If Tokyo is Japan’s heartbeat and Kyoto is its soul, Kanazawa is its best-kept secret. Tucked along the Sea of Japan coast, this city somehow escaped the Second World War’s destruction, leaving behind an extraordinarily well-preserved historic core — samurai districts, geisha teahouses, one of Japan’s top three gardens and a seafood market that will ruin you for every other fish market forever.
We spent Days 1 and 2 of our 10-day Japan winter trip here, arriving via train from Kansai Airport and leaving thoroughly obsessed. Here’s everything you need to know.
Departing from Singapore
Our flight was a red-eye flight, departing from Singapore at 1:30am. After checking in, we head over to the SilverKris lounge for a light bite and drinks, running though our itinerary so we have a clear idea of what we are going to do for upon arrival.
Boarding time! The carrot cake is still one of my favourite item to order when flying with Singapore Airlines. It’s so good!
Getting to Kanazawa
The most scenic and straightforward route from Kansai Airport is by train: Kansai Airport → Shin-Osaka → Tsuruga → Kanazawa. The full journey takes approximately 2 hours 30 minutes and costs around SGD 105.35 per adult. Reserved seats are recommended, especially during the New Year travel period when trains fill up fast.
You’ll arrive at Kanazawa Station — itself worth a moment of pause. The iconic Tsuzumimon Gate (the giant wooden drum gate structure outside the east exit) is one of the most photographed spots in the city, and for good reason. It makes for a great first photo of the trip.
Where to Stay: Hotel Torifito Kanazawa
We stayed at Hotel Torifito Kanazawa, just a 5-minute walk from Kanazawa Station, and it was a solid choice for the location and price point at SGD 180 per night.
The room itself is compact by Western standards — but functional. We had enough space to open two large suitcases simultaneously, which is genuinely the only metric that matters when you’re mid-trip. The hotel also features a public bath, which is a nice touch for a business-class hotel in this price range. If you’re after a straightforward, well-located base to explore from, Torifito delivers.
Day 1 in Kanazawa
Omicho Market (近江町市場)
Start your Kanazawa experience here. Omicho Market is the city’s oldest and most beloved public market — a lively, covered arcade packed with fresh seafood stalls, fruit vendors, local produce and the kind of small-town market energy that’s increasingly hard to find in Japan’s bigger cities.
The market’s most famous residents are its snow crabs (zuwaigani), displayed on beds of ice and priced by size. They’re expensive, but the sight alone is worth the walk-through. For eating, head to Omicho Ichiba Sushi (近江町市場寿し 本店), a sushi counter right inside the market. The fish is as fresh as it gets — served on a wooden board, simply and confidently. No theatre, no performance. Just excellent sushi at a fair price.
Before you leave, swing by Kanazawa Pudding Tei (金沢プリン亭) for one of their gold-bar puddings. It’s a famous Kanazawa souvenir snack and genuinely delicious — smooth, lightly caramelised and the right size for a market snack.
Kanazawa Castle Park (金沢城公園)
A 10-minute walk from Omicho brings you to Kanazawa Castle Park, one of the city’s most significant historic sites. The castle served as the seat of the powerful Maeda clan during the Edo period — the second most powerful feudal family in Japan after the Tokugawa shogunate. What you see today is a beautifully reconstructed version of the original, with distinctive lead-grey roof tiles that are unique to this castle.
Admission is free and the park is open daily from 7:00am to 6:00pm. Budget about an hour here, more if you want to explore the interior exhibitions.
Oyama Shrine Shinmon Gate (尾山神社 神門)
End the afternoon at Oyama Shrine, a 5-minute walk from the castle grounds. The shrine’s most striking feature is its Shinmon Gate — a three-storey structure that is one of the most architecturally unusual gates in Japan, blending Japanese, Dutch and Gothic elements into something you genuinely won’t see anywhere else. The top storey is fitted with stained glass panels that were originally used as a lighthouse to guide ships into Kanazawa Port. The garden behind the shrine is peaceful and beautifully maintained.
