Historic City Sights with Garden Stroll and Tea Experience with a Real Local
Joined 2025
Kanazawa, once Japan’s wealthiest domain, lies on the Sea of Japan coast. Despite its small size, it’s full of culture, history, and charm. You’ll see Samurai Districts, Kanazawa Castle, Kenroku-en Garden, and Higashi Chaya tea district — famous for scenic streets, roasted green tea, and shimmering gold-leaf treats. Let an experienced guide help you explore its beauty and hidden stories to see the very best of this wonderful city.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Either of 2 Starbucks locations.
- Starbucks Forus 1fl (Kanazawa Station East Exit) or Starbucks M'ZA (across from Omicho market in the M'ZA building street facing)
Ashigaru and Nagamachi Samurai District.
Meet, get acquainted and then head out to our first area:
These first two areas boast modest wooden homes once belonging to Kanazawa’s low-ranking foot soldiers, offering a glimpse into their simple, everyday lives. Then to a historic quarter where samurai families once lived, with narrow lanes, earthen walls, and traditional gates preserving its feudal charm.
Oyama Shrine and Tea House
The Oyama Shrine is dedicated to Maeda Toshiie, the first lord of Kaga, Oyama Shrine is known for its unique gate blending Japanese, Chinese, and Western styles. Its peaceful gardens and pond offer a serene retreat in the heart of Kanazawa.
After that we will head out for Matcha Tea at one of two garden locations on our way to the Kanazawa castle grounds. You will enjoy a beautiful rich matcha tea it in front of one of two beautiful garden ponds experiences.
Kanazawa Castle Grounds and Kenroku-en Garden
As we head off Kanazawa Castle Grounds, Once the seat of the powerful Maeda clan, Kanazawa Castle features impressive stone walls, gates, and reconstructed turrets. Its spacious grounds reflect the city’s feudal past and offer scenic views year-round, then Kenroku-en Garden.
One of Japan’s most celebrated landscape gardens, Kenroku-en is famous for its graceful ponds, teahouses, and carefully designed scenery that changes beautifully with each season.
Lunch
Either we can break for lunch and you guys can choose to go to a place if you're choosing, or you can join me for one of my favorite spots for lunch.
East Chaya & Kazue Geisha / Tea Districts
We will head towards the East Chaya and Kazue Districts that is one of the main highlights of the day. It will be a leisurely walk after lunch through charming backstreets to the Higashi Chaya and Kazue-machi geisha and tea districts — historic areas of wooden teahouses, narrow lanes, and a timeless atmosphere where geisha traditions live on and see the INS and outs of life in the gated district.
Heading back towards Omicho Market and Station
Depending on your pickup spot, either or, we will pass by Omicho Market where I will leave you with a bunch of recommendations for the rest of your evening and suggest some other things that you can do in Kanazawa if you so choose. On the way back there are a bunch of beautiful picture spots with beautiful sunsets and along the Asano River on certain days during the summer, both the Moon and Sun rise and fall over it if we are lucky.
Ending Point
Omicho M'ZA Starbucks or Kanazawa Station.
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
• Guide fee
• Tea House
• Gardens
• Lunch
• Shops
• ※Transportation (Taxi, Bus)※
※This is a walking tour, but under certain conditions due to ability or weather the guide can arrange a flexible re-meeting spot if needed, but in this tour it is aimed to be walked at a reasonably easy pace.
Tour Important Information
This tour includes several hours of walking outdoors, so please wear comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for the weather. We recommend checking the forecast in advance and bringing an umbrella or raincoat if needed.
During winter months, daytime temperatures can fall below 10°C, and early mornings or evenings may drop to 0°C or lower. Snow and ice are common, so warm clothing and slip-resistant footwear are strongly advised.
There will be free time throughout the tour to explore each location at your own pace. Please be sure to return to the meeting points at the time your guide indicates.
※ If you every feel that on certain hot/cold days you prefer to take a quick taxi/Uber or bus due or to other factors, please understand that it isn't included in the tour.
The guide can ride with you if you chose or the guide (Lee) will meet you at an arranged spot. Please see that it isn't included in the cost of the tour. Although, I will most certainly assist in recommended meeting spots and near by cafe's, or hailing a cab if you need it (^ ^)d.
• I maybe flexible if asked.
• Start time is flexible between 9 am and 10:30am.
Important message from the supplier
Note for Extraordinary Travelers:
While I am based out of Kanazawa, I also offer guiding in nearby destinations with the same range of deep insights, activities and knowledge of local life for the last 300 years. These areas include: Shirakawa-go, Ainokura, Takayama, Matsumoto and various winter spots among others. All are within a two hour radius of Kanazawa city.
If you're interested in exploring beyond Kanazawa, I can also guide you outside the city and have a licensed logistical partner with driver for private tours for up to 8 guests. Together, we can further assist you in your destination planning in our area.
Please contact me in advance for details and planning to see how we can achieve them within guide protocols. I’ll help figure out the best way to make it happen!
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2025
About Tour Guide Lee S.
Welcome to Hokuriku! I’m based in Kanazawa and would love to show you around not just the famous sights, but also the everyday beauty and hidden corners that make this region special. I also provide winter tours and have a logistics team for your expedient comfort needs and convenience.
Whether you're strolling through samurai districts, sampling fresh seafood at a local market, or soaking in the peaceful atmosphere of mountain villages like Takayama, Shirakawa-go or Ainokura among many more, I’ll help you experience Japan in a way that feels personal, relaxed, and real.
I grew up in BC Canada with friends from all over the world, and now call Japan home. I speak conversational Japanese and understand both the traveler’s curiosity and the local rhythm of life. That means I can help bridge the gap, so you feel comfortable and connected wherever we go.
Every tour is flexible—if the weather shifts or something catches your eye, we can adapt. My goal is to make your time here smooth, engaging, and full of insight.
Let’s explore Hokuriku together, one story, flavor, and moment at a time.
$121/ per person
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