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

4.8

18 Ratings

Kanazawa

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 - Discover the impeccably maintained district of the Nagamachi samurai
IMPORTANT: Given that this is a bespoke and intimate tour, the actual sites you explore may vary from the ones mentioned, as they will be tailored to your personal tastes and inclinations
Omicho Market - Wander through Omicho Market, known as the ‘Kitchen of Kanazawa’, and savor its renowned croquettes
IMPORTANT: Since this is a custom and private tour, the locations you visit may be different from those listed, selected by your host to align with your personal interests and preferences
Kanazawa Castle - Delve into the storied Kanazawa Castle, the former stronghold of the Maeda samurai lineage
IMPORTANT: This being a unique and individualized tour, the destinations you see may not be the same as those indicated, as they will be handpicked by your host to suit your specific interests and preferences
Kanazawa - Experience the splendor of Kenroku-en, one of the top three celebrated gardens in Japan
IMPORTANT: As this tour is tailored and private, the spots you explore may not match the ones listed, as they will be selected by your host based on what you like and prefer
Higashi Chaya District - Explore the renowned Higashi Chaya entertainment quarter and attempt to catch a glimpse of a rare geisha
IMPORTANT: This being a personalized and intimate journey, the venues you visit may differ from those specified, as they will be chosen by your host reflecting your personal interests and preferences

What's Included

4 hours with a host
Private and personalized experience
Walking experience

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

4.8

(18 Ratings)

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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

B8825zoch

Apr 4, 2024

A wonderful Day in Kanazawa - Karolina B. is an EXCELLENT tour guide. I believe she works for CityUnscripted. Karolina is very knowledgeable about the places we visited and their history. She emailed us after we booked the tour date asking us about the preferred sites and attractions we wished to see. She kept in constant communication with us until the day of the tour. On the day of the tour, she arrived early and waited for us in the lobby. We had originally booked a half-day tour but ended up going over our half-day due to the list of sites we wanted to see and the time we spent at each. She never complained but planned the day around our needs. She is very personable and accommodating. We enjoyed our time with her and would highly recommend her to anyone booking this tour.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Clyde_d

Apr 1, 2024

Great guide - Jorge was exceptionally knowledgeable and gave a great tour. He was well prepared. Got to meet his family by chance and found his wife a local resident. We met him at the train station on a shuttle from the cruise ship. He spent extra time so we could see all his favorite sights. Highly recommend Jorge who is dedicated to us as much as possible. Caters to your interests.

Review provided by Viator

Paul_c

Mar 26, 2024

A great day in Kanazawa - Moha is a fantastic tour guide who speaks fluent English, Japanese and a few other languages. He was very accommodating to our requests. Thanks to Moha we had a great day in Kanazawa!

Review provided by Viator

Katherine_h

Mar 10, 2024

Great guide - Our trip was great, Jorge was very knowledgeable regarding the history of the city, and it’s buildings. We particularly enjoyed the market as my husband has worked in catering and service in our military in the past. He was also able to tailor our visits to our interest. His recommendations for our time in Kanazawa were really good. His offer to help us if we had any problems was very reassuring. We really appreciate Jorge kindness.

Review provided by Viator

Nicola_b

Jan 17, 2024

Picturesque and informative. Fantastic tour. - History and background made it an invaluable experience of sights we would never have seen on our own. Excellent tour.

Review provided by Viator

Mischa_l

Nov 6, 2023

Highlights of Kanazawa - I had a great time exploring Kanazawa with Lucy. The route of the walking tour was very well planned that we covered all the key sights of interest. As a long-time expat resident in Kanazawa, Lucy brought both the local insights and the foreign perspectives. Knowing that I'm vegan, she also kindly offered tips on local restaurants with vegan options. I felt lucky, being able to walk around a charming city on a sunny day with a knowledgeable guide who has a great personality.

Review provided by Viator

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up to 10 guests

1 Adult