Hidden Gems: Exploring Beautiful Gardens in Kanazawa

Do you love gardens? If so, this is the perfect opportunity for you!

Experience details

• Destination

  Kanazawa

• Category

  Off the beaten track

• Duration

  4 hours

• Mode of transport

  Walking

• Available languages

  English • Español

• Highlights

  • Family friendly

• What's included

  Private guide • Kids join for free

Here’s an overview of your tour

Your itinerary

• Meeting point

  Kanazawa

• Garden of the Nomura Family Samurai Residence

  We will start our adventure in this beautiful garden that has received international acclaim, earning 2 stars from the Michelin Green Guide Japan.

• Shofukaku Garden

  Shofukaku Garden has a longer history than Kanazawa's major tourist attraction, the Kenrokuen Garden. However, as it's only been open to the public for a short time, this is still a bit of a secret spot even the locals aren’t familiar with.

• Art Path

  The "Art Path" is a series of stone steps that connect the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art and the Nakamura Memorial Museum of Art, and runs parallel to the Tatsumi Irrigation Canal that flows from Kenrokuen Garden. The path creates an atmosphere that helps you forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

• Kenrokuen Garden

  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.

• Gyokusen-en Nishida Family Garden

  Gyokusen-en Garden, located close to Kenrokuen Garden, has 400 years of history. The Wakita family, senior retainers of the Kaga clan, landscaped the garden for about 100 years. The oldest tea-ceremony house in Kanazawa Saisetsu-tei Alley

• Gyokuseninmaru Garden

  Gyokuseninmaru Garden is a traditional-style garden on the grounds of Kanazawa Castle. Its stepped design creates a sense of verticality. Design features include a stair-like waterfall that flows from one of the garden’s distinctive stone walls.

• Matcha & Wagashi time

  Let's relax and enjoy the view of the Gyokuseninmaru Garden together.

Select your local guide

Explore the city with our diverse Withlocals hosts—passionate storytellers offering unique perspectives on every tour.

• Monse

  The Ramen & Coffee hunter

  Monse

  5.0

  29 reviews

  I speak

  English • Español
  Choose

Good to Know

• Tips

  • Bring a reusable water bottle to reduce plastic
  • Be mindful of sharing the real secret spots - let's keep them a secret
  • Be aware of cultural norms & be mindful

• Included

  • Private guide
  • Kids join for free

• Not included

  • Entrance tickets to the gardens
  • Matcha and Wagashi fee
  • Transport costs
  • Meals or snacks

• Cancellation

  • Receive a full refund for cancellations done 7 days before the experience date.
  • Your experience can be cancelled and fully refunded within 24 hours of purchase.

Reviews

• carlosAbout local MonseJanuary 5, 2025
  5.0

  great guide

  "Monse was a great guide: very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. Highly recommended. "

• JasminAbout local MonseJanuary 3, 2025
  5.0

  Amazing Experience!

  "My husband and I were on vacation for a week trying to see the real Japan. We saw this tour and didn't know what to expect. We were very happy with the experience. Monse is very knowledgeable and has... show more

• AllisonAbout local MonseJanuary 1, 2025
  5.0

  Perfect

  "We had really just one day in Kanazawa so we booked our tour with Monse for as soon as we got in. I'm so glad we did! Monse was so much fun to be around and she knew so much of the rich history. She... show more