Jibuni治部煮
A Kanazawa stew of duck or chicken dusted in flour and simmered with wheat gluten and vegetables in thickened broth.
Chubu
Ishikawa Travel Guide
Local tips, regional food and places off the tourist trail
Home to Kanazawa, a castle town known for Kenrokuen garden, preserved geisha districts and gold leaf. Beyond the city are the Kaga hot springs and the rural Noto Peninsula.
Open Ishikawa on the map34 places on the map · 8 local favourites
Local tips
- TipKanazawa is on the Hokuriku Shinkansen; in town, the loop buses and walking cover most sights.
- DoVisit Omicho Market in the morning for seafood bowls before the lunchtime queues build.
- TipFrom late autumn, Kenrokuen’s trees are tied with yukitsuri ropes against snow, a classic winter sight.
- Heads upThe Noto Peninsula is still recovering from the 2024 earthquake; check current access and services before going.
- TipFor a quieter onsen stay, try Yamanaka Onsen in the Kaga area, with a riverside gorge walk.
What to eat
Kanazawa oden金沢おでん
Light-broth oden with local touches like kurumafu wheel gluten and, in winter, crab served in the shell.
Nodoguro (blackthroat seaperch)のどぐろ
A rich, fatty white fish prized in Hokuriku, often grilled or served as sushi.
Local favourites
Places mostly visited by people who live here — quieter, and often the highlight of a trip.
Kibagata Park
木場潟公園 Nature & SceneryLakeside park in Komatsu with a walking loop and reflections of Mount Hakusan on calm mornings. Popular with locals for jogging and canoeing.
● Mostly localsKutani Pottery Village
九谷陶芸村 ShoppingVillage of Kutani ware shops and kilns in Nomi, with bargains and a museum.
● Mostly localsTedori Gorge
手取峡谷 Nature & SceneryDeep gorge in Hakusan city with tall cliffs and the Watagataki waterfall. A good day trip from Kanazawa.
● Mostly localsGyokusen-en Garden
玉泉園 Nature & ScenerySmall private garden in Kanazawa, quieter than Kenroku-en, with a tea house and moss.
● Mostly localsYamato Soy Sauce, Ohno
ヤマト醤油味噌 Local FoodShoppingSoy sauce and miso maker in Ohno, a quiet port district of old brewing houses. Sample fermented foods and eat a healthy koji lunch.
● Mostly localsKatayamazu Onsen Sōyu
片山津温泉 総湯 Hot SpringsModern public bath on a lake in Katayamazu with glass walls looking out over the water.
● Mostly localsChampion Curry
カレーのチャンピオン 本店 Local FoodThe original of Kanazawa curry: thick, dark roux on rice, topped with a pork cutlet and shredded cabbage and eaten with a fork. A local fast-food staple.
● Mostly localsJiyuken
自由軒 Local FoodTraditional yoshoku restaurant in Higashi Chaya serving omurice and hamburg steak in an old wooden townhouse. Homely food amid the teahouses.
● Mostly localsThe famous sights
The places most visitors come for. Worth it — just go early.
Kenroku-en Garden
兼六園 Nature & SceneryOne of Japan's three great gardens, with ponds, stone lanterns and trees supported by rope 'yukitsuri' in winter. Enter via the side gates to avoid tour groups.
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
金沢21世紀美術館 Sights & HistoryRound glass contemporary art museum, famous for Leandro Erlich's 'Swimming Pool'. Much of it is free to wander.
Omicho Market
近江町市場 Local FoodShoppingKanazawa's lively fish market with stalls of snow crab, oysters and sea urchin, plus counters serving kaisendon. Arrive early to beat the lunch queues.
Kanazawa Castle Park
金沢城公園 Sights & HistoryGrounds of the Maeda clan's castle, with reconstructed white-tiled turrets and gates beside Kenroku-en. Don't skip Gyokusen-inmaru Garden on the west side.
Nagamachi Samurai District
長町武家屋敷跡 Sights & HistoryLanes of earthen walls and canals where mid-ranking samurai lived. The walls are wrapped in straw mats in winter to protect them from snow.
Myoryuji (Ninja Temple)
妙立寺 Temples & GoshuinchoSights & HistoryTemple full of hidden stairs, trapdoors and secret rooms built to defend the lords. Tours only by reservation.
Nomura Samurai House
武家屋敷跡 野村家 Sights & HistoryNature & SceneryRestored samurai residence in Nagamachi with a small but exquisite garden of stone lanterns and a koi stream, viewed from the tatami rooms.