Kenrokuen Garden is one of Japan’s most celebrated landscape gardens. You can enjoy seasonal beauty and atmosphere. If you can go there, you can enjoy (1)Discover iconic sights such as Kasumigaike Pond and the famous Kotoji Lantern. Perfect spots for memorable photos! (2)Experience the changing scenery throughout year. From cherry blossoms in spring, and vibrant autumn foliage to snow-covered trees in winter. ❄️ (3)Stroll through beautifully landscaped grounds featuring ponds, streams, bridges, and historic teahouses.
Kanazawa Castle is a historic landmark and one of Japan’s most impressive castles, offering glimpses into the regions samurai past. If you go there, you can enjoy (1)Explore the vast castle grounds, including iconic gates like “Ishikawa-Mon” and impressive structures such as “The Higashi Yagura Turret”. (2)Discover the unique stone architecture
Omicho Market, known as Kanazawa’s “Kitchen of the City”, is a vibrant marketplace bursting with around 170 shops selling fresh seafood, vegetables, fruits, and local dishes. If you go there, you can enjoy (1)Enjoy the unique experience of food walking-tasting a variety of local specialties. Such as Sushi, Kanazawa style croquettes, Oden(Japanese Hot Pot), fresh fruits and grilled skewers. (2)Capture vibrant senses of market life and delicious food, ideal for memorable photos. *If you have any food allergies or restrictions, please inform the host in advance.
Higashi Chaya District (Geisha District) is one of Kanazawa’s most famous traditional tea house quarters, offering a beautifully preserved glimpse into Edo-period Japan. (1) Wander along atmospheric stone-paved streets lined with historic wooden tea houses featuring distinctive latticed windows and vermilion-colored walls, many designated as cultural heritage sites. (2) Experience traditional culture through opportunities such as gold leaf crafts, tea ceremonies, and sampling local sweets and matcha in charming cafes.
Nagamachi Samurai District is an area where you can feel the lifestyle of samurai. Because Kanazawa was largely untouched by air raids during World War II, the atmosphere from the samurai era has been remarkably preserved. (1) The area features scenic canals, historic samurai residences like the Nomura-ke, (Entrance fee is required.) and peaceful gardens, allowing visitors to experience the daily life of samurai in the Edo period (17-19century.) (2) It is famous for its preserved earthen walls and stone-paved streets, creating a traditional atmosphere just steps away from Kanazawa’s modern city center.
Wonderful citytour, guided by the joyful and enthusiastic Yuri-san. Her radiating happiness at showing her hometown even made the rain disappear. A warm recommendation
Our afternoon was Yuri was wonderful - we saw it all and she is just a joy to be around. Kind, knowledgeable and a real Kanazawa expert (we ran into 4 friends of hers just walking around). And get the gold covered ice cream! Highly recommend!
Thank you Yuri for such a lovely day! From the weather, to the sites, lunch, walking through lovely quiet neighborhoods, and visiting the gold leaf production to enjoy a gold leaf ice cream, the day was just perfect! We couldn't ask for better company! You are so kind, and patient with my 81 year old father. We truly appreciated getting paired with you. Yuri is informative, speaks English well, and fun!
Great experience with the lovely Yuri.
We had the most wonderful tour with Yuri! From the start, she was fantastic about communicating with us and had everything so thoughtfully organized. Her knowledge of the places we visited was incredible, and she brought the history, people, and politics to life with wonderful visuals and fascinating stories. Beyond her expertise, Yuri has such a warm and delightful personality. She truly went above and beyond to make sure our experience was special and even took some lovely photos of us that we’ll treasure. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide or a more memorable experience. Highly recommend Yuri!
Yuri was a wonderful guide for a tour of the highlights of Kanazawa, Japan. She was extremely knowledgeable, articulate, very warm and friendly, flexible and creative. She also helped rescue me from a real problem- I lost my wallet during the tour. She led the effort in searching for it from several locations, leaving hers and my contact info, and navigating a laborious process of reporting it in person to the local police department, while all the time assuring me me that it would eventually turn up. Sure enough, several days later we received notice that it was in fact found and would be delivered to one of our hotels in a few days. Wonderful Yuri!
