Full-Day Tour from Kanazawa: Samurai, Matcha, Gardens and Geisha | 9 hours

24 Reviews | Kanazawa
From $156.47 per person Lowest Price Guarantee
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You can select up to 15 travelers in total.
Adult (13-100) Minimum: 1, Maximum: 15
2
Child (6-12) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 15
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Free Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Full-Day Tour from Kanazawa: Samurai, Matcha, Gardens and Geisha
2 Adults x $148.64
$297.28
Approx Total
$297.28

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • Matcha Tea and Wagashi Sweets at a Tea House
  • Entry to the Shima Chaya Preserved Geisha House
  • English Speaking Guide
  • Entry to the Kenrokuen Garden
  • Lunch

Overview

Our tour offers the best route to see all of Kanazawa's must-see spots, and many of its lesser known gems, in one day on foot. Our knowledgeable guides will ensure you come away with an enriched understanding of the culture of Kanazawa. Guests will also have the opportunity to try Matcha and traditional sweets at a historical tea house, allowing them to feel a connection to Kanazawa and its customs after only a short time. Please consider participating in this tour if you want to make the best of your time in Kanazawa on a course that is exhaustive but not exhausting.

Meeting points

Kanazawa Station
Japan, 〒920-0858 石川県金沢市木ノ新保町1番1号

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The meeting point is outside of the Shinkansen Ticket Gates, across the concourse and in front of the information center. Look for a four large sumo wrestlers under the information center sign. Be sure to look for our guide wearing the SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tag.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

  • Ashigaru Museum

    The tour starts with a visit to the Ashigaru Museum. Ashigaru is a word describing low ranking Samurai, and here you can enter two homes that once belonged to Ashigaru families in the days of the Samurai. Outside, you will find beautiful landscaping, and inside faithfully preserved rooms granting a glimpse into old-school Japanese life.

    1 hour

  • Ruins of Nagamachi Bukeyashiki

    Next, you will be led through the former Samurai District known as Nagamachi. Here, the streets still maintain their handsome appearance and the visitor would be forgiven for thinking they have somehow landed in Old Japan. With a number of shops selling local crafts on the street, you will also have a chance to window shop for some goodies to take home.

    1 hour

  • Oyama Shrine

    Leaving the Samurai District behind, the guide will lead you through the Oyama Shrine on your way to Kanazawa Castle. Unlike most shrines in Japan, the entry gate here is made of brick, an unusual choice that speaks to its unique history. You will also pass through a small but beautiful garden on the way out the back of the shrine towards the castle.

    40 minutes

  • Gyokusen-an

    Having entered the castle grounds, you will next have time for a Matcha tea experience while enjoying views over a centuries old garden that spreads out before you. The Gyokusen-an tea house is a splendid example of Japanese design, and their Matcha and wagashi sweets are sure to delight. (Occasionally there are events at this tea house so we will go to a different tea house to have matcha and sweets)

    1 hour

  • Kanazawa Castle

    On the way to the Kenroku-en Garden, the tour will take you through the grounds of Kanazawa Castle. Marvel at the scale of the restored buildings which stand majestic over an expansive lawn on the castle grounds while your guide teaches you a bit about the Samurai history of Kanazawa and the origins of its riches and success.

    20 minutes

  • Kenrokuen Garden

    After time for a lunch break in front of the Kenrokuen Garden, we will enter into this breathtaking display of traditional Japanese design concepts. Stroll through the gardens, enjoy views over the city, and maybe even enter the home of the former Lord of Kanazawa's wife.

    1 hour 30 minutes

  • Higashi Chaya District

    Enjoy a taste of traditional tea district and Geisha culture at Higashi-chaya. Here, streets lined with fashionable tea houses from centuries ago await you, filled with eateries and craft shops. You will have free time after a guided walk to wander the streets here for yourself and perhaps have some ice cream or takoyaki topped with sheets of gold leaf.

    1 hour

  • Ochaya Shima

    The tour will next take you inside a tea house, or Chaya, once inhabited by Geisha and frequented by their wealthy patrons. The colorful walls and musical instruments here showcase the wealth and charming atmosphere of the Kanazawa tea districts in the golden days of the city. Your guide will be happy to answer any geisha related questions you may have.

    30 minutes

  • Kazuemachi Chayagai

    Leaving Higashi Chaya, we will pass by the Kazuemachi tea district on the way back to the station. Less crowded than Higashi Chaya, in this tea district Geisha still entertain customers, and if you are lucky you can hear the soft sound of a shamisen being plucked emanating from one of the small sidestreets.

    30 minutes

  • Omicho Market

    Finally, your guide will lead you through the Omicho Market. A staple of Kanazawa food culture, guests who wish to leave the tour here for dinner are free to do so. Otherwise, the guide will escort you back to the station.

    30 minutes

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • 1 hour short of the posted 9 hours because there is a 1 hour lunch break that is included in the tour. The customers are able to choose their own restaurant to eat at with recommendations from the guide at this time.

Free Cancellation

April 26100% refund
April 27No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

4.8

24 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    23
  • 4 stars
    0
  • 3 stars
    0
  • 2 stars
    0
  • 1 star
    1

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 23 reviews with 5 stars

Amazing!

Published on Nov, 2024

This was a great experience and so helpful to get to know Kanazawa gems. Lee was an amazing tour guide who wanted to make sure we all got to know the best of Kanazawa. The tea house experience is so amazing.

Smorgasbord of Japanese history and culture

Published on Nov, 2024

A fabulous informative walking tour that provided a wonderful insight into Kanazawa. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, spoke fluent English and Japanese and was able to delve deeper into topics based on the needs of the small group. We covered all aspects outlined in the tour and he customised the amount of time we spent on each activity based on preference. A real smorgasbord of Japanese history and culture on offer. This is a full day walking tour so comfortable shoes and a reasonable level of fitness is required however it is a wonderful way to experience Kanazawa.

Highly recommended for a first full day in Kanazawa

Published on Oct, 2024

Honestly so much if this was a great tour as a first timer into Kanazawa. It was a great overview of some of the areas and history as we walked between each major point on the tour. My guide, Mike, was very knowledgeable about everything and made sure to point out some interesting shops as well as offer time to explore between each destination. My favorite part, though, was probably getting to sit quietly and drink matcha while looking out into a peaceful garden. I could have sat there all day.

Local guided tour of the best of Kanazawa

Published on Oct, 2024

This was an excellent way to see the city with an experienced guide who knew the shortcuts and back stories. Lee is a personable and caring guide. Because Lee lives here, he has a real version of life in Kanazawa. Loved the tea at Kerokuen gardens. I learned a lot at the Chaya district and have a better appreciation for the Geisha life and traditions. Cute little shops where I was able to stop in a buy a few local made crafts.

Kanazawa in a day

Published on Oct, 2024

Lee was a great tour guide. We saw all the top sights and learned a lot. Lee gave good explanations and kept us on schedule.

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