Kanazawa can get a lot of rain -- Seattle of Japan. A local proverb says "even if you forget your lunchbox, don't forget your umbrella". Although the weather can be beautiful in spring and autumn, it is never a good idea to bank on it being fine in Kanazawa, and winters in particular are cold. Kanazawa is in the [wiki=f735b29aeb2f2e9b0e6ade356d7cb0a3]Snow Country[/wiki], the area along the Japan Sea coast of Honshu where cold Siberian winds dump large amounts of snow in orographic precipitation, and while it does not get as much as more inland areas, half a metre or more is not uncommon. Most of the main roads have lines of sprinklers down the street to wash the snow away, but the smaller roads often do not.
The nearest airport serving Kanazawa is in the city of [wiki=748c94fb8a2f1b248fc4fad46aadec9c]Komatsu[/wiki] . JAL offers flights into Komatsu Airport from [wiki=62413a57c5e3dc51177995fa175d3286]Tokyo[/wiki] Haneda Airport, and from [wiki=a52bef81a178806fb331ffa078e676b3]Okinawa[/wiki]. ANA flies into Komatsu from Tokyo Haneda and Narita Airports, as well as [wiki=e9d6eb12ff84740501a444198e2675c2]Sapporo[/wiki] Chitose, [wiki=1901cfca6be19dc8269bc64b25ad23ea]Sendai[/wiki] and [wiki=f5d540492523ba1f8e1516239c6b60fb]Fukuoka[/wiki]. Internationally, Komatsu serves [wiki=fd38499c5c04df42d1d78807aa4b7d7d]Seoul[/wiki] (four times a week) and [wiki=5466ee572bcbc75830d044e66ab429bc]Shanghai[/wiki] (three times a week).
From Komatsu airport, buses run directly to Kanazawa (50 minutes, ¥1100). Or you could take a bus to Komatsu Station and a JR train from there, which is somewhat cheaper and, depending on your luck with connections, not much longer. Taxis are frequent though not cheap, and there are several rental car places in the area.
Kanazawa's train station, a futuristic marvel that integrates a traditional wooden temple gate with glass and steel, is on the West Japan Railway's Hokuriku Line.
From [wiki=62413a57c5e3dc51177995fa175d3286]Tokyo[/wiki] and points north, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen. The fastest service (Kagayaki) runs every hour or two and takes you from Tokyo in two and a half hours ¥14,120. The Hakutaka service, with a few extra stops, adds about half an hour. The Hakutaka Shinkansen extends from the Nagano Shinkansen (ending at Nagano) to and along the western coast and currently ends at Kanazawa. There are additional services that operate along the west coast, and all stop at Kanazawa. There are also trains that only go between Nagano and Tokyo, so if you don't plan ahead, you can simply transfer at Nagano to trains that service Kanazawa. Trains are rarely full, so unless you are traveling during peak holidays, reserve seats are normally available at short notice and non-reserve sections normally have plenty of open seats.
If coming from Niigata, take the Shirayuki (five trips daily) to Joetsumyoko and transfer there to the Hakutaka Shinkansen (190 minutes/¥10,130). If you miss the Shirayuki, you can also take the Joestu Shinkansen to the Nagano/Hakutaka Shinkansen at Takasaki (215 minutes/¥18,590) or Omiya (236 minutes/¥23,330).
Kanazawa is also a morning stop on the overnight Twilight Express (トワイライトエクスプレス) from [wiki=e9d6eb12ff84740501a444198e2675c2]Sapporo[/wiki] and Nihonkai (日本海) train from [wiki=157e0bc725227811a9a89993dab2be42]Aomori[/wiki].
From Nagoya, take the hourly Shirasagi (しらさぎ) limited express, 3 hours ¥7,330. With a well planned transfer, you can also cut about half an hour by taking the shinkansen to meet the Shirasagi in Maibara (米原) ¥8,020, but it can be a bit of a rush to make this connection, so if you are not experienced with navigating Japanese train stations (or you want to insure a good non-reserve seat), it's safer to start in Nagoya.
From Kyoto, Osaka, and points south, the Thunderbird (サンダーバード) limited express trains runs twice hourly to Kanazawa in about 2 and a half hours from [wiki=0d70a380fe641d8206c6d43c185b9c23]Osaka[/wiki] (¥7,650) and a bit over 2 hours from [wiki=492379b2b8f7ac3f7cc8e0ca6254f4b1]Kyoto[/wiki] (¥6,900).