Yuki is amazing and can cater your trip to each travelers wishes and wants. truly one of the best guide experiences I have ever had
Yuri is amazing. She was very thoughtful and helpful before and during the tour. I would highly recommend her. She was born and raised here, so her local knowledge and contacts really added a lot to the day.
Yuri was the best! We felt like we had a very special experience. She found exactly the food we liked in the omicho market- was the best fish we had in Japan! She took us on a personalized tour, provided information we would not have been able to obtain without a tour guide, and gave great restaurant and sight-seeing recommendations! She gave us sweet treats along the way and was a pleasure to be around. She knew all the local people on the street and is clearly a beloved member of the community.
There is nothing more delightful than a great tour guide and Yuri is EXCELLENT at her job. This beautiful experience is now a great memory for us both! Yuri curated the tour especially for us which made all the difference. We set the pace and she was fun, kind, and had great energy and knowledge to share with us about her hometown while guiding us to the next perfect spot. Book this tour if you can get it! Yuri is a beautiful person inside and out!
Yuri was our guide for an evening, and it was a fantastic experience. I highly recommend her ! She is vibrant, warm, and took the time to answer all our questions about Japanese culture while providing great historical background on Kanazawa. We are from France and don't speak English very well, but Yuri speaks great English and was very patient with us. Everything went smoothly despite the language gap ! Finishing the tour with a ramen tasting was a wonderful touch ! If you want to explore Kanazawa with a guide who brings positivity and great insight, book with Yuri ! Thank you so much Yuri, see you next time 💐
We booked the half-day Kanazawa Samurai-Tour. Getting around is by bus and by foot. Tour starts at 9.00 and ends at 1 p.m. … no…. actually the tour started even before arriving in Japan. Our guide Yuri supplied us with all the details of the tour weeks before. She even sent tips for Japan, which was highly appreciated since it was our first trip. So we were well prepared when we finally met Yuri. What should I say? She is a sunshine!! She explained everything well with additional material she showed us on her mobile. After visiting the Kanazawa Castle Park Yuri was open and flexible to change the program skipping the Honda Museum in order to see the Kenrokuen Garden (which was the better choice from our point of view). After that we went to the Nagamachi Samurai District. Thank you Yuri for such a wonderful day. Hoping to see you in Munich next June :-) ^
I had a wonderful time with Yuri exploring Kanazawa! She got in touch with me before the tour so I could help shape the itinerary based on my interests, which made the tour a really special mix of things I wanted to do and things I didn’t even know existed! I’m a pretty experienced traveller in Japan, and Yuri did a great job of tailoring her explanations to my level - I learned a lot! I also got to see some places off the beaten tourist track, which was what I wanted. This makes her the perfect guide for visitors both new and experienced. In short, this tour is great value for both time and money. Thank you so much Yuri!
My husband and I have been living in Kanazawa for quite some time now, but until recently, we had never explored the city with a professional guide. We knew the general things Kanazawa is famous for - its gold leaf production, Kenrokuen Garden, the geisha and samurai districts, etc. - but we had never really delved into the history and stories behind these places. Whenever we travel in Europe, we always sign up for guided tours, and we have never been disappointed. This time was no exception! We had been wanting to try on a kimono or yukata for quite some time, and since we don't speak Japanese, we wanted to make the experience as easy as possible for ourselves. That's when we reached out to Yuri! Our communication with her was flawless. She made all the necessary arrangements with the rental shop, met us there, and translated everything for us. She is such a polite and positive person! She is also incredibly organized and provided very clear instructions on how the tour would work alongside the yukata rental. Even though we had to reschedule due to bad weather, everything went perfectly thanks to Yuri's preparedness and excellent time management. After getting dressed in our yukatas, we explored the Higashi Chaya District with Yuri, and she showed us a completely new side of a place we had visited so many times before. I feel that, however much you read and research on your own, there are simply some things you notice while walking around that only a local person can point out and explain properly. She is also very social and outgoing, and thanks to her, we had the opportunity to speak with so many other locals, which made the day even more memorable and special. I highly recommend booking a tour with Yuri! Thank you, Yuri, for giving us the opportunity to experience Kanazawa in such a magical way! ❤️
Yuriya is the best guide in town I can say! She was kind, friendly, always smiling, with no dull moments, and very knowledgeable! She made the experience fun and comfortable, and she was always happy to help and answer our questions. She also took photos for us, very helpful, I really appreciated her warm personality and attention to detail. And she’s so thoughtful, she gave us a konjac jellies after the tour (which is so yummy!😋 )Highly recommended if you’re looking for a wonderful guide!
