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Kanazawa

Kanazawa is 'little Kyoto' without the crowds — gold-leaf crafts, a samurai district, and one of Japan's best gardens.

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Kanazawa is the untouched Edo-era city the crowds miss — a samurai district, geisha teahouses, and Kenrokuen, one of Japan's three great gardens. It's on the shinkansen now; come for a day from Tokyo and stay for the seafood market and gold leaf. Less crowded than Kyoto, just as beautiful.

How long

1–2 days

Budget

¥10,000–18,000 per person per day at mid-range.

Getting around

Walk and the loop bus; shinkansen from Tokyo in under 3 hours.
Rent a car in Kanazawa

Money & essentials

Currency

Japanese yen (JPY). Cash and IC cards.

Language

Japanese. A translation app helps.

Budget range

¥10,000–18,000 per person per day at mid-range.

See what a trip to Japan actually costs. Travel Budget Co.

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