Guided Night Tour to Feel the Samurai Culture in Kanazawa
Description
A local guide will guide you through the city of Kanazawa, which has a different face from the daytime. It's a deeper experience than going through the local roads, which you can't see much in ordinary sightseeing. This private tour will be suggested by your guide according to your interests, interests, and pace. Of course, there are also themes and recommended courses for each season. First of all, after joining the guide, we will have a brief hearing including the place where we will end, and then we will walk through Kanazawa's night, where you can feel the history. *Since it is a private activity, even if you are not good at walking, we can make suggestions according to your pace. *Transportation fees will be charged separately, but you can use a route bus or taxi on the way to travel efficiently.
Tour Options
Itinerary
You will first walk through Owaricho, the former Kanazawa's economic center during the Samurai era, where many authentic and stately buildings remain. The tour goes through a lively back alley to Chayagai district. Then, following the calm and gently lighted Asano riverside alley, you are shown to both Kazuemachi-Chayagai and Higashi-Chayagai districts. All hustle and bustle in the daytime, Chayagai districts become mystic at night. If you strain your ears, maybe you will hear some sounds of geisha's shamisen.
You will first walk through Owaricho, the former Kanazawa's economic center during the Samurai era, where many authentic and stately buildings remain. The tour goes through a lively back alley to Chayagai district. Then, following the calm and gently lighted Asano riverside alley, you are shown to both Kazuemachi-Chayagai and Higashi-Chayagai districts. All hustle and bustle in the daytime, Chayagai districts become mystic at night. If you strain your ears, maybe you will hear some sounds of geisha's shamisen.
The Asano River is an important river deeply involved with Kanazawa's history and lifestyle. 4 bridges in different styles on the Asano River are illuminated, making a magical atmosphere.
Otebori is a moat lined with the stone walls that surround the Kanazawa Castle. The water has not been drained even in modern times, so its appearance has not changed since the Edo Period. Also known as the "Stone Wall Museum," the stone walls surrounding the castle stand out when lit up at night. Enjoy the combination of its night illumination beauty and its magnificent scenery. In addition, seasonal expressions such as cherry blossoms in spring, autumn leaves in autumn are also worth watching.
Oyama Shrine, known with its peculiar Go-Shinmon Gate, is dedicated to Toshiie MAEDA, the founder of the Kaga Domain. The particularity of the main gate, inspired by Japanese, Oriental, and Occidental styles, is marked by the stained glass mounted in it.
The last stop will be the Nagamachi Bukeyashiki, where the old Samurai residences still remain, also where some citizens live. The elegance of the old streets with stone pavements and earthen walls will let you totally immersed. Thanks to the dim lights, you will feel the magic and the history of the place, maybe as if you traveled back in time.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please come in comfortable shoes for walking.
- There are several bathrooms on the tour course. They will be indicated to you during the tour.
- Free Wi-Fi：X
- The temperature may get low at night during winter. Please take sufficient measures against the cold.
- There are bathrooms and automatic vending machines on the tour course. However, it is highly recommended to prepare your drinks and to use bathrooms before the tour begins.
- Please follow the guide's instructions, as the roads may be dark or narrow.
- Expecting mothers can attend the tour. However, please take your physical conditions into consideration before making reservations.
- This tour is limited to one group per day.
- The guide will make suggestions when special light-ups are held on weekends or in accordance with the season!
- The dissolution place is not only around Korinbo, but can also meet the customer's request. (Possible areas: Omicho market area, Higashi tea house area)
- Depending on the situation, we may use a route bus or taxi on the way. Please inquire about this before departure.
- In that case, please note that all transportation expenses incurred during the tour will be borne by the customer.
- If you have a free pass ticket for the bus that was used during the day, please bring it with you.
- Available places: Higashi Teahouse Town/Kazuemachi/Asanogawa Bridge/Plum Bridge/Otebori/Owari Town/Nagamachi samurai residence/Oyama Shrine Kanazawa Castle (*Limited to open days)/Gyokuseninmaru Garden (*Limited to open days)/Kenrokuen (*Limited to open days)
- Hotel pickup is not available.
Reviews(13)
Very interesting. We learned a lot of things about the neighborhoods, their history, and the local customs that it would have been impossible for us to know otherwise. Our guide Miki was perfect.
We had a wonderful tour with Miki! She was extremely knowledgeable and very friendly. We enjoyed walking around the geisha and samurai district and learned so much from her. We highly recommend this tour to anyone!
Hiromi-San was a wonderful, friendly tour guide, who answered all our questions or helped us figure it out all together if she didn’t already know! So insightful, and a great welcome to our stay in Kanazawa
We met up with Hiromi and it turned out to be an unexpected private tour. She prepared us for the walking and it was a fantastic tour. She was very informative and the tour took us through beautiful areas we might not have been able to stumble across on our own. We enjoyed it so much, it encouraged us to sign up for tours at our next stop.
Miki-San was a perfect guide walking with us through the Higashi Chaya Geisha district and the Nagamachi Samurai district. Not only was she incredibly informative, but also she gave us great ideas for additional things to see and do for our next day in Kanazawa. We are so glad we did this on our first night here!
The tour was okay, our tour guide was not very enthusiastic or talkative. We walked through Kanazawa and visited the historic sites of the geisha and samurai districts but you could honestly do this by yourself (most things are closed at that time anyway). After asking for a dinner recommendation the tour guide hastily suggested one as it was a minute past the tour finishing time. We were the ones to ask many questions about the history and information about the city, rather than the guide being proactive. Overall I felt the experience with the guide was quite average and I’m not sure I would recommend it.
I believe our tour guides name was Ohhara, and she was very professional, friendly and knowledgeable! Me and my boyfriend felt that we learned a lot about the districts around Kanazawa and we both really enjoyed the tour :)
We walked for 2 hours thru samurai, geisha districts and couple shrines. For our first visit to Kanazawa, we couldn’t have done this on our own. We also saw the City’s great canal system. Our guide Masayo was very knowledgeable. We would recommend this night tour to anyone.
We enjoyed exploring all the tucked away area of Kanazawa and learning about the history. Our guide was very kind and informative and made the history come to life.
Nozomi , the guide tour, was simply stated - amazing. Perfect English, super knowledgeable, the night became alive with stories and history. A lady that radiates kindness and knowledge and willingly share if you are interested to listen but will not force it when not needed. I am 54, traveling with my graduated daughter - and we simply had endless fun. Cameras in our hands,, and walking through Kanazawa , one could almost imagine how it truly was.
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