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
- 10:03 Meet at Kanazawa Station Hokuriku Shinkansen platform, after purchasing rice balls at the convenience store inside the station, take the Hokuriku Railway route bus to Korinbo
- 10:30 Stroll around the Nagamachi Samurai Residence District, visit the Nomura Family
- Visit the Takada Family ruins, walk to Oyama Shrine
- 11:30 Walk from Oyama Shrine, enter Kanazawa Castle Park through the Nezumita Gate and visit Gyokusen'inmaru Garden
- 12:15 Stroll around Kenrokuen
- 12:45 Walk from Kenrokuen to Omicho Market and visit, bought socks for the two children at a shop in Omicho Market.
- 13:30 Do a gold leaf experience at Katani Gold Leaf
- 14:20 Move from Katani to the Higashi Chaya District, a 10-minute walk away, where the tour ended.
- From Kanazawa Station to Korinbo, we traveled by route bus, but at the customer's request, after that we traveled entirely on foot in the light rain.
What Is a Full-Day Private Walking Tour of Kanazawa Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests had emailed a request to be picked up at Kanazawa Station at 10:03 (already shared with [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/)). At the guests' request, the tour was done entirely on foot from Korinbo onward.
We walked through many of Kanazawa's back streets, and the guests were delighted to see a variety of old buildings, the daily lives of residents, and traditional culture living on in everyday life.
The guests seemed deeply impressed by seeing so much: the Nagamachi samurai district and the buildings along the canal, the path from Oyama Shrine to Kanazawa Castle Park, the beauty of Kenrokuen Garden, the liveliness of Omicho Market, and a wide range of Japanese food.
Then, during the gold leaf experience at a specialty shop, they felt firsthand the thinness of 0.1 microns. Each of them expressed the impressions they had gained of Kanazawa using gold leaf, and the finished works turned out wonderfully (please enlarge the photos to see them). Everyone was delighted, saying it made a splendid souvenir.
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 | Kanazawa Station～Korinbo | 210JPY |
| Total | 210JPY | ||
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!!