• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Welcome to Kõrinbõ in Kanazawa! Want to know the best places to eat? Which places to go to and which to avoid? Or simply get some help to navigate the city? Get the perfect introduction to the city on this private tour with a local and start your city trip on the right foot.

Destination

Kanazawa, Japan

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

2 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Español, 日本語, Français, Deutsch

Included

• Private Guide
• Local Tips & Tricks
• City Orientation
• All Withlocals Tours are Carbon Neutral

Excluded

• Entrance to attractions

What you can expect

Choose your local

Get to know these 5 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at At the entrance of Mister Donut - Kanazawa to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. Kõrinbõ Exploring

   This Kanazawa tour takes you to explore Kõrinbõ, where you can see another side of the city. Kickstart your trip in this fascinating area and get recommendations of what to do and where to go that will show you Kõrinbõ at its best!

4. City Highlights

   See Kanazawa Shrine, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, and more landmarks and must-sees of the city. Your local host will take you to the main spots of the city so you can get the perfect introduction to what makes Kanazawa so special

5. Local Hot Spots

   Along the way, your host will point out hangout spots and hidden gems that only the locals know about and will help you get acquainted with the city in the most local way possible

6. Food Recommendations

   Receive tailored recommendations according to your taste and where to go and what to eat while visiting Kanazawa. Avoid tourist traps thanks to your local host!

7. City Orientation

   Learn how to navigate the city, and get the answers to your Kanazawa questions that will help you in the following days making your time in the city much easier

8. Make it yours

   Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

   Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

   Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Chloé et Thomas

(About local Criselda)

2 March 2025

Not only Criselda is nice, she is also very professional and knowledgeable about the history of the city but also Japan and she knows how to immerge us into the culture playing guessing games to compare with our local usage. We have to say that we have used some guides before but Criselda is by far the one that made us feel understanding more the culture and connecting the dots of the history we learned. So thank you again a lot, it has been a great experience with you ! Happy to welcome you back in France whenever you want. Chloe and Thomas Greatest guide we had in Japan !

Allison

(About local Monse)

1 January 2025

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's really great, ten out of ten, would recommend!Perfect

Amy

(About local Lucy)

20 December 2024

We so enjoyed visiting Kanazawa with Lucy. She’s very knowledgeable about the city and as a foreign resident has an interesting perspective on living in Japan and beautiful Kanazawa. Our entire family were really glad we had the chance to take this tour! Terrific tour

Allyson🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Lucy)

6 December 2024

Our tour with Lucy was fabulous! We didn't quite know where to start exploring Kanazawa and after our tour with Lucy we knew so much more about the city and what we could see and do. Lucy was so knowledgeable about Kanazawa and it's history. We really enjoyed the places that she shared with us and loved that she was happy to answer our many questions. Thank you Lucy!Wonderful!

Katie🇳🇿 New Zealand

(About local Monse)

1 December 2024

Monse was a wonderful tour guide. Very knowledgeable and fun to talk to. Would highly recommend. Fabulous tour

Roxana🇦🇷 Argentina

(About local Lucy)

21 November 2024

We hace such a wonderfull time with Lucy!!!! I highly recommend her. We learned a lot about Kanazawa!! Thanks again Lucy. Lucy is amaizing!!!

Claudia🇳🇱 Netherlands

(About local Lucy)

9 November 2024

Lucy was an amazing guide: knowledgable, personable and completely flexible to work with our interests and our pace. It didn’t feel like having a tour guide but like a local friend by your side. She was able to answer all our questions, give us a bit of background on Japanese history, tell us interesting and relevant facts about the parts of Kanazawa we explored and also enlighten us about her experiences of living in Japan. It was great to have all this in fluent German and English! Would definitely recommend booking a tour with Lucy when you arrive in Kanazawa as this intro to the city helped us plan the remainder of our (too short) time there. Thank you Lucy!!What a wonderful way to explore Kanazawa

Elena🇺🇸 United States

(About local Monse)

21 October 2024

After our private tour with Monse my wife said, "was it really just 2 hours?". It felt much longer, because we managed to see so many places and discuss so many things. Monse is a de facto expat who came to Kanazawa 5 years ago for a PhD program and learned Japanese - in addition to her native Spanish and a very good English. As such, she is both insider and outsider with respect to the city as well as Japanese culture. She has lived there (and studied history, religion and customs in addition to her main field - biology) enough to know how things are, but she also conveys a flavor of amusement that makes the tour so much more engaging. Very energetic and engaging

Helen

(About local Criselda)

