus tour departing from Kanazawa Station] Shirakawa-go/Takayama tour platinum route bus tour

Getting to UNESCO World Heritage-listed village of Shirakawa-go and the historic streets of Hida Takayama in one day can be tricky to plan without prior knowledge. Save yourself the hassle of navigating rural transportation on your own, and relax on this handy guided tour from Kanazawa. As you explore, gain local insight into what you see, and take a break to sample an authentic Japanese lunch.

[One-day bus tour departing from Kanazawa Station] Shirakawa-go/Takayama tour platinum route bus tour

9 hours 15 minutesFree Cancellation

4.7

(151)

from $102

Likely to Sell Out

Kanazawa Night Tour with Local Meal and Drinks

2 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

(190)

from $103

Kanazawa is home to stroll gardens, teahouses, and magnificent architecture that dates back to the Edo Period, but understanding the history behind its most notable sites requires a lot of research. Save yourself time, and learn about Kanazawa from a local’s perspective by going on a customized walking tour. You can select the places you visit—such as Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle—then a private guide provides fascinating commentary and cultural insights along the way.

Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide

4 to 6 hoursFree Cancellation

(116)

from $119

Experience the traditional Japanese metalworking technique known as “Tankin” by creating your own handmade ring. In this workshop, you can choose your preferred material, thickness, shape, and texture, then customize your ring using special hammers and tools to create unique patterns and finishes. The experience takes about one hour, and our staff will carefully guide you through each step of the process. We will also help you take memorable photos during the workshop. Skilled craftsmen will complete the final polishing and cleaning, ensuring your ring is beautifully finished. You can take your handmade ring home on the same day, making it a perfect souvenir or meaningful gift from Japan. Whether you join alone or with someone special, this workshop offers a fun and creative experience where you can craft a one-of-a-kind ring that reflects your personal style. Enjoy the satisfaction of making your own ring and creating unforgettable memories in Japan!

Private Ring Craft Experience in Kanazawa

Private Ring Craft Experience in Kanazawa

1 hour 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Discover Kanazawa on a private, fully customizable half-day tour tailored to your interests and led by a passionate local host. Explore highlights like Kenrokuen Garden, the Samurai District, and Higashi Chaya, while uncovering hidden gems and hearing personal stories and cultural insights. With flexible start times and a bespoke itinerary, this immersive experience is perfect for first-time visitors or those seeking a deeper connection with the city.

(35)

from $25

Kanazawa Private Tour with a Local – Highlights & Hidden Gems

Kanazawa Private Tour with a Local – Highlights & Hidden Gems

2 to 5 hoursFree Cancellation

(211)

from $67

Itinerary Time Table: Kanazawa (Dep. 13:50) → Shirakawago (Arr. 15:10, Dep. 16:40) → Takayama (Arr. 17:40) *Please note that times may vary due to traffic conditions. **Please arrive at the station 10 minutes before the departure time. Please note: This is a transportation service only and not a guided tour. Embark on a captivating journey from Kanazawa to the enchanting UNESCO World Heritage site of Shirakawa-go, a picturesque village nestled in the heart of Japan. Step back in time and marvel at the well-preserved thatched-roof houses, a testament to centuries of traditional craftsmanship and culture. During your 1.5 hour stop, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the village with a self-guided walking tour map given to you by the driver, leading you to a carefully selected viewpoint. Capture stunning photographs, walk along the charming streets, and perhaps visit some of the local shops.

Shirakawago is famous for its gassho style houses!

One Way Bus from Kanazawa to Takayama with a stop at Shirakawago

4 hoursFree Cancellation

4.2

(17)

from $71

Private Tour Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Hida Furukawa,Takayama

This tour is your shortcut to discovering scenic villages and towns in the Japanese countryside. Take the stress out of driving on unfamiliar rural roads by having a private driver for the day. Travel with ease between dispersed sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shirakawago, Hida Furukawa, and Takayama. You won’t feel rushed as there’s plenty of time to get out of the car and explore local sights on foot at each location.

Private Tour Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Hida Furukawa,Takayama

9 hoursFree Cancellation

(120)

from $467

Kanazawa Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide

4 to 6 hoursFree Cancellation

(64)

from $119

Beat the crowds that flock to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shirakawa-go by opting for this morning tour from Kanazawa. You'll arrive at the village bright and early, with plenty of time to explore the surrounding area. Snap photos of traditional houses, listen as your guide provides context and insight, and choose whether to try local foods such as ice cream made with sake, or Hida beef (own expense).

