ITINERARIES

4 days & 3 nights

Kanazawa and Kaga hot spring resorts
After the fun activities in Kanazawa, head to Kaga, located in thesouthwestern part of Ishikawa. Kaga is a peaceful area and home tofour unique hot spring resorts. It is equally blessed with a great
diversity of natural landscapes and a rich cultural heritage.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS‒ Stay at Ryokan, the traditional Japanese inn in Kaga tosoak in hot spring spa surrounded by serene nature‒ Enjoy a stroll on the waterside trail in picturesque andcolorful Kakusenkei Gorge‒ Get in touch with the history of Kitamaebune merchantship and world-famous Kutani-yaki porcelain

Kanazawa
Kaga

ITINERARYITINERARYDay
Activities

StayDay 1Kanazawa
Visit Nagamachi Samurai District, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Kanazawa
Art, Kanaza and D.T. Suzuki Museum.

Day 2

Kanazawa
Visit Omicho Market, Kanazawa Castle Park, Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa
Higashi Chaya District. Join Japanese cooking class.

Day 3

Kaga
Kaga
Onsen
Depart by express train to Kaga. Visit Kitamaebune Ship Museum,Resorts
Hashitate Fishing Port and Amagozen Cape.

Day 4

Kaga
Visit Kakusenkei Gorge, Yuge-kaido Street and Natadera Temple.

View on Google MapDay 1
12:00 Arrive at Kanazawa Station

1(Lunch: Kanazawa Station)

14:00 Nagamachi Samurai District ［長町武家屋敷］
Nagamachi is a well-preserved neighborhood of samurai houses. The cobblestone
streets and tiled earthen walls are characteristic of wealthier samurai districts inKanazawa. One highlight is the Nomura Residence. Enjoy its inner garden withtranquil streams and a miniature waterfall.

10 minutes2

15:00 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art,Kanazawa ［金沢21世紀美術館］
This progressive museum situated in the center of Kanazawa is quite popularamong the locals and tourists alike with the unique exhibits and installations. The
outdoor exhibits and surrounding lawns make the museum grounds feel akin to a
family park.

10 minutes

3

16:10 D.T. Suzuki Museum ［鈴木大拙館］
This museum is dedicated to the life and ideas of Daisetz Suzuki, a prominent
Buddhist philosopher who was born in Kanazawa and popularized Zen in the West.
Take time for thoughtful meditation in the three idyllic landscaped gardens, which
include a glassy pond for self-reflection.

Stay in Kanazawa

ASK THE LOCALS
What is the nightlife in Ishikawa like?
Nightlife in Ishikawa is diverse. Kanazawa, especially the Katamachi district, hasmodern, big-city bars, pubs, clubs, and izakaya catering to a wide variety of tastes.
There are traditional izakaya, local watering holes, illumination events, fireworks
festivals, and many other nighttime activities around the prefecture.

Day 24

10:00 Omi-cho Market ［近江町市場］
Omi-cho Market has been the largest fresh food market in Kanazawa since theEdo period. Its busy network of covered streets holds over 180 stall andrestaurants that sell fresh seafood, vegetables, fruit, and many other local products.

5 minutes

5

11:00 Cooking Studio Kanazawa Salon (Japanesehome cooking) ［金澤さろん］
Cooking Studio Kanazawa Salon offers cooking lessons in exquisite Japanesecuisine in English. While you learn the basics of Japanese cooking, you can also
gain the knowledge of koji and its products (miso, soy sauce, sake, etc.) whichhave been supporting the health of Japanese over a thousand years.

15 minutes

6

13:30 Kanazawa Castle Park ［金沢城公園］
Kanazawa Castle was home to the Maeda family during their rule of the Kagadomain. Some buildings including Kahoku-mon Gate and Gyokusen’inmaru
Garden have been faithfully renovated.

5 minutes

7

14:30 Kenrokuen Garden［兼六園］
Kenrokuen was constructed by feudal lords of Kaga clan as the outer garden of
Kanazawa Castle. The garden’s appearance changes dramatically every
season, with cherry blossoms in spring and Yukizuri (a set of ropes to protect
trees from the region’s heavy snowfall) in winter.

10 minutes or8

20 minutes

16:30 Higashi Chaya District ［ひがし茶屋街］
The district’s traditional buildings and lattice-work windows retain the atmosphereof their 200-year history. Today, many of these buildings function as cafes,
restaurants, sweet shops and craft shops, but some are still geisha teahouses.
Two traditional teahouses, ‘Shima’ and ‘Kaikaro’, are open to public.

Stay in Kanazawa

More to Explore
5 minutes

Kazuemachi Chaya District ［主計町茶屋街］
Across Asanogawa river from famous Higashi Chaya District, there is anothergeisha district with labyrinthine streets and traditional buildings. Kazuemachi isfilled with traditional buildings on narrow streets. The majority of businesses
here are geiko teahouses, accepting clients by referral, but the path along theriverbank has a few restaurants and cafes that are open to the public.

