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 lobby of Hotel, take a taxi to Kenrokuen
- 9:50 Stroll through Kenrokuen, visit the Ishikawa Crafts and Traditional Arts Museum on the way, and shop at the museum shop
- 11:00 Stroll through Kanazawa Castle Park
- 11:30 From Nezumita Gate to Oyama Shrine
- 11:45 From in front of Oyama Shrine, visit the Ashigaru Museum, Takada Family Ruins, and Nomura Family, then stroll through the Nagamachi Samurai District
- 12:50 From in front of the Nomura Family, take the Kanazawa Flat Bus to Omicho Market
- 13:05 Lunch at Omicho Market
- 13:40 Stroll through Omicho Market, buy fruits
- 13:50 Take the Hokuriku Railway bus to Hashibacho
- 14:00 Walk from Hashibacho bus stop to Kinpaku Sakuda Main Store
- 14:10 At Kinpaku Sakuda Main Store, watch the gold leaf manufacturing process and shop
- 14:45 Stroll through Higashi Chaya District
- 15:20 Board the bus bound for Kanazawa Station at Hashibacho bus stop to finish
What Is a Private Kanazawa Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were an energetic group from Oceania who walked briskly despite the heat. They had visited Japan many times before, but this was their first time in Kanazawa. They showed great interest in the samurai heritage and gold leaf of Kanazawa. They seemed to enjoy the beauty of Kenrokuen Garden and the stroll through the Nagamachi Samurai District, walking along the canals. For lunch, they had a sashimi and rice set at a local restaurant inside Omicho Market, and said it was delicious. At a gold leaf shop's main store, they were moved by an explanation of how gold imported from Oceania is used to make gold leaf as thin as one ten-thousandth of a millimeter using traditional techniques, and they were able to touch it themselves.
Click here for more details: Kanazawa Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Bus | Nagamachi Samurai District～Omicho Market | 100JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Musashigatsuji～Hashibacho | 210JPY |
| Total | 310JPY | ||
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!!