📍 11-1 Oyamamachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0918 ⏰ Daily 8:00am – 6:00pm
Dinner: Kanazawa Katsuzo (金沢かつぞう 金沢駅あんと店)
For dinner, head back towards the station and into the Antoビル building to find Kanazawa Katsuzo. This is a katsu specialist — and not just any katsu. We ordered the pork loin, chicken fillet and, the real highlight, puffer fish (fugu) katsu. The fugu is a must-try: delicate, slightly chewy white flesh in a crispy golden coating. It’s not cheap, but this is Kanazawa — the seafood game is on another level here.
📍 Located at Kanazawa Train Station (Anto Building) ⏰ Daily 11:00am – 9:30pm
Day 2 in Kanazawa
Kimono Rental: Kimono Karen (花恋)
If you do one thing in Kanazawa, make it this: rent a kimono for the day. We went with Kimono Karen (花恋), which offers a great selection of men’s hakama sets. The rental process is straightforward, the staff are helpful and you get to spend the entire day wandering Kanazawa’s historic districts in full traditional dress.
Pro tip: book Day 2 for the kimono rental so you get a full day’s use across multiple locations.
Kenroku-en (兼六園)
One of Japan’s three great gardens — and it shows. Kenroku-en is meticulous, expansive and jaw-dropping in every season. In winter, the trees are fitted with yukitsuri — the distinctive rope-and-pole snow protection structures that radiate outward from a central pole and have become one of the defining visual symbols of Kanazawa in winter.
The garden covers 11.4 hectares and can take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours to walk through properly. Every corner is a composed photograph. Wearing a kimono here amplifies the whole experience considerably.
⏰ Open daily (hours vary by season — check ahead for winter timings)
Edomachidori Avenue (茶店通り / 江戸町通り)
A quiet, stone-paved street lined with old machiya townhouses and small craft shops. Edomachidori feels genuinely preserved rather than touristified — it’s the kind of street you slow down on instinctively. Perfect for a mid-afternoon wander in kimono.
Higashi Chaya District (ひがし茶屋街)
Kanazawa’s Eastern Teahouse District is the city’s most iconic neighbourhood — rows of beautifully preserved wooden machiya buildings that once housed geisha houses and tea ceremonies. Today the ground floors host matcha cafes, craft shops and gold leaf studios (Kanazawa produces 99% of Japan’s gold leaf). The streets are narrow, the light is gorgeous in the afternoon and the whole district photographs beautifully.
Go in the late afternoon for softer light and fewer crowds.
On our way back, we headed back to the Omicho Market (近江町市場) to grab more food, since our lunch was pretty simple (a bowl of nice and comforting udon). Tried the viral croquettes, which tasted pretty good. There wasn’t a long queue since they were near closing when we arrived.
Practical Tips for Kanazawa
Getting around: Kanazawa is walkable between most attractions, or you can use the Kanazawa Loop Bus which connects all major sights for a flat fare.
Weather: Kanazawa is one of Japan’s rainiest cities — pack a compact umbrella regardless of season. In winter, expect cold, overcast days with occasional snow.
Best time to visit: Winter (December–February) for the yukitsuri rope structures and a quieter crowd. Spring for cherry blossom along the castle moat.
How many days: 2 full days is the right amount for a first visit. Day 1 for the market and historic sites, Day 2 for the garden and chaya districts in kimono.
Budget guide (per person, per day):
- Hotel Torifito Kanazawa: SGD 180/night
- Train from Kansai Airport: SGD 105.35/adult
- Kanazawa Castle: Free
- Oyama Shrine: Free
- Kenroku-en: JPY 320/adult
- Kimono rental (Kimono Karen): varies by package
Next up in this series: Shirakawa-go & Takayama — a UNESCO World Heritage village in a snowstorm and two days in Japan’s most beautifully preserved mountain city.
Follow along on Instagram @darrenbloggie for the full photo series.