Day 3
8:10 Depart Kanazawa Sta.by express train
30 minutes
Kanazawa

8:40 Arrive at Kaga Onsen Sta.
75 minutes

9or

Kaga onsen

12 minutes

10:15 Kitamaebune Ship Museum ［北前船の里資料館］
From the 17th to the 19th century, Hashitate was said to be “the richest village inJapan” because many merchant ship (kitamaebune) owners in Hashitate madefortune on the shipping route connecting Hokkaidoa to Osaka. The museum is set in
the grand home of a wealthy shipowner, built in 1878.

15 minutes

10

11:00 Hashitate Fishing Port ［橋立漁港］
A great variety of seafood is unloaded at picturesque Hashitate Fishing Portthroughout the year, attracting masses of tourists seeking a culinary experiencehardly available elsewhere. Any time of the year, many restaurants and shops in thevicinity offer the freshest seasonal seafood on their stalls and tables.

(Lunch: Hashitate)11

13:00 Amagozen Cape ［尼御前岬］
Amagozen Cape is a natural viewpoint with scenic vistas over the Sea of Japan.
Nearby, there is the Amagozen expressway service area where you will findrestaurants, souvenir shops, and a café with a nice panoramic view of the harbor andthe sea. Walking trails traverse seaside cliffs that have been eroded by wind andwaves.

30 minutes + 30 minutes

12

15:00 Arrive at Kaga Onsen ［加賀温泉郷］
Kaga Onsen is a collection of four unique hot-spring villages: Yamashiro, Yamanaka,
Katayamazu, and Awazu. Each has accommodation options ranging from modest,family-run inns to luxurious ryokan.

Stay in Kaga Onsen Resorts

Day 4
13

Yamanaka Onsen

9:00 Kakusenkei Gorge ［鶴仙渓］
Kakusenkei Gorge runs through lush forest near the hot-spring village of
Yamanaka Onsen. The waterside trail runs parallel to the river stretches for 1.3 km.
Enjoy a leisurely stroll while appreciating the beauty of the waterfalls and theunique rock formations accentuating the deep blue pools of water.

5 minutes

14

10:30 Yuge-kaido Street (shopping, traditional craftwarkshop) ［ゆげ街道（ショッピング、伝統工芸体験）]
Yuge-kaido is the town’s main street where locally crafted pieces can be found inmany of the historic shops. Some shops offer visitors traditional craft workshop. Try
your hand at Kutani-yaki porcelain and Yamanaka lacquerware, famous for expert
lathework.

(Lunch: Yamanaka)OR

Day 415

Yamashiro Onsen

10:00 Kutani-yaki Kiln Exhibition Hall
［九谷焼窯跡展示館］
The Kutani-yaki Kiln Exhibition Hall houses a museum and an 1824 porcelain kilnthat was critical in reviving the art of Kutani ware. Kutani ware is Ishikawa’s local
style of porcelain, characterized by bold, elaborate designs and striking colors.
Visitors can learn about the process in workshops for painting your own porcelain
piece.

(Lunch: Yamashiro)

20 minutes + 30 minutes

16

13:20 Natadera Temple [那谷寺]The natural rock formations at Natadera Temple have been revered as a sacredplace for well over 2,000 years and tower above the temple’s mossy forests,
traditional-style gardens, and carp-filled ponds, earning Natadera a star in theMichelin Green Guide.

More to Explore
Hiyo Koke no Sato Moss Garden［日用苔の里］
Rural village carpeted by carefully maintained, vibrantly green moss
Hiyo is a rural village in a
mountainous part of eastern
Ishikawa Prefecture. The entire
village rests on a giant, verdant
moss garden that has beencultivated for generations. The tallcedars that tower over this villageof moss make for a mystic stroll
through the woods in sunny or
rainy weather. The piles of kindlingand leaves that residents used forfuel in the past massively
accelerated moss growth in thedeciduous forest setting. Locals
continued to tend to the moss,
creating the spectacular green
carpet that exists today.

12 minutes

ITINERARY

11 days & 10 nights

DayActivities

StayDay 1Day 2

TokyoTokyoArrive at Tokyo Airport
TokyoVisit Asakusa Kannon Temple, Tokyo National Museum, the Imperial Tokyo
East Garden and Meiji Shrine

Day 3

Full day excursion to Fuji-Hankone-Izu National ParkDay 4Kanazawa
Depart by shinkansen (bullet train) to Kanazawa. Visit Nagamachi
Samurai District, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa Kanazawa
and D.T. Suzuki Museum.

Day 5

Kanazawa
Visit Omicho Market, Kanazawa Castle Park, Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa
Higashi Chaya District. Join Japanese cooking class.

Day 6

Kaga
Kaga
Depart by express train to Kaga. Visit Kitamaebune Ship Museum, Resort
Hashitate Fishing Port, Amagozen Cape.

Day 7

Kaga
Visit Kakusenkei Gorge, Yuge-kaido Street, Natadera Temple.
Travel by express train to Kyoto.

TokyoKyoto

Day 8-9Kyoto
Visit Nijo Castle, Nishiki Market, Kiyomizu Temple, Kinkakuji Temple Kyoto(Golden Pavillion) and Ryoanji Temple.

Day 10

Full day excursion to Hiroshima

Day 11

Transfer to Osaka Airport and board a flight back homeOnsen