17 October 2024

Had a great experience with Chriselda as our guide! Even before we met, she provided us with some helpful tips. Chriselda was very knowledgeable about the history of Kanazawa and took us to areas that we would have missed if we did it on our own. I mentioned that I wanted to try a specific dish and she went the extra mile and called the restaurant to try book. From beginning to end communication was great. Thank you for the wonderful tour Chriselda! Kanazawa was definitely one of my favorite cities. Highlight of my Trip

Bruna

(About local Monse)

11 October 2024

We had very little time in Kanazawa and were lucky to get a time with Monse. She met us early in the morning and gave us such a rich tour, we were impressed. We’ve been in Japan for over 10 days and had other 3 privately guided tours that were very disappointing. Monse is sweet, energetic, fun and highly knowledgeable about Kanazawa. After the tour we followed many of the tips she gave us and had an amazing time throughout the day! Highly recommend booking with her 😃Best tour guide experience in 10 days

Eulália

(About local Lucy)

1 October 2024

We would highly recommend Lucy as your guide in Kanazawa. Lucy was very informative and friendly. It was a pleasure to visit the city through her eyes.Lovely lady in a lovely city

Rainer

(About local Monse)

6 June 2024

Thx for a wonderfull Tour. Danke für eine wundervolle Tour. Monse is the pefect Guide, thx for allPerfect Tour

Heiko

(About local Lucy)

1 June 2024

Wir hatten die City Kickstart Tour mit Lucy kurzfristig gebucht. Wir hatten viel Spaß, da sie während der Tour nicht nur das Geschichtliche erzählt hat, sondern auch viel Freiraum für Fragen gelassen hat und wir so auch viel über das Leben in Japan erfahren konnte. Da sie schon länger in Japan lebt, konnte sie auch viele kleine Anekdoten aus dem täglichen Leben erzählen. Die Kommunikation war im Vorfeld und nach der Tour super und sie hat uns auch Tips gegeben, was wir alleine noch in Kanazawa machen können. So hatten wir den perfekten Einstieg für unseren Aufenthalt.

Bernd🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Lucy)

1 May 2024

Booking a last-minute tour in the picturesque city of Kanazawa could have been daunting, but Lucy made it an absolute breeze. Within minutes of our spontaneous request, she confirmed our tour for the same day, setting the tone for an efficient and welcoming experience. During our two-hour guided tour, Lucy expertly navigated us through Kanazawa's key attractions, laying a perfect groundwork for our four-day visit. Lucy’s knowledge of the city shone brightly as she introduced us to the local craftsmen and their exquisite skills, particularly in gold manufacturing—a highlight that brought the unique culture of Kanazawa to life. Her passion for the city's heritage was contagious, making every moment engaging and educational. What truly set Lucy apart was her willingness to extend her hospitality beyond the tour. She stayed in touch, offering invaluable recommendations that enhanced our stay significantly. Her tips were not only thoughtful but tailored to our interests, showcasing her dedication and personal touch. In summary, our experience with Lucy was nothing short of remarkable. Her professionalism, deep local knowledge, and genuine care for her guests deserve a 10/10 rating. We would enthusiastically recommend her to anyone visiting Kanazawa and are eager to explore more with her in the future.Exceptional Tour !

Anke🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Lucy)

24 April 2024

Wir haben mit Lucy gleich nach dem Eintreffen in Kanazawa eine zweistündige Tour gemacht. In der kurzen Zeit haben wir das Wichtigste und mehr erfahren und einen guten ersten Überblick über die Stadt mit ihren Sehenswürdigkeiten bekommen. Es hat sehr viel Spaß gemacht. Zudem haben wir jede Menge Tipps darüber hinaus bekommen. Gerne hätten wir einen so kompetenten und herzlichen Guide auch in anderen Städten gehabt. erkenntnisreiche, herzliche Tour

Maximilian

(About local Lucy)

25 March 2024

Super Guide - ausgezeichnete Führung

Alberto🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lucy)

11 March 2024

Lucy was a great host! She made sure we visited the most important sites and taught us the history of the region while walking through several points of interest. Don't hesitate to book the experience!Amazing experience

Arne🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Lucy)

5 November 2023

Die Führung mit Lucy war ebenso ein unvergessliches und tolles Erlebnis wie auch die Organisation und Flexibilität während der kurzfristigen Anfragephase. Der Zugang zu den vielen Details und Informationen wär uns ohne Lucys Fachwissen wohl nicht ansatzweise möglich gewesen. Das große geschichtliche Hintergrundwissen von Lucy war ebenso beeindruckend wie die Stadtviertel und der Besuch den Samurai-Hauses. Liebe Lucy, An dieser Stelle auch nochmals unser herzlicher Dank für deine Zeit und deine tollen Insights. Liebe Grüße ArneSpannende Stadtführung mit vielen Insights