Kanazawa is served by the Hokuriku Expressway, which runs through the western edge of the city. It has three interchanges: Kanazawa East and Kanazawa West feed into National Route 8, and Kanazawa Morimoto feeds into the Mountainside Loop Road (山側環状線 Yamagawa kanjō-sen). The cost for a normal car from Kyoto-East via Maibara is ¥5500, and the distance is 245 km (to Kanazawa West). From Osaka, ¥6850 and 296 km; Niigata ¥6350 and 293 km. From the capital city, expect ¥11,800 and 585 km.
The national Route 8 is also a good option for those on a budget or who wish to take a leisurely trip, stopping off to see various sights along the way. It is four-lane for much of the way, and so passing those slow old farmers in their white mini-trucks is actually possible. There are other routes into the city, such as via the base of Hakusan, or over the hills from Toyama prefecture.
Several bus companies make runs from Tokyo to Kanazawa. JR Bus runs two daytime buses and two night buses run from [wiki=f1b7e87a26b2c633ba456e95749b598b]Shinjuku[/wiki] and [wiki=159ec059f6aadff9767562ae9581ece5]Ikebukuro[/wiki] (more runs added on Weekends and Holidays). One bus also runs at night from Tokyo Station. The cost for all of these buses is the same (¥7840 each way) and the trip takes about 8 1/2 hours.
Discount bus operators Willer Express [url=http://willerexpress.com/bus/pc/3/top/],]Star Express and Hope Tour [url=https://nrsv.hope-tour.co.jp/[/url]]operate buses from Shinjuku to Kanazawa; fares start at ¥5000 each way. Overnight services are available.
JR Bus runs four daytime trips to/from Osaka, taking 4 3/4 hours, and an overnight service, taking 7 hours. The cost is ¥4300 one-way.
From [[Kyoto[/url]] to Kanazawa, several bus companies (for example Keihan, JR, Hokutetsu) run about 5 times a day. The trip takes 4 hours and the one-way fare is ¥4,060.
Kanazawa has a decent bus system to help you get where you need to go. There are three types of buses: city buses, a tourist bus, and community buses (Furatto-Bus). The tourist bus makes a loop around the main sights in 15 minutes and costs ¥200 per trip or ¥500 daily. There are three community bus routes which make 15 minute loops around different districts of the city and cost ¥100.
Bicycles can be hired from JR Kanazawa station and due to the winding streets and plethora of traffic lights and one way systems are often the fastest way to travel around town.
As the central city is fairly compact, one of the best ways to get around (at least when the weather is cooperative) is simply walking, exploring the narrow side streets. From east (Higashiyama) to west (Teramachi) would take about an hour at a leisurely pace, though to see everything between them properly would take days.
Driving in Kanazawa itself is not for the inexperienced. The old city in particular is a labyrinth of narrow twisting streets once you leave the main roads, and you need to be good at judging just how wide your vehicle is at times. Parking in the old city is also at a premium. However the newer areas on the outskirts are car-friendly, and parking is ample. For those using Kanazawa as a base to explore the Hokuriku and Hida regions, renting a car would be a good idea as public transport between some of the more far-flung areas is far and few between.
Remember that a valid Japanese or Geneva Convention International Driver's License must be carried at all times, and that driving while drunk results in at best some extremely stiff fines: up to ¥300,000 and instant loss of license. Driving without a valid license will set you back ¥100,000. Note that the official "drunk driving" blood-alcohol limit is 0.25 mg, but there is a separate "driving under the influence" which has no set minimum.
The river to the south, the Sai River, has on its far bank the main temple district of Teramachi (寺町). One of the more impressive ones in Japan, both sides of the road are lined with imposing walls and looming black-tiled roofs. Its eastern counterpart is the Higashiyama Temple District. In contrast to Teramachi's straight road, the eastern temples are dotted around the hillside in a maze of narrow streets. The Kodatsuno ridge also has a small temple area, dominated by Tentokuin.
* Ninja Temple (妙立寺 Myōryu-ji) [http://www.myouryuji.or.jp/map.html] - The tour guides insist there is no connection between the 'Ninja Temple' and actual ninja assassins. But with 23 rooms and 29 staircases, an impressive array of trapdoors and hidden rooms, and a seppuku (ritual suicide) chamber, it is easy to see why people would make that assumption. Visitors cannot enter the temple except through the tours, so call ahead to book a tour. The tour is conducted in Japanese, but they give travellers a folder with English translations. Local lore has it that there was an underground tunnel from the castle to the temple, to allow the Maeda lords an escape route in case of attack. However, no documentary proof of this has been found, and, like the ninjas, it merely adds to the myths of the place. Unfortunately, the staff have a well-deserved reputation (amongst both Japanese and foreigners) for being rude and unhelpful. ¥800 for adults, and you're supposed to make a reservation in advance, although they can usually squeeze you in if there's space and you don't mind waiting for your tour to begin. The hour-long tour is well worth the price.
