Ishikawa Attractions: Gardens, Teahouse Streets, Hot Springs, and Coastlines

The best way to organise Ishikawa’s attractions is by how to reach them: you can walk between sights in central Kanazawa, arrange onward transport for Kaga’s hot-spring areas and attractions, and check current access before visiting Noto. This page draws on official information (checked on 2026-10-28). The official sources do not provide a complete, same-day list of all reopened attractions in Noto, so none is presented here. Return to the Ishikawa Prefecture Travel Guide.

Key Points

• Kenrokuen Garden: admission is 320 yen for adults aged 18 or over and 100 yen for those aged 6 to 17. From October 16 to the end of February, it opens from 8:00 to 17:00 (last admission 16:30).
• Kanazawa’s central attractions are relatively close to one another: Kenrokuen Garden, the Nagamachi Samurai District, Higashi Chaya District, Omicho Market, and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art.
• Noto: official information continues to update which facilities can be visited. Do not assume that everything is operating normally.

Three Types of Attractions

Category	Attractions	Official information	Important considerations
Walking around the city	Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle, the Nagamachi Samurai District, Higashi Chaya District, Omicho Market, and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art	Kenrokuen is one of Japan’s representative traditional gardens, built by the Maeda family. Nagamachi is within walking distance of Kenrokuen and Kanazawa Castle. Higashi Chaya is Kanazawa’s largest and liveliest geisha district. Omicho is Kanazawa’s largest fresh-food market.	For transport, see Transport in Ishikawa Prefecture.
Suburban connections	The four Kaga hot-spring areas, Kakusenkei Gorge, Natadera Temple, and the Kutani Ware Museum	The four hot-spring areas are Yamashiro, Yamanaka, Katayamazu, and Awazu. The walking trail through Kakusenkei runs through Yamanaka Onsen. Natadera has cliffs and gardens. Kutani ware has a history spanning several centuries, and Yamanaka lacquerware is still produced. Mount Hakusan is approximately 2,700 metres high, with mountain climbing available in summer and ski areas in winter.	Buses are needed to reach various locations from Kagaonsen Station. See Transport in Ishikawa Prefecture.
Noto (check before travelling)	Ganmon, Sosogi Coast, Mitsukejima, Chirihama, Shiroyone Senmaida, Wajima lacquerware and morning market, Wakura Onsen, and Keta Taisha Shrine	Rugged coastlines, rural areas, and agricultural traditions. Wajima is known for a 500-year lacquerware tradition.	The official introduction page does not provide recovery information; see below.

Kenrokuen Garden

Official information for Kenrokuen Garden, which is managed by Ishikawa Prefecture:

Item	Details
Admission (individual)	Adults (18 or over) 320 yen; ages 6 to under 18, 100 yen; groups of 30 or more: adults 250 yen, children 80 yen
Opening hours	March 1 to October 15: 7:00 to 18:00 (last admission 17:30); October 16 to the end of February: 8:00 to 17:00 (last admission 16:30)
Free early-morning opening	Hours vary by season. For example, April 1 to August 31: 4:00 to 6:45; November 1 to the end of February: 6:00 to 7:45. Entry is only through Renchimon Gate and Zuishinzaka Gate.
Free admission dates	Cherry-blossom season (approximately seven days from late March to early April), Hyakumangoku Festival (three days in early June), traditional Obon (August 14–16), Culture Day (November 3), and the year-end/New Year period (December 31 to January 3)
Ishikawa Prefecture residents	Free on Saturdays and Sundays with proof of eligibility
Closing days	Open year-round, except Shiguretei, which closes from December 29 to January 3
Rules	No smoking anywhere in the garden; no pets; no two-wheeled vehicles. There are slopes and gravel paths, and some areas can be slippery. Wheelchairs are available to borrow, as are volunteer guides in Japanese and English.

Noto: Check Recovery Information First

• Ishikawa Prefecture’s official Noto tourism introduction covers the coast, countryside, and Wajima lacquerware, but does not provide information about earthquake recovery, reopening, or roads.
• The Ishikawa Tourism Federation’s Noto recovery feature (updated in February 2026) asks visitors to check the latest information on each facility’s website before travelling. Some facilities are still under repair, and some areas cannot be entered. Do not enter restricted areas, collapsed buildings, or places with debris. Some locations restrict groups and buses.

How to Choose

Your situation	Suggested approach
Only one day in Kanazawa	Walk around the city centre, checking Kenrokuen Garden’s opening hours first
Interested in hot springs	Consider the four Kaga hot-spring areas and allow time for local connections
Interested in the coast	Consider Noto, confirming facilities and roads individually before departure

Further reading: Transport in Ishikawa Prefecture, Chubu Region Travel Guide.