Yuri was an absolutely fun and charming tour guide of Kanazawa. She was patient and kept us on task. She showed us not only things the tour books will tell you, but what nuances she likes about the neighborhoods. It was funny, she would show us the best place to take a picture and then other people would start following what we were doing! Yuri would even help us take pictures which was a lot more convenient than relying on my selfie arm or fellow tourists! It was fun watching her connect with vendors and restaurant owners adding a sincere, personal touch. She was sweet to introduce us to locals. Yuri also has a good sense of humor. It shows she really enjoys exhibiting her hometown!
We went to Japan for 25 days and did more or less 15 tours / activities. This was by far the best tour / activity that we had during our trip. Yuri was an amazing guide. 100% recommended.
Wonderful Kanazawa tour with Juri – one of the highlights of our trip! We had an absolutely fantastic day in Kanazawa with Juri. From the very beginning, she was warm, friendly and perfectly organised. She showed us beautiful places, explained a lot about Japanese culture and gave us an authentic insight into the city that we would never have experienced on our own. The creative workshop and the opportunity to try on traditional Japanese clothing were particularly memorable. Juri also adapted the tour perfectly to our family and made sure that everyone, including our son, enjoyed the day. Everything felt relaxed and personal, and we never felt rushed. It was less like being on a guided tour and more like exploring Kanazawa with a good friend. We came away with wonderful memories and beautiful photos. Kanazawa became one of the highlights of our trip to Japan, largely thanks to Juri. We can recommend her without hesitation. Thank you, Juri, for this unforgettable day!
Yuri was super friendly, always ready to accommodate any needs we might have. She showed us around lots of places, giving us a nice overview of most of the districts of Kanazawa. She was also willing to give us tips even after the tour ended
We had a wonderful tour with a great guide called Yuri, very knowledgeable and friendly, she provided lots of information.
Yuri is a wonderful guide! She’s great company, knowledgeable, and flexible. She knows Kanazawa really well having grown up here. I highly recommend her as a guide!
Yuri was fantastic! She was so warm, friendly, and easy to spend time with. From the moment we met her, she made us feel welcome and comfortable. She showed us all the highlights of Kanazawa and shared so many interesting stories and local insights along the way. It was clear how much she loves the city, and that enthusiasm made the experience even better. What I appreciated most was how genuine and personable she was. The tour never felt rushed or scripted—it felt like exploring Kanazawa with a knowledgeable friend. Thanks to Yuri, we got so much more out of our visit than we would have on our own. Highly recommend her to anyone visiting Kanazawa!
This is the best way to get your bearings and learn about Kanazawa. Our guide Yuri, was knowledgeable about her hometown and made our visit enjoyable for three generations of our family. The walking was comfortable and at our pace.
Yuri was a pleasure to spend the day with. She is thoughtful, knowledgeable, kind and intelligent. She introduced us to Kanazawa as only a local could. She shared her home town and its history, and made it fun for 3 generations of our family. I would recommend to everyone to book Yuri for a walking tour of this beautiful city. The Gardens and Castle are spectacular, and Kanazawa doesn’t end there. She will introduce you to the Geisha district and we also recommend that you tour the Samurai house. Yuri made our visit to Kanazawa perfect!
Yuriya picked us up at the station with a bright smile which set the tone for the afternoon. She brought us all around Kanazawa including the markets where we ate sushi together. She is smart, kind, funny, generous and so knowledgeable about the area. She has wonderful relationships through out the town so we had access to places that you wouldn’t know about. I highly recommend and am very grateful for the experience with her.
