Kanazawa Half Day Tour: An Authentic Exploration of the Historical Samurai and Geisha Districts

348 Ratings

Kanazawa

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Immerse yourself in the rich history of Kanazawa with this half-day tour. Explore the iconic Higashi Chaya District, visit the Samurai District, and stroll through the stunning Kenrokuen Gardens.

Duration: 4 hours

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

Kenrokuen Garden - Since the Edo era Kenrokuen Garden has been regarded as one of the most beautiful feudal gardens in all of Japan. We will take you on a special tour of this remarkable garden

What's Included

Professional, English-speaking guide
Native English customer support
Convenient hotel pickup and drop-off
Customizable itinerary

What's Not Included

Food and drinks
Transportation to/from attractions
Optional Entrance Fees

Additional Information

The places below are examples of what you may choose to see on the day, during this 4-hour tour.
Higashi Chaya District (and Kazue Machi)
The most famous tea district and Geisha/Geiko area in Kanazawa. It is also the home of Kinpaku (Gold leaf crafts). You will have the option to make your own gold leaf creation there.It is also possible to drink…

Location

Kenrokuen Garden

1-1 Marunouchi,

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.9

(348 Ratings)

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Carolyn

Nov 3, 2025

Excellent Tour with Kazue. The tour was very informative regarding the history and culture of Kanazawa. - The tour was very informative about the history and culture of Kanazawa. She provided visuals which helped to explain the history of the city. She paid attention to detail and was humorous at times.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

807christinag

Oct 30, 2025

Our tour with Ian was one of the highlights of our time in Kanazawa. His thoughtful guidance and deep knowledge made the - 🌸 Review: Artisans of Kanazawa – Private Excursion with Ian Our half-day Artisans of Kanazawa tour with Ian was truly one of the most meaningful experiences of our trip. From the moment we met him, his calm and thoughtful way of sharing the city made us feel completely immersed in Kanazawa’s beauty and spirit. Ian guided us through some of Kanazawa’s most treasured places — from the peaceful Samurai district and charming Geisha quarter to the stunning Kenrokuen Garden, where each view seemed perfectly composed. His explanations helped us see the city not just as visitors, but through the eyes of someone who deeply appreciates its history and traditions. One of the most memorable parts of the morning was our visit with a local artisan at Wagasa-Kasamori, where we learned about the intricate process of creating traditional Japanese umbrellas. Watching the craftsmanship up close — the delicate paper, bamboo, and careful handwork — gave us such respect for the generations who have kept this art alive. It was quiet, beautiful, and humbling to witness. Ian made sure everything moved at a comfortable pace, and his gentle attention to detail made it easy to simply enjoy each moment. This wasn’t just a tour — it was an experience that connected us to the heart of Kanazawa and its people.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Axelr192

Oct 28, 2025

Excellent, custom-made half-day tour - We really enjoyed our informative and pleasant half-day tour of Kanazawa with Ai Kawachi who taught us a lot about the local culture and Japan in general. We learned more through her than through any of our other Tokyo or Kyoto guides!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

T3671kkjacquelineo

Oct 27, 2025

Beautiful walk with lots of interesting information by a fantastic guide - The guide Reiko gave a lot of interesting information when walking around Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden. She spoke very good English and was super friendly, a winner!

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Michelvl4

Oct 27, 2025

Interesting arts and craft tour of Kanazawa - Art and crafts tour. Great experience to see the craftsmanship of a master in the art of lacker. Ian was a great guide that showed us around Kanazawa and told the stories of the town. Very knowledgeable!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Ellen

Oct 26, 2025

Excellent Kanazawa Tour - Sachiko was one of several guides who hosted us on our travels in Japan and she was one of the best. Her English was exceptionally clear, she demonstrated an appreciation of American culture that allowed us to compare and contrast it with the Japanese way of life, and she was professional yet personable. During a one-on-one craft demonstration with an artisan, we were especially impressed with her ability to translate the artist’s description about his work and inspiration. Big thumbs up!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Sherpa813462

Oct 24, 2025

A morning well spent - We had Kenzo as our guide - he picked us up at the hotel - we got a taxi to the Samurai district; it was really interesting. Then we went to the Castle & gardens & to Kenrokuen garden - he was knowledgeable & interesting & was able to tell us all about the areas we were seeing - we sampled gold leaf ice-cream - yum! We had a great time.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Charles_s

Oct 22, 2025

Excellent private tour - Our guide, Chikako, was very flexible and efficient and made the most of our 4 hours together, which was important given that we were on a cruise. We identified sites that would be the most interesting to us and she kept us moving! A job well done.

Review provided by Viator

Jespert732

Oct 20, 2025

Excellent Guided Tour in Kanazawa with Sachiko ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - We had a fantastic guided walking tour in Kanazawa, exploring both the old samurai district and the historic geisha area. Our guide, Sachiko, who is a local from Kanazawa, was absolutely wonderful — warm, welcoming, and always smiling. She was an excellent storyteller, bringing the history of the Edo-period samurai to life with fascinating details and vivid anecdotes. We also gained a truly interesting insight into the world of geishas — their traditions, daily life, and the cultural importance they still hold in Kanazawa today. Sachiko’s deep knowledge, enthusiasm, and personal connection to the city made the tour both educational and very enjoyable. We highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kanazawa who wants to experience the city’s rich history and culture in an engaging and authentic way.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Lisa_e

Oct 20, 2025

Superb half day walking tour - Jorge was extremely knowledgeable about the history and culture of this beautiful city. A terrific, active half day walking tour.

Review provided by Viator

Check Availability

From $51

up to 6 guests

1 - Adult