Maria

(About local Raphaël)

26 February 2025

We really enjoyed our walk with Raphael. English perfect, knowledge about Kanazawa and Japanese culture also great. He has been living here already for many year with his wife and two kids. He is entertaining, flexible and knows where to go. Absolutely worth your while if you are here for a short stay. We requested a private tour for our family, learning about geisha's and samurai. Highly recommended!Raphael, wonderful guide through Kanazawa, thanks so much!

Sakari

(About local Nuria)

10 February 2025

Had good time with Nuria. Visited couple of nice restaurants and food market with her. As I have been living quite a long time in Japan there was nothing very new for me. Good part was also that she was able to give me some new restaurants worth of trying in future.Eating in Kanazawa

Cristina

(About local Nuria)

4 February 2025

Nuria es excelente, súper profesional, flexible, encantadora. Le daría un 10 y volvería a contratarla mil veces. Gracias por todo, NuriaExcelente

Elke

(About local Raphaël)

3 February 2025

Raphaël es un guía excelente y dedicado . Recomiendo ampliamente su tour al igual que su amabilidad hace que Kanazawa sea una experiencia maravillosa . Muchas gracias y sin lugar a duda regresaremos .“Excelente!!! Ampliamente recomendado ”

Nigel

(About local Criselda)

30 January 2025

Criselda was a brilliant guide and went above and beyond to give recommendations.Brilliant Guide

Sandra

(About local Raphaël)

27 January 2025

This tour was more than we expected! Raphael is an excellent person and knows a lot about the culture and main landmarks of Kanazawa. He took us to the best hidden gems and made sure that everyone in our group was satisfied with their visit. We took this tour with my 70 year old mom and aunt. He was extremely patient and made the necessary alterations to the itinerary so that they could as well get the best of the tour even if they couldn't make the hike. He has great recommendations about local crafts and I would definitely book this experience again in the future since this city was one of our favorites :) maybe even thanks to Raphael's guidance! Thank you Raphael for your patience :) see you soon!!“A MUST WHEN VISITING KANAZAWA”

Tracey

(About local Raphaël)

21 January 2025

I booked the walking Tour of Kanazawa for my husband and I last minute. Raphael responded immediately and met us at our hotel the next day. He provided us with many options of where to visit and allowed us to tailor the tour to our preferences. Raphael was very engaging, knowledgeable and passionate about Japan. We did several tours whilst in Japan and all guides were great however Raphael was exceptional and I would highly recommend booking a tour with him!“Awesome Guide!”

Alex

(About local Lucy)

19 January 2025

My husband and I spent a nice afternoon with Lucy. She was a great tour guide and was very knowledgeable about the history of Kanazawa, the arts and culture in Kanazawa and we also loved learning about her experience raising a family as a French woman in Japan. She took us to some great stops and also suggested a lovely museum And restaurant that we enjoyed after our tour with her. Thank you so much Lucy.A lovely afternoon strolling in Kanazawa

Aoife🇮🇪 Ireland

(About local Nuria)

9 January 2025

We enjoyed a lovely afternoon exploring Kanazawa with Nuria. She showed us some interesting sights which we would have never found ourselves as well as sharing lots of interesting facts about the city with us. We had a really lovely time and would recommend the tour! An enjoyable and informative afternoon

carlos🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Monse)

5 January 2025

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

James

(About local Raphaël)

1 January 2025

It was me and my partner's first trip to Japan and we didn't know much about Kanazawa beforehand. We were coming in from Kyoto and figured the evening walk would be a light introduction to the city. What we ended up with, was a rich history of the city, a wonderful dinner that surpassed any we had until that point and a fantastic, knowledgeable guide. Raph himself is very knowledgeable, humorous, and a knowledge font! We also discussed Shirakawa-go and would recommend everyone experience that village when you travel. I couldn't recommend Raph enough and if you are lucky enough to see he has free time, would recommend booking a trip with him.“History, dinner to remember, and inside look into Kanazawa”

michael

(About local Monse)

28 December 2024

We are a family of 5 and have had a wonderful 2 days with mons who organised walks and activities that perfectly fitted out brief to her. Lovely company and informative and helpful at every step. Highlights were views of the Sea of Japan, onsen walk by the river, boat ride to view the bridges and the unesco area. Mons is a delight and I fully recommend her.Kanazawa outing