We had a very nice day our guide Yuriya. She was most attentive and very flexible. She made numerous contacts beforehand to set up our day, including where and the type of lunch we were going to have (a tempura restaurant was selected). She is very polite and speaks great English. We went to the Geisha and Samuri districts but quite honestly there was not much more than shops at both locations. The temple gardens were amazing.
Title: Amazing Kanazawa Tour and Japanese Practice Yuriya was an incredible guide and made my experience in Kanazawa unforgettable. She showed me Kanazawa Castle, the samurai district, and the beautiful geisha district while also helping me practice my Japanese throughout the tour. I was looking for both sightseeing and real Japanese conversation practice, and I was able to do both comfortably. Yuriya was extremely kind, patient, and welcoming the entire time. She explained the history and culture in a way that was easy to understand and made the experience feel personal rather than rushed. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone visiting Kanazawa, especially if you are interested in Japanese culture or want an opportunity to practice speaking Japanese while exploring the city.
My tour with Yuri san was outstanding. She had put together an excellent itinerary, which included a recommendation for lunch. The setting and food were great. Yuri san was a kind, informative and fun guide. The walking tour was one of the best I have undertaken.
Yuriya-san was a very delightful and enjoyable tour guide for our morning tour. Even with the rains, we enjoyed our visit through the Nomura residence (Samurai house), the Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden. She allowed us to make decisions on what interested us the most. Always filled with stories and details on what we were seeing! It was very pleasant and fun!! My husband enjoyed the tour tremendously!! He can be quite picky sometimes. I am happy he enjoyed!!! Thank you so very much, Yuriya-san!!! Doo mo arigatoo gozai masu. 🌸🥰
Yuri is a knowledge, very friendly and experienced guide. She made our your fun and took us to a samurai house that had no tourists which was amazing. She’s from Kanazawa and knows the city very well. We loved our time with her. So helpful to our requests like to find special gifts.
Dear Yuri, we thank you very much for this unforgettable tour this morning. Through your friendly and courteous manner, we were able to dive deeper into your city of Kanazawa and the Samurai culture. It was a lot of fun. Thank you and take care. 🙏🏻🥰🤗
Although it rained on the day, thanks to Yuri’s thoughtful explanations, I was able to fully enjoy the streets of Kanazawa without any worries. She is a wonderful tour guide with a wealth of knowledge.
Since it was not my first time in Kanazawa, I wanted a more local flavor to my tour. After I reached out to Yuri, she sent me a questionnaire to find out what my interests were. Thus, I ended up with a bespoke tour that was centered around architecture, design, parks, flowers, local food and coffee spots. As a local, Yuri knows Kanazawa well and she brought me to spots I would not have easily found on my own. She’s very engaging and even if we just met, I instantly felt comfortable with her! The tour with her felt like a visit with your friend in Kanazawa. I will ask Yuri to tour me again next time I’m in Kanazawa!
We visited Kazuemachi, Higashi Chaya District, and Kenrokuen Garden! Exploring while learning about the history made me appreciate each place even more. Our guide was fun, full of humor, and truly made me think, “I’d love to come back!” 🫶😊 They also showed us great photo spots and took beautiful pictures for us, helping us create wonderful memories 📷🍀 Thank you so much! ✨
They explained the history and characteristics of each place in great detail! They also answered sudden questions, and by learning the background of places like Kenrokuen, I was able to enjoy them more deeply rather than just looking at the scenery. I look forward to working with you again! 1つ1つの場所の歴史や特徴を細かく教えてもらいました！ 急な質問にも答えてくれて、兼六園とかただ景色を見るだけでなく、由来を聞くことによって、いつもより深く楽しめたと思います。 またよろしくお願いします！
We had a great tour of Kanazawa with Yuri! She went above and beyond to make the day special. We learned a lot about the history and culture of her city, had a great lunch and got to experience a few hidden gems of Kanazawa! Highly recommend this tour!