* Oyama Shrine (尾山神社), on the other side of the castle. Built in the early Meiji period to honour the founding father of the Kaga Domain, Maeda Toshiie. It is notable for a unique gate with stained-glass windows that is a fusion of Japanese and Western architecture. The back gate to the shrine is also one of the few remaining parts of the original castle: a gate from the palace compound that escaped destruction when it was moved to the shrine. "Oyama" was the original name for the hill on which Kanazawa Castle was built.
* Tentoku-in (天徳院), the largest temple in Kanazawa during the Edo period, it stood at the eastern end of the city. It was built to house the spirit of Tama-hime (珠姫: the Princess Tama), the wife of Maeda Toshitsune (the third Maeda lord). She was born in 1599 as the granddaughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and the daughter of the second Shogun, Hidetada. It was a political marriage: the Tokugawa were worried about a possible attack from the powerful Maeda, historically supporters of the Toyotomi clan. Toshitsune sent his mother to Edo as a hostage, and in return received the Shogun's daughter in marriage. She was three years old at the time (though the actual marriage was carried out when she was 14), and her arrival in Kanazawa is commemorated each year in the Kaga Hyakumangoku Parade. She died at age 24.
* Daijōji Temple is an old and active Zen Buddhist Temple set away from traffic on a hillside. The temple in its current location dates from 1697. Old trees shade dense moss. There is a large bell hanging under the gate along the path which visitors may ring. Strikingly loud at first, the sound fades to accentuate the tranquillity. There are free early-early-morning pray-with-the-Zen-monks sessions for those so inclined, be prepared to join in with sweeping and cleaning afterwards. The whole place is extremely "wabi-sabi", spiritually mellow.
* Shinmeiguu Shrine 神明宮 (a few metres up from the Saigawa ōhashi bridge on the right hand side of the road) this shrine is famous for the 900 year old plus Zelkova tree (keyaki) in its grounds. The shrine used to be on the banks of the Sai River, before land was reclaimed, and the tree was used as an anchor point for boats. Iron bars driven into the trunk so that boat hooks could be attached are still visible half-way up the tree. Sadly the rest of the grounds are used for parking and you will be kept at a safe distance from the tree by 3 fences: one bamboo, one steel and of course one made of concrete!
21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art [url=http://www.kanazawa21.jp/en/]]- Located across from Kenroku-en, this modern marvel offers a fascinating juxtaposition to the traditional splendour of Kanazawa. Even if you don't enter the permanent or temporary exhibitions, the building itself is worth a look and there are usually some free exhibits inside. Don't miss the cafe!
* Honda Forest (本多の森 Honda-no-Mori). Near Kenrokuen is this pleasant green park-like area which houses the very interesting Prefectural Museum (housed in three long narrow prewar army storehouses of brick), the Art Gallery, and a few other smaller museums, as well as the Prefectural Noh Hall and the National Defence Shrine (護国神社 Gokoku Jinja), a smaller regional version of the main Yasukuni Shrine in [[Tokyo[/url]]. Just outside the shrine, which is built in the pure Japanese traditional style, is a tall pillar commemorating the dead of the "Great East Asia War" (Dai Tou-A Sensou: 大東亜戦争) that was the subject of considerable controversy when erected for its listing of groups that did not wish to be listed on a right-wing commemoration. It takes its name from the powerful Honda family, whose mansion once occupied this area in the Edo period.
* Ishikawa Prefectural Museum for Traditional Products and Crafts, 1-1 Kenroku-machi, tel. 076-262-2020, [url=http://shofu.pref.ishikawa.jp/densankan].] A craft museum that displays 36 types of traditional arts and crafts cultivated by the people who lived in Ishikawa province. The exhibits are grouped by type and well-displayed. 9AM-5PM (last entry at 4:30PM). Closed Apr-Nov: 3rd Th of the month; Dec-Mar: Th, Year-end and New Year. ¥250, ¥200 for seniors, and ¥100 for children under 17. Group rates are available.
*Ishikawa Prefectural Museum [url=http://www.pref.ishikawa.jp/muse/rekihaku/[/url]]Entry ¥250 (more when special exhibitions are held). 9AM-5PM (last entry at 4:30PM). Housed in three long brick buildings, restored armouries from the time when the area was used by the Imperial Japanese Army, it features a chronological display of local history in a modern and well-laid-out setting. There is also an area for hands-on history, where you can try on various outfits, including samurai armour. As with most tourist sites in Kanazawa, an English-language pamphlet is available.
* Morihachi Sweets Shop and Wooden Mold museum This large sweets shop houses a small and modern exhibition on wooden molds used to make artistic creations out of sugar.
