Ryokan in Kanazawa

金沢

A castle town near the Sea of Japan coast with Kenroku-en, one of Japan's three great gardens, and old teahouse and samurai districts. The Hokuriku Shinkansen reaches it from Tokyo in 2.5 to 3 hours. For a hot spring, Yuwaku Onsen is in the hills south-east of the city.

Choosing an area in Kanazawa

Map of Kanazawa with a dot for each ryokan and rings at Kanazawa Station, Higashi Chaya, Kenroku-en and Yuwaku Onsen — © OpenStreetMap

Kanazawa Station 金沢駅
By the Shinkansen station, with buses to every part of the city.
Higashi Chaya ひがし茶屋街
The largest of the city's preserved geisha districts, across the Asano River.
Kenroku-en 兼六園
Around the garden and the castle park in the centre of the city.
Yuwaku Onsen 湯涌温泉
A small hot spring in the hills south-east of the city.

Kanazawa through the year

Spring春
March to May
Cherry trees first bloom around 3 April in an average year; Kenroku-en is among Ishikawa's best places for blossom.
Summer夏
June to August
Over three days around the first Saturday of June, the Hyakumangoku Matsuri marks the first lord Maeda Toshiie's entry into Kanazawa Castle with a costumed procession.
Autumn秋
September to November
The snow crab season opens in early November, and the maples in Kenroku-en turn later in the month. In October Yuwaku Onsen holds its lantern festival, the Bonbori Matsuri.
Winter冬
December to February
From November to March, ropes tied in cones (yukitsuri) hold up the branches of Kenroku-en's pines against the heavy wet snow.