World Heritage Shirakawa-go Perfect Guided Tour from Kanazawa

5 hoursFree Cancellation

Taste Kanazawa’s Local Delicacies Try fresh sushi, croquettes, and other seasonal street foods at Omicho Market — known as “Kanazawa’s Kitchen.” Explore the Traditional Geisha District Wander through the charming Higashi Chaya with its wooden teahouses, gold-leaf shops, and cozy sake bars. Perfect Photo Opportunities Capture Instagram-worthy shots in hidden alleys and at scenic spots only locals know. ️ Friendly Local Guide Your guide will share fun stories about Kanazawa’s culture and daily life — easy to understand even if English isn’t your first language! ✨ Small Group Experience Enjoy a relaxed and personal tour with plenty of time to eat, chat, and explore at your own pace.

(844)

from $79

Kanazawa Food Tour: Omicho Market & Geisha District

Kanazawa Food Tour: Omicho Market & Geisha District

2 hoursFree Cancellation

Kanazawa Half Day E-bike Tour

(131)

from $45

The local guide Ti is explaining about Asanogawa river (Female river)

4 hoursFree Cancellation

(64)

from $125

From Kanazawa: Shirakawa-go, Gokayama and Wood Carving Village

9 hoursFree Cancellation

Embark on a culinary and cultural journey through Kanazawa, starting with a vibrant tasting experience at Omicho Market, where you'll savor the freshest seafood, local produce, and traditional delicacies. Next, stroll through the charming streets of Kazuemachi Chayagai, immersing yourself in the serene beauty of one of Kanazawa’s historic geisha districts, with its picturesque teahouses and rich cultural heritage. Conclude your adventure in the enchanting Higashi Chaya District, where you'll explore beautifully preserved teahouses, witness the elegance of the geisha district, and indulge in exquisite Japanese sweet tasting. This tour offers a unique blend of flavors, history, and artistry, making it an unforgettable experience in the heart of Kanazawa.

(118)

from $180

Taste of Kanazawa (Food tasting in Omicho Market & Higashi Chaya)

2 hoursFree Cancellation

In recent years Central Japan has become increasingly popular as a stop along the Tokyo to Kyoto “Golden Route”. The reason for this, simply stated, is that Central Japan offers every experience the traveler could desire from Japan, while also being located close to some of Japan’s largest cities, such as Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka. From majestic mountain peaks to delicious local sake, and of course the famous Snow Monkeys, our multiple day group tour of this amazing region of Japan will bring you to every location you dreamed of, and many you may not have heard of yet. Starting in Nagano and ending in Kanazawa, this tour is perfect for those wishing to move through central Japan and removes the necessity of dealing with train and bus transfers. While accommodation is not included, transport between all destinations and an English speaking guide are provided on every day of the tour, so you do not have to worry about the small things and can instead focus on enjoying your vacation time.

(92)

from $43

4 Days Central Japan Tour from Nagano to Kanazawa

4 Days Central Japan Tour from Nagano to Kanazawa

4 daysFree Cancellation

1 Day Private Charter Tour to Shirakawa-go & Takayama

(7)

from $701

8 hoursFree Cancellation

4.7

(280)

from $575

Per group

Kanazawa Machiya: Private Tea Ceremony with a Local Tea Master

From ¥9,900 p.p. (min. 2) | Same-day OK — book up to 2 hours before. Fully private, no strangers, just your group. A 19-year tea master guides you through authentic Enshu-ryū ceremony in a 100-year-old machiya in Kanazawa’s Nishi Chaya geisha district. Step inside a 100-year-old machiya in Kanazawa’s Nishi Chaya geisha district for a completely private tea ceremony. Your host Yuta has practiced tea for 19 years in the Enshu-ryū tradition, rooted in samurai culture. This is not a group workshop — it is an intimate ceremony performed exclusively for you, in a tea room with tatami and tokonoma alcove. During the 70-minute session, you will: · Watch a full tea ceremony demonstration · Whisk your own bowl of matcha. · Enjoy traditional dry sweets (higashi) · Ask anything — about tea, aesthetics, or Kanazawa · Take a commemorative photo Completely private. No other guests. No rush. English-guided throughout. Please note: · Socks recommended · Additional guests: ¥9,900/person (max 5)

Kanazawa Machiya: Private Tea Ceremony with a Local Tea Master

1 hour 10 minutesFree Cancellation

Visit Shirakawago in the Japanese Alps to see the historical and beautiful old thatched houses of Japan stand strong. These houses are over 150 years old and still are lived in today. After seeing the natural beauty of Shirakawago, head to Takayama to see the various traditional crafts the area keeps alive. Join one of our tour guides and learn about history and culture in a way that you would have never been able to on your own! This private and customizable tour will take you to Shirakawago and Takayama at your own pace. Once you place your reservation, a guide will be in touch with you to plan out the details of your tour. Be sure to let your guide know where you would like to visit and your interests so they can plan out an itinerary for you! If you will not have time to visit all the sights on your must-see list, contact us directly regarding extension fees. Learn about this world heritage site with us! We hope to guide you soon!

