KANAZAWA SHORE EXCURSIONS: KENROKU-EN, GEISHA DISTRICT OR GOKAYAMA VILLAGE

Kanazawa came through the war without bombing, so a lot of the old city is still there. Two routes, each about 6 hours.

Route 1: Kanazawa highlights

• Oyama Shrine, with a gate that has stained glass in the top, a mix of Japanese and Western style.
• Kenroku-en, one of the three great gardens of Japan. Big, so wear comfortable shoes.
• Nagamachi, the old samurai district, with mud walls and narrow lanes.
• Omicho Market, the city's fish and food market. Good place for a seafood lunch.
• Higashi Chaya, the old geisha district with wooden teahouses. Shops here sell gold leaf, which Kanazawa is famous for, even on ice cream.

Route 2: Gokayama village and Kenroku-en

• Drive into the mountains to Ainokura in Gokayama, a small village of steep thatched houses called gassho-zukuri. It is a World Heritage site and people still live there, so please keep voices down.
• Gassho-zukuri exhibition house "Yusuke", to see inside one of these houses.
• Kenroku-en garden on the way back.

Route 2 has more time on the road (the village is in the mountains), but it is a side of Japan few cruise passengers see.

How our Japan shore excursions work

• Private tour for your group only, from about 5 people in a minivan up to 40 in a full coach.
• A licensed English-speaking local guide meets you at the cruise terminal.
• We plan the day around your ship's times and bring you back to the pier well before all-aboard.
• The times on this page are a guide. Send us your ship name and port date and we fit the day to it.

Included

• Licensed English-speaking guide
• Private vehicle with driver, highway tolls and parking
• Entrance fees for the sights listed in the route you choose

Not included

• Lunch and drinks (your guide will point you to a good place)
• Tips for the guide and driver

Price

The price per person depends on how many people are in your group: a group of 30 pays much less each than a group of 6. Tell us your ship, date and group size and we will send a price.

See all our Japan shore excursions.