I am originally from Kanazawa and I would like to tailor your Kanazawa tour only for you. Kanazawa is different from cosmopolitan cities like Tokyo and Osaka, but you can see well preserved Japanese culture and history. Please feel free to contact me what you want to visit and see. I will make an itenerary based on your request. Here is my propsosed itinerary but I am very flexible on it.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel or JR Kanazawa station
Omicho Market
Kenrokuen Garden
Kenrokuen in Kanazawa is justifiably classified as one of Japan's "three most beautiful landscape gardens" alongside Mito's Kairakuen and Okayama's Korakuen. The spacious grounds used to be the outer garden of Kanazawa Castle and were constructed by the ruling Maeda family over a period of nearly two centuries. Opened to the public in 1871, Kenrokuen features a variety of flowering trees which provide the garden with a different look for each season.
Kanazawa Castle Park
Kanazawa Castle was the residence of the Maeda clan, feudal rulers of the Kaga Domain (modern-day southern Ishikawa Prefecture). The first clan lord, Maeda Toshiie, entered the fortifications in 1583 and began rebuilding an impressive castle there. Kanazawa Castle had a large keep, multiple turrets and a palace, but the structures were destroyed by fires in 1602, 1631, and 1759. The oldest surviving structure is Kanazawa Castle Park’s symbolic Ishikawa-mon, built in 1788. the Hishi Yagura, Gojukken Nagaya, and the Hashizume-mon Tsuzuki Yagura have been faithfully reproduced based on old drawings and documents, making it an ideal location to experience a Japanese castle.
Lunch break
Please let me know if you have any food allergies, dietary restrictions, and preferences with your budget. Teppanyaki, Udon, Ramen, Curry rice, highend Omakase and so on.
Nagamachi Samurai District & Nomura house
Nagamachi was a samurai district located at the foot of the former Kanazawa Castle, where samurai and their families used to reside. The area preserves a historic atmosphere with its remaining residences, earthen walls, private entrance gates, narrow lanes and water canals.
One of the main attractions of the district is the centrally located Nomura-ke, a restored samurai residence displaying the lifestyle and artifacts of the era when samurai were prosperous.
Higashi Tea House Street
A chaya (lit. teahouse) is an exclusive type of restaurant where guests are entertained by geisha who perform song and dance. During the Edo Period (1603 - 1868), chaya were found in designated entertainment districts, usually just outside the city limits. You may want tp try a gold leaf workshops at a gallery for a hands-on experience
Ending Point
At your hotel or JR Kanazawa station
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Guide fee up to 8 participants,
¥2,000 for transportations for guide(including round trip fare from home to your hotel)
Costs for foods & drink (around 2,000 yen per person) for you and guide, entrance fee for you and the guide.
-Kenrokuen 320yen per person, free for above 65 years old with ID.
-Nomura House 550yen per person. No entrance fee for the guide.
Transportation for participants (around 800 yen per person)
Please note that above costs are needed on the day of the tour.
We mainly use public bus and our own feet. However, if you prefer taking a taxi or renting a car with professional driver, please feel free to ask.
If you have food restrictions or allergies, please feel free to tell me.
Walking distance per tour.
Walking only: 10-12km walk
Walking and bus 7-8km walk
Walking and taxi 5-6km walk
Hello,
I'm Yoji, based in Kanazawa.
I spent my formative years in Kanazawa and pursued my master's degree in the United States. Having lived in Washington D.C. and California for six years, I then resided and worked in China and various Southeast Asian countries. My passion lies in exploring new destinations and connecting with people worldwide. Now, it's my turn to extend the same hospitality I've received to you. I specialize in crafting personalized tours tailored to your interests and preferences. If you're a food enthusiast, you've come to the right place. For those seeking to delve into Japan's rich history and culture, I highly recommend joining my full-day tour in Kanazawa. Additionally, I offer tours to Shirakawago and Takayama. Let's embark on an unforgettable journey together.
Michele M.
“Personalized and Unforgettable day trip from Tokyo”
We had a fantastic day trip to Kanazawa from Tokyo with Yoji. He tailored the tour to fit the time we had there. He picked us up by car, which made getting around Kanazawa so much easier given the limited time we had. Yoji speaks fluent English, which made communication easy, and his laid-back personality made the experience relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable. He was incredibly accommodating—my husband wanted to photograph the backstreets, and Yoji took us to some amazing hidden spots. He even went out of his way to spend extra time with us and helped us rebook our Shinkansen tickets back to Tokyo. Kanazawa is well worth the trip, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Japan. We did several private day tours during our stay, and our tour with Yoji was one of our favorites. If we’d had more time in Japan, we would have loved to book another tour with him to explore the surrounding areas that are only accessible by car. Side note: If you have the time, stop by the quaint shaved ice shop Yeti—the shaved ice was absolutely delicious! Thank you, Yoji!
Yoji K.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a wonderful comment for my review. I actually had a great time too and found myself wishing we had one more day together. Out of all the cities you could have chosen for your limited travel time, I’m truly grateful you picked Kanazawa—and that you chose me as your guide. The shaved ice shop was a great find! I’d love to try it myself next time, and with the weather getting warmer, I’m definitely planning to take more guests there. I hope this trip becomes a lasting and memorable experience for you. Again, thank you very much for giving me such a great time with you. Best regards, Yoji
Debbie C.
“Awesome Guide!”
Having Yoji as our guide in Kanazawa was the best decision we made on this trip! My family and I was a group of 6 and were fortunate enough to have Yoji show us around the city. He was so accommodating, patient, caring, and informative. Originally the tour was a walking tour but we requested a private car and Yoji made it happen. We were able to fit in all the destinations we wanted to see and although it was a packed day, we did not feel rushed at all. Coming into Kanazawa, we did not have have much expectations and Yoji made this trip memorable. He walked with us to each site, gave us the history and info about each place, but also never once rushed us. He ate with us, he made reservations for dinner for us, gave us recommendations, I can go on and on. He understood what my family liked and did his best to accommodate us. He even found a local sushi restaurant to accommodate our group because we wanted a sit-down place to eat. At the market, we tried the fresh scallops -- it was soooooo delicious. He even bought us some fried puffer fish to try and paid it out of his own pocket. These were items we would have never tried had it not been for his suggestion. My 5 star review is just another of the same because how can anyone give him anything less? He is simply the best. Yoji, thank you so much for taking the time to show my family and I around your city. Thank you also for your kindness in helping us around the train station! We wish you and your family the best in your next endeavors!
Yoji K.
Debbie san, Thank you so much for such a kind and heartfelt review. It truly means a lot to me. I had a wonderful time as well and genuinely enjoyed every moment we shared. First of all, thank you for taking the time to visit Kanazawa, and for choosing me as your guide. Just reading your comments fills me with gratitude and reminds me how rewarding this job can be. If the tour became even a small part of your memorable experience, that makes me incredibly happy. Thank you again for giving me such a precious opportunity. Kind regards, Yoji
Suzanne C.
“Wonderful day with Yoji”
We had a wonderful day with Yoji in Kanazawa. he was a great guide and we all learned a lot. On top of being a fabulous guide, he was very helpful in assisting some of our group navigate Japan. I will contact him again for further group tours.
Yoji K.
Thank you very much for such a great review on my tour. I had a great time with you. I hope all of you enjoyed the day with me and the rest of your stay in Japan including Awaji. I hope to see you again!
$428/ per group