The best free activities in Kanazawa

Visit Kanazawa on a budget

Authentic Japan is on offer for visitors to Kanazawa, thanks to its geisha neighborhoods and the old samurai district. The castle, traditional houses, crafts, gardens and museums all make Kanazawa a city to put on your list. The icing on the cake: many of the sites are free. So why not visit the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture?

Kanazawa

Kenroku Garden

Located in the southeastern extension of the castle park, Kenroku-en is one of Japan's three most famous gardens. Good news for early risers, the Renchi-mon and Zuishinzaka gates open from 5am from September to October, and 6am from November to February.

Visitors can enter and walk around the garden free of charge until 7.45 am, which is 15 minutes before the regular opening time.

Entry to Kenroku-en is also free after the gates close (at 17.30 from March 1 to October 15 and 16.30 from October 16 to February 28/29) during seasonal illuminations.

These are held in February for the snowy landscape, in April for the sakura and in autumn for the foliage. Kenroku-en then turns into a nighttime fantasy that can be admired until the closing time, at 20:45.

The garden is also free during the Hyakunmangoku festival, which takes place on the first weekend of June, as well as during Obon festival in August and Culture Day on November 3rd.

Kenroku-en, Kanazawa

The museum has a 300 yen entrance fee, but access to the Water Mirror Garden is free. Don't miss it, as the atmosphere there is unique.

The peaceful water of the garden is disturbed from time to time by the water jets of a fountain placed under the water, making the surface of the basin undulate. The sky is reflected as well as the white and red wall located further behind.

Behind this wall is a sculpture reminiscent of the symbolic elements of Zen: a circle, a square and a triangle. If it's open, the door in the wall there leads to Shofukaku garden (mentioned above).

The "water mirror" contemplative space Suzuki museum in Kanazawa.

The Water Mirror Garden, a contemplative space at the D.T. Suzuki museum in Kanazawa.

DT Suzuki Museum

Our houses in Kanazawa

Higashiyama, Kanazawa

  • 59m²
  • 4 travelers
  • WIFI

Kanazawa Station, Kanazawa

  • 45m²
  • 3 travelers
  • WIFI

Higashiyama, Kanazawa

  • 100m²
  • 5 travelers
  • WIFI

Higashiyama, Kanazawa

  • 120m²
  • 8 travelers
  • WIFI

Katamachi, Kanazawa

  • 61m²
  • 5 travelers
  • WIFI

Higashiyama, Kanazawa

  • 69m²
  • 4 travelers
  • WIFI
Discover our Houses in Kanazawa (6)

Our activities in Kanazawa

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  • Location : Kanazawa
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Our tours in Kanazawa

  • Duration : 13 days
  • Locations : Tokyo, Hakone Mt Fuji, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Miyajima
  • Included : Visits & meals, English-speaking tour leader, Hotel temple, 3*/4* Hotels & Ryokan
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