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IntroductionI found myself visiting Japan again and wanted to go somewhere new. So Kanazawa naturally came to mind because I’ve heard great things about it. And Kanazawa was the perfect getaway! It wasn’t too crowded, easy to get around with just walking, and had lots of day trip options if you wanted to explore elsewhere.
To get to Kanazawa, you could take the Shinkansen or fly (which is what I did). I flew into Komatsu Airport, where you could either take an airport bus directly to Kanazawa Station (pay using a machine, then bring the ticket on board) or take a bus to Komatsu Station (pay using IC card) and then take the train to Kanazawa Station. I chose to get around by walking since I felt like Kanazawa was incredibly walkable. However, you could also take the bus. The bus does NOT take your typical IC card but you can pay via contactless or cash. Overall I would highly recommend visiting! Next time, I would definitely come towards the winter time. *** bolded = highly recommended
food
Attractions
Just passing by
Nature
Day tripsYamanaka Onsen
Taking a day trip towards Yamanaka Onsen was easy since it's not too far from Kanazawa and could be done in half a day if needed! Overall, if you’re looking for a slower pace than what’s in Kanazawa, then this spot is for you. To get here, you just need to take the train and then a local bus. Google Maps will give you directions that are pretty straightforward. When you take the bus, I recommend taking the bus all the way to the last stop and then setting your GPS towards the Korogi Bridge so you get the most out of the experience. Start by walking to the Yamanakaza Tourist Information Center where you could actually pay to visit the onsen. Then slowly make your way through Yamanaka Onsen Yuge Street and look at all the wares for sale. I would recommend setting your GPS to Kakusenkei Gorges, walking across the Korogi Bridge, walking up Hakusan Shrine and then going the other way around to Ayatori Bridge and crossing back into town. The views while walking are incredibly pretty so I would carve out time for this! I had time to kill before the bus came, so I went to Izumiya Meat Shop where I got a really, really good chicken cutlet. Then, I stopped by 抹茶庵 山中店 to drink a mango matcha. And then, I put my foot in the foot onsen near the information center before I got back on the bus. Overall, you definitely don’t need a whole day here but I recommend at least carving out half a day. Shirakawa-go
This is probably the most popular day trip from Kanazawa, where you may have seen the triangular houses! I would also recommend visiting but Shirakawa-go is honestly pretty small. You could see everything in a few hours. I used this link to roughly plan my trip. There is no rail link here so you'll have to take the bus. Apparently tickets (buy them here) ran out quickly but I was able to get a ticket the day before for the next day. I would recommend getting a round trip ticket since you don't want to be stuck (but also I had a flight to catch). I felt 2-3 hours was plenty to get the full experience. If you mark these places in your maps then you'll see everything. I would recommend that you let yourself walk around and get lost since that's the best way to see the houses! You can pay to get inside some of the houses but I didn't think it was worth the money.
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