Ishikawa in One Day: Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa — Guide Sho
September, 2024
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
- 11:00 Meet at Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa
- 11:30 Oyama Shrine / Gyokusen'inmaru Garden
- 12:20 Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa
- 12:40 Tofu cuisine lunch at Umenohana Kanazawa
- 14:40 Kanazawa Castle
- 15:40 Kenrokuen Garden
- 17:00 Higashi Chaya District
- 17:15 Disband at Hashiba-cho Intersection
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 11:00 at Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa and ended at 17:15. The day ran to 6 hours and 15 minutes from start to finish.
Over the course of the day the route took in Oyama Shrine / Gyokusen'inmaru Garden at 11:30, Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa at 12:20, Tofu cuisine lunch at Umenohana Kanazawa at 12:40, Kanazawa Castle at 14:40, Kenrokuen Garden at 15:40 and Higashi Chaya District at 17:00.
What Is a Private Car Tour of Kanazawa Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kenrokuen, Kanazawa Castle, and Higashi Chaya District
The guests were a group from Europe and South America, and they were all very talkative. I had heard in advance that the group would be traveling around by rental car.
Originally, the plan was to visit the samurai district and then have lunch, but since the guests told me they had already been to the samurai district the day before, we quickly changed course and I guided them to Oyama Shrine and Gyokusen'inmaru Garden before returning to the Hotel.
The group, with one exception, requested vegan dishes such as tofu and ramen. Since we could travel by car this time, I inquired at a restaurant in the suburbs and found that they offered a vegan vegetarian lunch. This required a reservation in advance, so I booked it beforehand and we headed to the lunch venue by car. The guests thoroughly enjoyed the kaiseki course featuring tofu and yuba, and were very pleased.
After that, we saw Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden, and by the time we reached the Higashi Chaya District it was already 5:00 p.m., and most of the shops were closed. Since the guests wanted to have a drink somewhere, we parted ways at the Hashiba-cho intersection.
This time, the guests enjoyed everything except the Higashi Chaya District, and I felt sorry that I was not able to properly secure enough time to explore it. From next time, even when plans keep changing, I want to manage time more carefully.
Click here for more details: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
I majored in civil engineering at a college and am interested in historical infrastructures. I have also guided foreign people around Ishikawa Prefecture, Toyama Prefecture, Gifu Prefecture, and Fukui Prefecture as an international activity of an English circle. I was a volunteer interpreter at the training camp for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 2021.
Hokuriku region has a lot of sightseeing spots as follows, beautiful landscapes like Kenrokuen Garden and Tateyama, tasty food like traditional Kaga dishes and fresh seafood from Toyama Bay, traditional crafts like Kaga Yuzen dyeing, Takaoka copperware, and Inami woodcarving. I introduce these spots and historical infra tourism such as Kurobe dam and industrial tourism.
I also work as a translator. I translated the Japanese firefly squid tourism pamphlet into English in 2020.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shoten-sasaki/
May 26, 2026
C4211GUbrittanym
Tripadvisor review: Toyama 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Great time in Toyama!
Nice tour, guide was very nice and…
May 26, 2026
C4211GUbrittanym
Tripadvisor review: Toyama 6hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Great time in Toyama!
Nice tour, guide was very nice and knowledgeable. We had a great time!
May 14, 2026
190kariml
Great tour in Kanazawa with Sho
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
We had a wonderful time…
May 14, 2026
190kariml
Great tour in Kanazawa with Sho
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
We had a wonderful time in Kanazawa with our guide, Shoten Sasaki. In 5 hours we covered Nagamachi, the samurai quarter; Lunch at Omicho Market; Oyama Shrine; Gyokusen’inmaru Garden; Kanazawa Castle; and Kenrokuen Gardens. Sho shared detailed knowledge at every stop, was kind and really focused on our having the best experience. We enjoyed our time in Kanazawa and highly recommend Sho for touring Kanazawa!
Jul 24, 2025
Wander60650705961
Delightful experience um Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
We had the pleasure of taking a…
Jul 24, 2025
Wander60650705961
Delightful experience um Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
We had the pleasure of taking a tour around Kanazawa with Mr. Shoten Sasaki, and it was truly a memorable experience. Mr. Sasaki was incredibly kind, attentive, and always ready to answer our questions or accommodate our requests with great care and patience.
He guided us through the stunning Kenrokuen Garden and the historic Kanazawa Castle, where he shared fascinating insights and stories about their history. His deep knowledge and passion for the city made every stop even more special.
We also visited the charming geisha districts, the iconic gold leaf workshop—one of Kanazawa’s most symbolic places—and the museum of the city’s very first tea house. Thanks to Mr. Sasaki, we got to experience not just the sights, but also the soul of Kanazawa.
We’re truly grateful for his guidance and warm hospitality. Highly recommended!
Jul 2, 2025
nuttineeyav
Walking day in Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
The old town was very nice to…
Jul 2, 2025
nuttineeyav
Walking day in Kanazawa
Tripadvisor review: Kanazawa 4hr Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
The old town was very nice to walk around. My husband and I walked around the city with
Sho, our tour guide who provides all the details of Kanazawa. It was a fun sunny day in
Kanazawa. I will definitely go back again.