Kanazawa Walking Tour: Kenrokuen, Samurai Culture & Geisha District
3 hours
(20)
Explore Kanazawa’s top spots on this fun half-day walking tour. Visit Omicho Market, Kenrokuen Garden, and Higashi Chaya District, and enjoy matcha tea with sweets. Learn about the city’s history and culture from a friendly local guide while soaking in the beautiful sights.
3-hour guided tour with a local guide
Kenrokuen Garden admission
Kaga Yuzen studio visit with mini hands-on experience
Hidden samurai residence admission
Matcha and traditional sweets
Historic geisha house admission
Photos taken during the tour (shared after the experience)
The meeting point is in front of the large red torii gate at Kanazawa Shrine. It is about a 5-minute taxi ride from the Korinbo area. By bus, it is located across from the Kokuritsu Kogeikan / Kenritsu Bijutsukan bus stop, near the National Crafts Museum and Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art.
Yes, it is a hands-on experience. A Kaga Yuzen artisan will guide you through the basics, and you will try a short painting step (about 10 minutes) as a group. Depending on group size, participants may work together to complete one motif.
Yes. You will have time to browse and purchase Kaga Yuzen crafts and souvenirs during the tour. Items are made using traditional techniques, and credit cards are accepted. If you wish to shop, please let your guide know and they will assist you.
The tour involves approximately 3 km (about 1.9 miles) of walking in total.
The tour is not very steep overall, but it includes some uneven garden paths and a few stair sections, such as inside the geisha house and Kaga Yuzen studio.
Please wear comfortable walking clothes and easy-on, easy-off shoes, as you may be required to remove your shoes at some locations.
The tour runs in light rain, so please bring a rain jacket or umbrella. In case of severe weather, we will notify you in advance about any changes or cancellations for safety reasons.
I really enjoyed this tour. In addition to seeing some of Kanazawa highlights, we got to visit a master artisan in his studio and drink tea in a geisha teahouse. Our guide was super knowledgeable. He went above and beyond to give us suggestions about what else to see after the tour, and he helped us find a sushi restaurant for lunch.
Janet F
June 3, 2026
Walking tour
The kimono workshop samurai house and geishat teahouse tour was vey interesting the guided gardens tour was very good
raymond s
May 15, 2026
Janet F
June 3, 2026
Great tour!
I really enjoyed this tour. In addition to seeing some of Kanazawa highlights, we got to visit a master artisan in his studio and drink tea in a geisha teahouse. Our guide was super knowledgeable. He went above and beyond to give us suggestions about what else to see after the tour, and he helped us find a sushi restaurant for lunch.
raymond s
May 15, 2026
Walking tour
The kimono workshop samurai house and geishat teahouse tour was vey interesting the guided gardens tour was very good
