Kanazawa Customized Car Tour: English Driver, No Guide

5.0 (8 reviews) 6 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

8 reviews

5.0

Kanazawa Customized Car Tour: English Driver, No Guide — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Kanazawa Customized Car Tour: English Driver, No Guide, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

This is the ideal pick for time-tight travelers wanting to discover this beautiful town of Kanazawa's highlights in a day. Avoid the potential confusion of local bus system, and travel comfortably in a private vehicle instead.

Enjoy the flexibility of being able to pick a set itinerary, or customize your own. Potential attractions include all Must-See spots in Kanazawa, so please explore at your own pace and visit sights such as Kenrokuen garden, one of the "Three Great Gardens of Japan"; the expansive Higashi Chaya District, a traditional teahouse district founded in the Edo Period; Omicho Market, Kanazawa's largest fresh food market; Nagamachi Samurai district.

Your English speaking driver will fully support your six-hours tour.

Note*: Tour details has a possibility of change depending on the place of your meeting point and traffic conditions. Please feel free to ask us if you have any special request for your itinerary. We will do our best to meet your request.

Day Trips Half-day Tours Bus Tours Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Historical Tours Ports of Call Tours City Tours

At a glance

Duration: 6 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–8
Operated by: Japan Guide Agency

Ages: Infants (0–5 years) · Children (6–11 years) · Adults (12–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Private vehicle
Included: English speaking driver
Included: Customizable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from 'What to expect' list'

Not included

Not included: Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
Not included: Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
Not included: You cannot combine multiple tour groups.

Itinerary

Higashi Chaya District

one hour

A chaya (lit. teahouse) is an exclusive type of restaurant where guests are entertained by geisha who perform song and dance. During the Edo Period, chaya were found in designated entertainment districts, usually just outside the city limits. Kanazawa has three, well preserved chaya districts, Higashi Chayagai (Eastern Chaya District), Nishi Chayagai (Western Chaya District) and Kazuemachi.
Kenrokuen Garden

one hour Admission not included

Kenrokuen (兼六園) in Kanazawa is justifiably classified as one of Japan's "three most beautiful landscape gardens" alongside Mito's Kairakuen and Okayama's Korakuen. The spacious grounds used to be the outer garden of Kanazawa Castle and were constructed by the ruling Maeda family over a period of nearly two centuries. Opened to the public in 1871, Kenrokuen features a variety of flowering trees which provide the garden with a different look for each season.
Kanazawa Castle

one hour Admission not included

From 1583 to the end of the Edo Period, Kanazawa Castle (金沢城, Kanazawajō) was the seat of the powerful Maeda Clan, lords of Kaga, a feudal domain ranking second only to the Tokugawa possesions in terms of size and wealth.

The castle burnt down several times over the centuries, and the most recent fires of 1881 were survived only by two storehouses and the Ishikawa-mon Gate. The gate dates from 1788 and faces Kenrokuen. For several decades, Kanazawa University occupied the former castle grounds until the campus was moved to the city's outskirts in the early 1990s. Since then, a project is underway to rebuild the castle's former buildings. In the meantime, most central structures are standing again and make a visit more interesting.
Omicho Market

one hour

Omicho Market (近江町市場, Ōmichō Ichiba) has been Kanazawa's largest fresh food market since the Edo Period. Today, it is a busy and colorful network of covered streets lined by about 200 shops and stalls. While most shops specialize in the excellent local seafood and produce, you can also find flowers, clothing, kitchen tools and more on sale.

Although the market is most exciting during the morning hours, it also gets quite busy around noon, when tourists and locals arrive to have lunch at restaurants inside the market. It is not unusual for lines to build in front of the popular restaurants, many of which specialize in rice bowls topped with fresh Kanazawa seafood.
Stop 5

one hour

Nagamachi (長町) was a samurai district located at the foot of the former Kanazawa Castle, where samurai and their families used to reside. The area preserves a historic atmosphere with its remaining samurai residences, earthen walls, private entrance gates, narrow lanes and water canals.

One of the main attractions of the district is the centrally located Nomura-ke, a restored samurai residence displaying the lifestyle and artifacts of the era when samurai were prosperous. In contrast is the Shinise Kinenkan Museum, a restored pharmacy displaying the lives of the merchant class which rose in prosperity as the samurai declined.

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

Garden Hotel Kanazawa
Hotel Route Inn Kanazawa Ekimae
Gunjo no Tsuki
KOKO HOTEL Kanazawa Station
HOTEL MYSTAYS Kanazawa Castle
Murataya Ryokan
Kanazawa Central Hotel Annex
Motoyu Ishiya
Yuya Ruru Saisai
Ryokan Yamamuro
Takinoso
The Kanazawa Sainoniwa Hotel

and 98 more pickup points

Your driver can pick you up in Kanazawa. This is a tour with an English-speaking driver. It does not include a government-licensed guide. You will be able to reach your driver via phone during the tour only. Please use email for any communication before the tour.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Specialized infant seats are available
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
There are only a limited number of car seats and booster seats. Rear-facing car seats are not available. You must contact us directly if you need them.