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
- 8:50 Meet the 4 customers at the hotel, listen to their wishes, and plan today's schedule. Since they will also be in Kanazawa the next day, they wish for a relaxed tour
- 9:00 Depart from the hotel and head to Nezumita-mon Bridge on foot
- 9: 10 Enter Kanazawa Castle Ruins Park from Nezumita-mon Bridge and visit the Gyokusen'inmaru Garden
- 9:30 Stroll through Kanazawa Castle Ruins Park
- 10:00 Enter Kenrokuen from Ishikawa Gate, stroll through Kenrokuen
- 10:30 Visit the free zone on the first floor of the Ishikawa Living Crafts Museum
- 11:00 At the customers' request, experience a tea ceremony at Shigure-tei.
- 11:30 Return to strolling through Kenrokuen
- 12:00 Head to Higashi Chaya District on foot
- 12:05 On the way to Higashi Chaya District, it suddenly starts pouring rain, thunder rumbles, and we can no longer proceed. We take shelter at a nearby drugstore, but the customers got soaked. At the customers' request, we call a taxi and return to the hotel
- 12:20 The taxi arrives, and I see off the 4 customers there, ending the tour.
Title: What's a Private Kanazawa Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Kenrokuen, Kanazawa Castle, and a Tea Ceremony
The guests were a group visiting from North America. Since they would still be in Kanazawa the following day, they said they wanted to take their time today enjoying Kanazawa Castle Park and Kenrokuen Garden, and if possible the Higashi Chaya District. They were also very interested in traditional Japanese culture and hands-on experiences, and expressed a wish to enjoy a tea ceremony experience at a place with history and tradition. For this reason, I took the guests to Shigure-tei, located within Kenrokuen Garden. There, the guests enjoyed a relaxing time, savoring matcha and sweets served in the tea ceremony style by a woman in a kimono, using a Kutani ware tea bowl and a Yamanaka lacquerware plate, while admiring the garden of Shigure-tei. After Kanazawa Castle Park and Kenrokuen Garden, while walking toward the Higashi Chaya District, we encountered heavy rain and thunder and got completely soaked, so the tour ended there, but the guests mentioned they would head out to the Higashi Chaya District in the evening once the lanterns were lit. In addition, some of the guests said they wanted to have a sake experience the next day, so I made a reservation for them at Fukumitsuya's experience with an English-speaking guide starting at 15:00 the following day.
Click here for more details: Kanazawa Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
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!!