Kara🇯🇵 Japan

(About local Monse)

28 December 2024

Monse was an amazing guide! We covered most of Kanazawa in 3 hours. She was fantastic with my three kids and super helpful, capturing many family photos. It felt like a small town and she knew a lot of the people along the way. She was full of knowledge about the history and the hidden gems . One of the most organized and thorough tours I've been on - fantastic!Highly recommend!

lisa

(About local Criselda)

25 December 2024

Criselda has an incredible amount of information to share—historical as well as cultural. She was very accommodating with our teens and patiently answered all of their questions. We truly felt that we had an insider’s view of the city. Don’t miss this experience of you visit Kanazawa!Wonderful, insightful toyr of Kanazawa

Louise🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Lucy)

17 December 2024

Lucy was excellent, ensuring we explored and discovered many hidden places of Kanazawa that we probably would not have found ourselves and if we did happen to stumble across them, we wouldn't know or understand what we were looking at. She was very good at tailoring the tour to our areas of interest and being a local was able to share interesting insights about life, culture and history of Kanazawa. We thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend. Hidden Gems of Kanazawa

Joel

(About local Raphaël)

17 December 2024

Raphael accepted our request at the last minute for a walking tour in Kanazawa. He met us at our hotel and was able to listen to our requests and make some additional suggestions in the local area. Raphael is polite, and knowledgeable on local history and geography. We had a fantastic day with Raphael and he was especially good with our 4 year old who took an instant liking to him. Raphael also went out of his way to check on availability of tourist spots and activities and even a restaurant for after the tour. I fully recommend Raphael as a guide for Kanazawa 10/10“Fantastic Guide”

Megan

(About local Lucy)

15 December 2024

Lucy was great! We were a large group with a huge age range (5-79), and one person who couldn’t walk far distances. She worked very hard to find a place that would accommodate us all (the day after Christmas no less!) but that would also us to try the local cuisine. Although we were not able to do the traditional food walking tour- we nonetheless had a wonderful time and got to experience local Kanazawan foods.A taste of Kanazawa

Eugene🇺🇸 United States

(About local Criselda)

25 November 2024

We got in touch with Cris at the last moment. She shifted her schedule a bit to accommodate us, and the rainy weather forced her to adjust what we saw -- primarily the Omichi Market. She was warm, knowledgeable, flexible, and fun. So glad we found her.Great Time On A Rainy Day

stuckik

(About local Lucy)

24 November 2024

Lucy was a very good guide. She showed us lots of interesting sights in Kanazawa and told us background information about them. We enjoyed our time with her very much.Very pleasant experience

Bonnie🇺🇸 United States

(About local Criselda)

24 November 2024

Cris provided a terrific tour even in the rain for us. She was able to show us what we requested and give us glimpse of what we might want to go back and see later. I would highly recommend her for other travelers. I would also like to remind travelers to consider sunset time when selecting tour ti es. Luckily, I was able to ask Cris ahead and adjust our time. Would definitely do it again.Exceptional service

Yamila🇦🇷 Argentina

(About local Monse)

23 November 2024

Monse hizo que nuestro día en Kanazawa fuera increíble ! Llegamos con lluvia y nos despidió con lluvia, pero gracias a ella pudimos disfrutar el recorrido. Gracias mil ! !!! Hermosa persona, divertida. Euge y Yami Kanazawa en todo su esplendor

Vivien

(About local Lucy)

15 November 2024

We very much enjoyed having Lucy as our guide. Lucy is very knowledgeable and gave us an excellent overview of Kanazawa. We would highly recommend a tour with herInteresting tour

Neil🇦🇺 Australia

(About local Criselda)

14 November 2024

Despite a last minute booking Criselda was open and very accommodating to our schedule. She is a lovely person and very knowledgeable. She went over and above to help us book train tickets, organise a dinner location and further advise about our next stop . She deserves every success.Could not have been happier

Mark

(About local Criselda)

10 November 2024

We highly recommend booking Cris! Stop searching and without a doubt, book her tour NOW! Cris made our visit to Kanazawa insightful, enjoyable, and memorable. She offered fantastic suggestions for eating (snacks, bars, lunch, dinners) and sightseeing (shrines, gardens, tea houses) and even checked in beforehand to see if we had specific interests! Her dedication to giving guests the full Kanazawa experience is evident her deep cultural knowledge and warm personality made exploring the city's districts a pleasure. Our time with Cris was a true highlight of our Japan trip! We will take our moments touring Kanazawa with Cris back home with us - and will surely recommend her tours to our friends back home! ☺️Unforgettable tour of Kanazawa by Cris!

