Day Tour from Kanazawa: Gold Leaf, Japanese Sweets and Ninja Star

The city of Kanazawa, with its beautiful gardens, historic districts and delicious local foods, is more than just the sights within it. Why not get hands-on experience with Japanese and local cultural activities while exploring some of the lesser visited areas along with some the popular ones. The area is famous for its traditional crafts such as gold leaf, Japanese sweets, pottery, kimono-making, etc. On this tour you can try out using gold leaf, making Japanese sweets and also getting a chance at throwing two different types of ninja stars. If you are someone who wants to dive deeper into the culture of the city while walking around the city, this is the tour for you. Led by one of our local English-speaking tour guides, you will do three different workshops and see some of the sights that don’t normally make it onto the main Kanazawa tours. Experience the other side of this wonderful, beautiful and traditional city.

1. 1

   Omicho Market

   1 hour

   Enjoy the contrast between the modern high-rises with the older buildings as we walk towards the market.

2. 2

   Kanazawa Katani Gold Leaf Pasting Experience

   1 hour

   Prepare to spend an hour meticulously placing gold on your plate. Don't worry about mistakes, the professional assistants can fix just about anything!

3. 3

   Higashi Chaya District

   1.3 hours

   Higashi Chayamachi, encountering an old style bridge and a former temple district in the hills.

4. 4

   Stop 4

   1.5 hours

   Start the Japanese Sweets Making Experience. Enjoy making the sweets you have been eating with matcha during your stay in Japan. There are a few different kinds so you can try a variety of tastes and textures.

5. 5

   Ishiura Shrine

   1.3 hours

   Walk through many different sites on your way to the final area. This includes stops at Ishiura Shrine, outdoor art, D.T. Suzuki Museum and Shofukaku before entering the Temple District on the west side of the city.

6. 6

   Teramachi Temple Area

   30 min

   Here we will walk the back way to Nishichaya District through this area that contains many temples. Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of these, at times, maze-like streets that have existed for centuries.

7. 7

   Ninja Weapon Museum

   1 hour

   Learn more about ninjas and try throwing two different types of throwing stars at the Ninja Museum

8. 8

   Nishi Chaya District

   20 min

   Arrive in the Nishi Chayamachi area. The other main geisha area of the city, enjoy the atmosphere before heading into the Ninja Weapons Museum. Here you can learn more about ninjas and try the throwing star experience.

9. 9

   Stop 9

   30 min

   The final stop of the tour before heading back is the nightlife area of the city. There are some interesting streets that look straight out of an old 1970's film. Feel free to stay here and have dinner or head back to the station with the guide.

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• All listed events, activities, and experiences are subject to availability. Please note that while certain tour options may appear bookable through our platforms, this does not guarantee that every experience can be carried out as scheduled in the tour itinerary. Many activities require direct confirmation with our partner venues, and availability may vary based on the date and other factors. Should any part of your ordered itinerary require adjustment or deviation from the original schedule, or if a specific experience is unavailable, we will contact you promptly to discuss suitable alternatives or amendments.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.