I had a wonderful experience getting to know Kanazawa with Yuri. She has wealth of knowledge of the city, history and local hidden spots, including great restaurant tips.
Yuri made a customized itenerary for our tour based on our preferences, and we had a wonderful time as she guided us through the Higashi Chaya District and the Nagamachi Samurai district, including visits to beautiful local shrines and a temple. Yuri is very knowledgeable about the history of these areas and provided fascinating insights we would have missed without her. She also provided us with excellent recommendations for places to eat and communication with her was effortless as she speaks English very well. Very highly recommended!
Yuri is a wonderful Guide. She’s very communicative both before and during the tour. She tailor made the tour according to my interests. She was born and raised in Kanazawa and knows so much about the culture, history and top places to see as well as hidden gems. I highly recommend Yuri for any tour in Kanazawa.
I had a truly wonderful experience touring Kanazawa. The staff member, Yuri, was a lovely person—bright and cheerful like the sun. I’d like to share three highlights from this trip: They created a plan for me based only on a vague idea of the kind of trip I wanted. The selection of delicious local restaurants—something only a local guide could offer—was excellent. I was very happy to visit some off-the-beaten-path, “deep” sightseeing spots. Among them, Kannon-in Temple was especially amazing for me as someone who loves temples.
We booked a private tour with Yuri and were not disappointed! Yuri contacted us prior the tour, inquiring what we were our interests. After a few back and forth, she proposed 4 stops: tea ceremony in a beautiful garden, visit of a temple in the Geisha district, visit and lunch at the fish market and visit of the Kanazawa Castle. We started the tour meeting at the Train station and took public transportation to our first stop. The other 3 stops were all within walking distance, between 15 to 30 minute walk between each stop. Walking was pleasant as we enjoyed a beautiful day with ideal temperature. Yuri is very knowledgeable and has such a vibrant personality, we absolutely had a great time. At the market, she suggested a local sushi restaurant, as we had mentioned our preference for sushi for lunch. The food could not have been fresher! Thank you Yuri for organizing this amazing day for us, we truly enjoyed it.
Yuri is an absolutely fantastic tour guide! She is extremely knowledgeable about the history and culture of the places we visited and is very personable and patient, letting us move at our own pace. Having been raised in Kanazawa, she enhanced our trip with her insights and passion for the places that we went to. She even translated from Japanese to English for the audience at a small concert that we attended.
Yuri was very responsive and organized which made our day go so smooth. She was friendly and informative. We learned so much about Kanazawa and got very nice pictures! I highly recommend her tour
Yuri was an amazing tour guide. She was responsive and organized from the beginning. She is friendly and knowledgable. We learned a lot about Kanazawa culture and got great pictures from Yuri
Yuri is amazing! She created a special experience for our kids. We learned so much and had so much fun. We are grateful for having Yuri as our guide in Kanazawa and highly recommend her.
Yuri is the best guide you could wish for. Not only does she have great knowledge, she made us comfortable right upon meeting her, we had lots of laughs, and she took charge of the photos which meant we could take in everything without a care. She didn’t just fill us in on history, she even taught s cultural etiquette like the right way to wipe your hands in a restaurant. We wish we could take her on our entire trip of Japan.
Because it was early in the morning, even famous tourist spots were uncrowded, allowing us to enjoy the beautiful scenery. We were able to leisurely sightsee while learning about Kanazawa's history. It was very enjoyable to be able to visit spots that only a local guide would know about.
Yuriya did a wonderful job of making me feel welcome in Kanazawa. I asked for off the beaten track and she took me to an event at a temple outside of the normal tourist area. I got a very unique experience and it was lovely. Along the way we saw sights and Yuriya told me about the history of Kanazawa. I had a great day and learned a lot!
Our guide Yuri was great. Perfect itinerary which she flexed on the day including arriving early to help us. Terrific with photographs, would hardly need to take any ourselves. Would highly recommend. Thanks Yuriya
turing is an amazing guide. she was so wonderful with my kids. She took are wishes into consideration when planning the day and showed us amazing places in Kanazawa.
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