Duayna🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lucy)

8 November 2024

We asked Lucy to take us to see two Geisha Disitricts and the Samuri District before we did our foodie thing. She did. While on the tour she gave us considerable historical and legendary context on the three districts. We would have never had this perspective without her input. While in one of the Geisha Districts we also "popped into" a Saki shop and sampled 6 different kinds. Yum! By the way, it was pouring rain almost the entire time but we still had a great time. After visiting the Samuri District we went to dinner. This restaurant she picked was not a touristy spot but a traditional local favorite - that often was fully booked - we were lucky to get in. She chose so many amazing dishes it's hard to cover. I tried several dishes I would never have without a knowledgible person to guide me - the rest of our small group did too. If you're heading to Kanazawa give Lucy a try and let her know what other interests you have for your stay before you get there. She reviewed our itinerary for the next day said it was good and gave us a couple of pointers too. I'd certainly have her take us around should I ever go again. We're a "mature" group of four - if you are too I'd advise you to take a cab if you're going from the Geisha Districts to the Samuri Districts. We walked it with no trouble but we wouldn't have missed anything by taking a cab. Great Afternoon/Evening With Lucy

Jeremy

(About local Raphaël)

8 November 2024

Our tour with Raphael in Kanazawa was an unforgettable experience, even on a rainy day. Armed with umbrellas, we explored the city's rich history and culture, with Raphael sharing fascinating insights about Kanazawa and the Ishikawa region. The tour began with a peaceful walk along the river, followed by a scenic hike where we discovered a tranquil shrine hidden in the forest—an enchanting, quiet spot. We then wandered through the historical Higashiyama district, feeling transported back in time, browsing local shops with Raphael's expert recommendations. The delicious lunch and Raphael’s personal stories of life in Japan made the day even more special. It was perfect for our family, including our 10-year-old, who loved the adventure of discovering hidden spots and hearing stories from Raphael. He took us to hidden gems we'd never have found on our own. Highly recommend!“Unforgettable Kanazawa tour”

Christine🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Lucy)

7 November 2024

Auf unserer Japanrundreise mit mehreren Stadtführungen, war der Rundgang durch Kanazawa mit Lucy das Beste!!! Wir haben viel über das Leben in der Stadt erfahren und wir besichtigten alle historischen Stadtteile. Sie hat alle Fragen von uns beantwortet. Danke Lucy ;))Das Beste was uns passiert ist

Mariana

(About local Criselda)

29 October 2024

Tracey

(About local Criselda)

29 October 2024

Crissy was a great tour guide a lovely lady and very knowledgeable guide. It was great to be able to go into a Samari and Geisha houses. The history was amazing and interesting and the tour was tailored to what we wanted to do. The best way to see Kanazawa. Great tour

Andree🇩🇪 Germany

(About local Lucy)

29 October 2024

Da wir eine kleine Tour (3 Stunden) in deutscher Sprache mit Lucy gebucht haben werde ich auch in deutsch schreiben. Lucy war pünktlich an unserem Hotel in Kanazawa. Wir haben uns sofort gut verstanden. Unsere Tour führte durch zwei Geisha-Viertel wobei Lucy uns viel über Vergangenheit und Gegenwart erzählte. Wir schlenderten durch die Gartenanlage von Kanazawa Castle und spazierten durch das Samurai-Viertel. Wir waren so in der Lage am nächsten Tag individuell auf eigene Faust durch Kanazawa zu streichen. Wir besuchten das Innere der Burg, waren auf einem Sake-Fest (auf das uns Lucy hinwies) und haben uns ein echtes Samurai-Haus angesehen. Am Abend hatten wir ein tolles Abendessen im PlatHome (unbedingt vorher reservieren...). Vielen Dank, Lucy... wir kommen wieder... :-)Kanazawa Tour mit Lucy

Amy🇺🇸 United States

(About local Lucy)

26 October 2024

Lucy was amazing. We loved her and wish she could go with us everywhere. The tour itself was very informative and provided us with lots of history, information and anecdotes. The pace was perfect, our many questions were answered thoughtfully and with detail. It was all around great!The best

Vadim

(About local Lucy)

26 October 2024

We’ve booked our tour at the very last moment after having already arrived at Kanazawa. It was a wise move, as Lucy turned out to be an outstanding guide. We especially appreciated her mother naught into everyday life in the city and enjoyed the noodle house she recommended for lunch.Excellent Kanazawa walk with Lucy