Kanazawa Guide: Kenrokuen, Higashi Chaya and How to Get There from Nagoya

Last checked: October 19, 2026, against the official Visit Kanazawa website and the Ishikawa Prefecture page for Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle Park. Hours, fares and timetables change, so please confirm before you go. This site is independent and is not affiliated with any attraction or operator. This post may contain affiliate links; if you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Kanazawa is a castle town on the Sea of Japan coast, famous for Kenrokuen Garden, the geisha district of Higashi Chaya and the fish market. It sits at the far end of the route that starts in Nagoya and passes through Takayama and Shirakawa-go. This guide explains how to get there, how to move around, and what to see in a day.

Key takeaways

The official Kanazawa site lists a train route from Nagoya with two changes, and an express bus that takes 3 hours 50 minutes.
From Shirakawa-go, a highway bus takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to Kanazawa Station.
Most major sights are within a 2-kilometer radius of Kanazawa Castle. The Kanazawa Loop Bus costs 220 yen per ride for adults.
Kenrokuen Garden costs 320 yen for adults. From October 16 to the end of February it is open from 8:00 to 17:00.
Omicho Market hours vary by store. The official site gives 9:00 to 16:00 as a guide.

The short version

Question	Answer
From Nagoya by bus	3 hours 50 minutes (express bus)
From Nagoya by train	Shinkansen to Maibara, Shirasagi limited express to Tsuruga, then the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa
From Shirakawa-go	About 1 hour 15 minutes by highway bus
Around town	Kanazawa Loop Bus, 220 yen per ride, plus walking
Kenrokuen Garden	320 yen for adults, 100 yen for ages 6 to 17
Omicho Market	9:00 to 16:00, varies by store

Times and fares come from the official Visit Kanazawa pages and the Ishikawa Prefecture page on the date above.

How to get to Kanazawa from Nagoya

By train

The official Visit Kanazawa page lists this route: Nagoya Station to Maibara Station by Tokaido Shinkansen (30 minutes), Maibara to Tsuruga by the JR Limited Express Shirasagi, then Tsuruga to Kanazawa by the Hokuriku Shinkansen (40 minutes).

The official page lists 2 hours for the Shirasagi leg. That looks long next to other sources we saw, so please check the exact timetable before you plan.
Secondary sources say that a Shirasagi train can also run directly from Nagoya to Tsuruga, which means one change instead of two, for a total of about 2 hours 50 minutes. We could not confirm this on an official page, so check the JR timetable.
The Hokuriku Arch Pass and Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass are described by a third-party guide as covering only the Tsuruga to Kanazawa section, so they do not cover the Nagoya side. Check the pass terms.

By bus

The official page lists an express bus from Nagoya Station to Kanazawa Station that takes 3 hours 50 minutes. It does not give the fare, the operator or the number of departures, so check the bus company.

If you plan to visit Takayama and Shirakawa-go on the way, a rail pass may be worth a look.

Klook · Affiliate linkJR Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist PassThe official Tourist Pass site lists it at 19,800 yen for adults, valid for 5 consecutive days, with unlimited rides on JR trains, the Hokuriku Shinkansen and buses along the route. Check the covered area on the official map before you buy.Check on Klook

From Takayama or Shirakawa-go

The official page lists two ways from Takayama:

By bus. Takayama Station to Shirakawa-go takes 50 minutes, then Shirakawa-go to Kanazawa Station takes 1 hour 15 minutes. A longer version stops at Gokayama.
By train. Takayama to Toyama takes 1 hour 30 minutes by the Hida limited express, then 20 minutes by the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa.

Nohi Bus lists the fare from Shirakawa-go to Kanazawa as 2,800 yen one way. See our Nagoya to Takayama and Shirakawa-go guide for the reservation rules, and our Takayama guide and Shirakawa-go guide for the sights on the way.

Getting around Kanazawa

The official site calls Kanazawa a compact castle town. Almost all the major sights are within a 2-kilometer radius of Kanazawa Castle.

Kanazawa Loop Bus. It departs from the Kanazawa Station East Gate and stops at the main districts. The fare is 220 yen for adults and 110 yen for children per ride. You can pay in cash, with a nationwide transport IC card, or with a contactless card. The Right Loop runs every 15 minutes from 8:30 to 18:00, and the Left Loop every 20 minutes from 8:38 to 17:58.
One-day pass. The official site recommends a one-day pass if you ride 4 or more times, and says it gives discounted admission to 27 attractions. Tickets are not sold on the buses, so buy one at the Kanazawa Station Tourist Information Center or other listed places. Check the current price there.
On foot. The official examples are: Kanazawa Station to Omicho Market about 15 minutes, Omicho Market to Kanazawa Castle about 9 minutes, and Kenrokuen to the Nagamachi Samurai District about 15 minutes.
By taxi. The official page gives estimates from Kanazawa Station: Omicho Market about 7 minutes from 800 yen, Higashi Chaya about 11 minutes from 1,600 yen, and Kenrokuen about 15 minutes from 1,800 yen.

Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle Park

According to the Ishikawa Prefecture page:

	Kenrokuen Garden	Kanazawa Castle Park
Hours, March 1 to October 15	7:00 to 18:00	7:00 to 18:00
Hours, October 16 to the end of February	8:00 to 17:00	8:00 to 17:00
Admission	Adults 320 yen, ages 6 to 17 100 yen	Free to enter the grounds

The Shigure-tei tea house in the garden is open from 9:00 to 16:30 (last entry 16:00).
Inside the castle park, three buildings charge admission: the Hishi Yagura turret, the Gojukken Nagaya warehouse and the Hashizume-mon Tsuzuki Yagura turret. They are open from 9:00 to 16:30 (last entry 16:00), and cost 320 yen for adults and 100 yen for ages 6 to 17.
Payment is in cash only. Visitors aged 65 or over are admitted free with proof of age. Ask at the ticket window whether a passport is accepted.
A Kenrokuen+1 ticket for 500 yen covers Kenrokuen and one more cultural facility in the city.
Early admission is free. The garden can be entered free of charge before the regular opening, from 6:00 from November 1 to the end of February, at the Renchi-mon and Zuishinzaka entrances only. You must leave 15 minutes before the opening time.
Smoking and pets are not allowed. The garden has many slopes.

The Visit Kanazawa site describes Kenrokuen as one of Japan’s three most beautiful gardens, with the large Kasumigaike pond and Horai Island. In winter, the rope supports on the pine trees, called yukitsuri, are a seasonal sight.

Higashi Chaya District

The official site describes Higashi Chaya as one of Kanazawa’s largest geisha districts, with old teahouses that have typical lattice fronts. Some buildings are now restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops, and one house lets you see the interior of a geisha house built almost 200 years ago. The Asano River is about 3 minutes on foot from the district. From the Kenrokuen Katsurazaka gate, the walk is about 20 minutes.

Omicho Market

The official site says Omicho Market has formed a part of Kanazawa’s food culture for more than 300 years, with more than 170 stores selling seafood, produce and meals.

Hours. 9:00 to 16:00, but they vary by store. Closed for the New Year holidays.
Season. The site says crab, yellowtail and shrimp from the Sea of Japan are especially prized around November, and the market is crowded then.
Access. About a 1-minute walk from the Musashigatsuji Omicho Market bus stop.

Nagamachi Samurai District

The official site describes Nagamachi as the area where middle to high-ranking samurai lived, and says it has narrow streets and earthen walls that survive from the Edo period. It is about a 15-minute walk from Kenrokuen.

Myoryuji Temple (Ninja Temple)

The temple has many mechanisms such as hidden stairs, which is why it is called the Ninja Temple. Visits are by advance reservation by phone only, and English is accepted on the phone. The official site lists 1,200 yen for adults and says the visit takes about 40 minutes. Visits start from 9:00 and end by 16:30, or by 16:00 in winter. It is closed on January 1 and 2 and on memorial service days. Payment is in cash.

A simple one-day order

This order follows the official walking distances above.

1. Omicho Market in the morning, about 15 minutes on foot from the station. 2. Kanazawa Castle Park and Kenrokuen, about 9 minutes on foot from the market to the castle gate. Allow time for the garden. 3. Higashi Chaya, by the Loop Bus or on foot. 4. Nagamachi if you still have time, or the Ninja Temple if you have booked by phone.

If you arrive from Nagoya by bus or train, allow most of a day for the journey. For a plan that starts in Nagoya, see our 3-day Nagoya itinerary, or our Nagoya to Kanazawa itinerary via Takayama and Shirakawa-go.

Map

Open these places in Google Maps:

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get from Nagoya to Kanazawa? The official Visit Kanazawa page lists an express bus taking 3 hours 50 minutes. For the train, check the JR timetable, because the route needs a change at Maibara or Tsuruga.

How much is Kenrokuen Garden? 320 yen for adults and 100 yen for ages 6 to 17, in cash. Early admission before opening is free at two entrances.

Is there a bus that goes to the main sights? Yes. The Kanazawa Loop Bus costs 220 yen per ride for adults and stops at Omicho Market, Higashi Chaya and Kenrokuen.

Can I walk from one sight to another? Mostly yes. The official page gives walking times such as 9 minutes from Omicho Market to the castle and 15 minutes from Kenrokuen to Nagamachi.

Do I need to book the Ninja Temple? Yes. Reservations are required, by phone only.