Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Masayo
August, 2026
Hello.
My name is Masayo Shirai.
I have been a national licensed tour guide of English since April in 2014.
I was born. raised, and still living near the Higashi Chaya District in Kanazawa.
I have guided lots of foreign guests in my hometown Kanazawa, Gokayama, Shirakawago, Takaymam, Kaga, Fukui, and Toyama.
I have guided FIT, highend FIT, group tour, and bus tours.
I have been learning tea cemoney, flower arrangement, and noh performance of noh chanting and playing the hand drum.
I can take you to the experience spot of such traditional cultural spots in my hometown, Kanazawa,
This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 9:30 Meet at the Kinjo Sakura entrance, walk to Musashigatsuji and stroll around the streets.
- 10:00 From Musashigatsuji, take the local bus to Korinbo.
- 10:15 From Korinbo, go to the Nagamachi Samurai District, stroll along the canal, and visit the Nomura Family Residence. Also visit the Takada Family Ruins.
- 11:10 From Korinbo, take the local bus to Hirokoji, then head to the Ninja Temple.
- 11:30 Visit the Ninja Temple. Guides are not allowed to give explanations inside the temple, so I will wait outside.
- 12:15 Finish the Ninja Temple tour, and from Hirokoji take the local bus to Musashigatsuji.
- 12:35 Arrive at Omicho Market from Musashigatsuji.
- Stroll around Omicho Market, and at the customers' request, eat items purchased in the market standing up in the eating space. After that, go to a nearby Starbucks.
- 13:10 Walk from Omicho Market to Higashi Chaya District via Kazuemachi Chaya District.
- 13:30 Stroll around Higashi Chaya District and enjoy shopping.
- 14:00 Escort the 4 customers to the kimono rental shop Kirara, located right near Higashi Chaya District, and finish the tour.
What Can You See on a Private Day Tour of Kanazawa? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting from North America. They had a strong interest in samurai and samurai culture, and they loved Japanese cuisine and Japanese food. The night before, they had stayed at a Hotel and thoroughly enjoyed delicious Japanese cuisine, which made them very happy.
At the guests' request, they wanted to visit the Nagamachi samurai district, the Ninja Temple, Omicho Market, and the Higashi Chaya District, so I fulfilled all of their requests. They listened enthusiastically to explanations about the relationship between Tokugawa Ieyasu and the Maeda family that appears in the "Shogun" series, as well as the life of samurai during the Warring States period and the Edo period. They also enjoyed touring the Ninja Temple.
At Omicho Market, they bought sushi and Wagyu beef skewers and happily ate them in the market's eating space. It seemed they wanted to eat in an environment different from a traditional restaurant. In the Higashi Chaya District, they were interested in the story of geisha culture and also enjoyed shopping.
Afterward, I took them to a kimono rental shop, where the tour concluded. They said that tonight they wanted to wear kimono and take many photos amid the beautiful garden and room furnishings of the Hotel, and once again enjoy delicious Japanese cuisine.
Click here for more details: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Bus | Musashigatsuji・Omicho Market／Hokutetsu Bus～Korinbo／Hokutetsu Bus | 220JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Korinbo／Hokutetsu Bus～Hirokoji (Kanazawa City)／Hokutetsu Bus | 220JPY |
| Section 3 | Bus | Hirokoji (Kanazawa City)／Hokutetsu Bus～Musashigatsuji・Omicho Market／Hokutetsu Bus | 220JPY |
| Total | 660JPY | ||
Hello.
My name is Masayo Shirai.
I have been a national licensed tour guide of English since April in 2014.
I was born. raised, and still living near the Higashi Chaya District in Kanazawa.
I have guided lots of foreign guests in my hometown Kanazawa, Gokayama, Shirakawago, Takaymam, Kaga, Fukui, and Toyama.
I have guided FIT, highend FIT, group tour, and bus tours.
I have been learning tea cemoney, flower arrangement, and noh performance of noh chanting and playing the hand drum.
I can take you to the experience spot of such traditional cultural spots in my hometown, Kanazawa,
Oct 5, 2025
L
LightPacker147788
Kanazawa visit
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Very interesting tour with Masayo. She took us…
Oct 5, 2025
L
LightPacker147788
Kanazawa visit
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Very interesting tour with Masayo. She took us to excellent locations including the Samurai
housing district and super location for lunch.
Jun 27, 2025
H6092PZsuem
Pleasant and interesting morning
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Masayo was our guide for the morning.…
Jun 27, 2025
H6092PZsuem
Pleasant and interesting morning
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Masayo was our guide for the morning. She met us at our hotel and took us on a very interesting tour of some of the main sites in Kanazawa She was pleasant company ,letting us spend as much time as we wanted at each place. Masayo told us many intriguing facts about the history of the area and the local culture
Mar 16, 2025
952bonnieh
Wonderful!!!
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
We loved our time with Masayo! Thank you for a…
Mar 16, 2025
952bonnieh
Wonderful!!!
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
We loved our time with Masayo! Thank you for a wonderful tour. Jason and I learned so much and enjoyed every minute. We will definitely recommend her to our loved ones who would like to visit Kanazawa. It is such a beautiful city!
We are looking forward to dinner at her sushi restaurant tonight! Thank you for the recommendation.
Just so you know – we went to Huni restaurant for dinner last night and it was fantastic. Chef Takuo is an amazing cook and he is an artist, too! Please recommend it to your travelers.
Jan 3, 2025
U5110ZKjades
A day in Kanazawa with Masayo!
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Masayo Shirai was an excellent…
Jan 3, 2025
U5110ZKjades
A day in Kanazawa with Masayo!
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Masayo Shirai was an excellent guide! We had the best experience & she showed us many
local spots and the best sushi! Thankyou Masayo!!