(31)

from $64

Shirakawa-go & Takayama by Car from Kanazawa, Licensed Guide

Shirakawa-go & Takayama by Car from Kanazawa, Licensed Guide

8 hoursFree Cancellation

4.0

(2)

from $553

Kanazawa: Castle & Samurai History Walking Tour

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What are people saying about Kanazawa

Ed_S, Aug 2026

Book this Tour!

Book this tour! Or any of his offerings. Don't think twice. His passion for the info was clear and he made a huge extra effort for us. Took the time to answer questions by whatsapp after the tour that he could not answer during the tour, requiring considerable research. This was the best tour guide of our entire 10 day trip to Japan.

Kanazawa Night Tour with Local Meal and Drinks

Linda_C, Aug 2026

Excellent introduction to Kanazawa

We thoroughly enjoyed this walking tour and would highly recommend it. Our guide, Saya, was excellent - knowledgeable, engaging, and wonderful at bringing Kanazawa’s history and culture to life. Walking through the historic geisha districts while learning about their traditions and the history of Kanazawa gave us a much deeper appreciation for the city. Saya shared just the right amount of information and made the experience feel relaxed and personal rather than like a history lesson. The evening ended with a meal at a traditional restaurant, which was excellent and a perfect way to complete the tour. The combination of history, culture, beautiful neighborhoods, local food, and a terrific guide made this our favorite experience in Kanazawa. Highly recommended!

Kanazawa Machiya: Private Tea Ceremony with a Local Tea Master

Brett_W, Aug 2026

The tea ceremony with...

The tea ceremony with Yuta was the most memorable occasion of our Japan holiday, the energy that was created in the tearoom left us very grateful that we had experienced a genuine guided ceremony with a true tea master The ongoing conversation after the ceremony was also enlightening thank you so much we would love to do this again.

World Heritage Shirakawa-go Perfect Guided Tour from Kanazawa

Wendy_O, Jul 2026

Great range of activities in a single tour.

Don’t be put off by the early start. It is well worth it. This small town was overwhelmed by tourists as we were leaving. We enjoyed being able to move around freely, without the long queues we saw forming as we were leaving. There was a lovely balance of activities.

[One-day bus tour departing from Kanazawa Station] Shirakawa-go and Gokayama - Two World Heritage Villages Enjoyable Bus Tour

Jennifer_W, Jul 2026

Great day trip

We took the tour with my father who’s in his late 70s my teenagers and my sister and brother-in-law. My dad said this tour was his favorite part of the trip. It was great to travel to these world heritage sites. The drive out was beautiful and our tour guide shared lots of information about what we would be seeing. We had lots of time at each stop to explore. The lunch stop was great and everyone enjoyed the food.

Kanazawa Private Tour with a Local – Highlights & Hidden Gems

Alexander_S, Jul 2026

A great window into Kanazawa's history

Our three hour walking tour of Kanazawa provided us with the perfect context to better understand the city and its history. Our tour guide Loic was both lively and highly informed. Touring the geisha district and the castle gardens, we learned a lot and saved a bunch of bookmarks to head back to and explore further with our remaining time here in the city. Thank you!

Private Tour Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Hida Furukawa,Takayama

Samantha_B, May 2026

A great day covering some of the lesser known areas.

It was great to sit back and have all the travel taken care of on this trip. My guide, Mai was so lovely and we chatted all about Japan & The uk together. So sweet and considerate. It felt like a real authentic taste of Japan. Thank you so much for great day!

[One-day bus tour departing from Kanazawa Station] Shirakawa-go/Takayama tour platinum route bus tour

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.

From Kanazawa: Shirakawa-go, Gokayama and Wood Carving Village

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

Kanazawa Full Day Tour (Private Guide)

Jamie_L, Mar 2026

Unforgettable Kanazawa with Jorge

We were able to see so many different sites and Jorge was knowedgeable about each of them. He took us to places we would have never been able to see on our own. Excellent communicator, sensitive to our needs and fully customized for us. Searched out great food options. He was one of the best guides we have ever had over the years.

Kanazawa Like a Local: Private & Personalized Experience 2-3 hrs

Jane_A, Mar 2026

We had a wonderful...

We had a wonderful evening stroll through the historic areas with Yuzuki. We found him very knowledgeable about the history of the area. Really enjoyed the back streets in the evening light and loved that we were able to enter the temples after dark, an unexpected experience. Ended the evening in an Izakaya, so fun!!! Thank you!

World Heritage Shirakawa-go and Experience Tours from Kanazawa

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!