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
- 9:00 Meet at the lobby of Tokyu Stay Kanazawa. The shop where you'll change into kimono for the kimono experience opens at 10:00, so first stroll around the Nagamachi Samurai District near the hotel.
- Visit the Ashigaru Museum and the Takada Family House.
- 9:40 Visit the Nomura Family House
- 10:10 Stroll through the streets of the Nagamachi Samurai District, then walk to Wargo on Seseragi Street.
- 10:30 Choose a kimono at Wargo and have it fitted. Your mother will also have her hairstyle arranged.
- 11:10 Take a taxi to the Nishi Chaya District.
- 11:20 Visit "Hana no Yado" in the Nishi Chaya District, talk with the owner, enjoy matcha and sweets, tour the first and second floors of the geisha house, and enjoy taking photos.
- 12:10 Take a taxi to Kenrokuen Garden.
- 12:20 Enter a cafe on the teahouse street of Kenrokuen Garden and have lunch.
- 12;50.Begin strolling around Kenrokuen Garden.
- 14:00 Visit Ishikawa Gate, enter Kanazawa Castle Park and stroll around. Along the way, visit and tour the Hishi Yagura (Diamond Turret).
- 14:50 Enter Oyama Shrine from Nezumita Gate Bridge and stroll around
- 15: 10 From the back gate of Oyama Shrine, take a taxi to Omicho Market
- 15:20 Stroll around Omicho Market and sample some food.
- At 16:30, show the way to Wargo.
- 16:00 Tour ends
Can You Do a Private Kimono Photo Tour in Kanazawa? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visiting from North America. One of the guests had studied abroad in Fukuoka City and could speak a little Japanese. Some of the guests were very interested in Japan and mentioned that it had long been a dream to walk through the streets in kimono and take many photos like a model.
The weather looked like it might rain but stayed dry, and it was not too hot, so the guests took many photos at each place we visited, and I became their photographer for the day.
Since the kimono shop opened at 10:00, we first visited the Nagamachi Samurai District, which was on the way from the Hotel to the shop. After changing into kimono, the guests requested a taxi to save time.
Once in kimono, we visited a geisha house in the Nishi Chaya District, where kimono photos matched the setting beautifully. Only local guides known to the owner can enter this place, so the guests were delighted. We also took many photos at Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle Park, and Omicho Market. The guests listened attentively to my guiding and requested a one-hour extension, and the tour ended at Omicho Market at 16:00.
Click here for more details: Kanazawa Customized Tour & Kimono with Licensed 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!!