* Ishikawa Confectionery Culture Center (菓子文化会館 Kashi-bunka-kaikan), Devoted to the fine art of making Japanese confectionary, it is now Permamently closed as of 2015.
*Kanazawa Museum of Modern Literature [http://kinbun.com/]. 9:30AM-5PM (last entry at 4:30PM). Housed in the Meiji-era brick building of the former Fourth Upper School (preparatory schools for the Imperial Universities), the fore-runner of Kanazawa University, it houses displays relating to famous local (generally) authors from the Meiji to pre-war period. Probably only of interest to students of Japanese literature rather than casual tourists, as many of the displays are original copies of books or manuscripts, written in Japanese.¥400.
Dai-Nana Gyōza(第七餃子)[url=http://www.white-gyouza.co.jp/index.html]:]opposite the Mori-no-Sato Jusco shopping centre near the Kakuma Campus of Kanazawa University, a restaurant that specialises in gyoza. Counter seating as well as private rooms upstairs that are available for hire. The gyoza, known as "white gyoza", are famous in the region, and very unlike normal gyoza. Part of a small but insanely popular chain of "white gyoza" (named after the founder, a Chinese man named Hak (白), or "white". Ten gyoza are ¥360. Go early to get a seat - it's very popular with students and young salarymen.
* Gyoza-no-Ōshō(餃子の王将)[url=http://www.ohsho.co.jp/new/index.html[/url]]Katamachi, (1 minute walk from the Scramble [part of a nationwide chain[/url] and in other locations in Kanazawa) . Serving cheap Chinese food in a brightly-lit and often smoky environment. Chinese dumpling (gyoza) are 6 for ¥180, large rice will set you back ¥200 and mains are in the ¥500-600 range. Look for the gaudy yellow, red and white sign near the bus stop. All Osho restaurants have a bilingual (English-Japanese) menu.
*8-Ban Ramen Hachi-ban ramen, founded in Ishikawa in 1971 has outlets scattered throughout Kanazawa including one near the Saigawa Bridge in Katamachi. Cheap, but not known for the quality of its ramen. In fact Kanazawa as a whole is not the place to go for good ramen.
* Ōmichō-ichiba (近江町市場) [http://ohmicho-ichiba.com/]. A local market selling fish, vegetables, fruits and meat. There are a number of great kaiten-sushi restaurants in this market, great for eating well on a budget.
* Sakanaya (魚菜屋), Hyakumangai (shopping annex of the JR station). Counter seating only, this little joint is always packed with locals looking for a quick serve of cheap seafood. Try the kaisen tonkomori-don (海鮮とんこ盛丼, ¥980), a bowl of rice topped with all sorts of raw seafood goodies.
* Skylark Family Restaurant, a few minutes walk from the station between a car dealership and Toyoko Inn Hotel. Cheap and cheerful Western style food as well as Japanese dishes. Ask for the drink bar option to get unlimited access to the buffet style hot/cold soft drinks for only a couple of hundred yen. There are many other "family restaurant" style places in Kanazawa, from Big Boy to Joyful, though most are out in the suburbs.
Right next to Kanazawa train station is a new shopping complex called Forus. The 6th floor is dedicated to restaurants and has a very good conveyor style sushi restaurant. No English is spoken but they do have a picture menu and all tables have an electronic menu device. Be aware that if you do not finish all of your food, the Forus restaurants will not give you a box to take your leftovers! Other options include Chinese; Indonesian; Italian and Korean restaurants. Nearly all restaurants have a lunch special in the ¥1000 range.
*Chochinya, 2-31-32,Katamachi, +81 076-223-8422, 5PM-2AM. Well worth a visit to try the fantastic tebasaki (crispy chicken wings), order at least 3 per person! The young owners speak limited English but have an English menu available. They have over 20 brands of shochu to chose from and a selection of local sake. There is a charge of ¥262 for the small appetizer you will be served when you sit down. Always packed out at the weekends.
*The Cottage, Nagamachi area, +81 076-262-3277, noon-2PM and 6PM-10PM, closed W. Run by the very friendly Tony and Momo. Serving up homestyle cooking with plenty of conversation thrown in. A cozy restaurant popular with resident foreigners and tourists.
*Hacchouya (はっちょうや), Katamachi. Its halfway between the "Scramble" and "Kohrinbo" (Its on the left-side of the street as you head from the Scramble towards Kohrinbo). The entry is hard to spot because you have to head down a set of stairs from street level (its underground). The best way to describe this place is a "refined" izakaya. The fare here is a modern twist on izakaya food. The quality of the food is unbelievable for the price. It has sunken seating by the open kitchen or private tatami style rooms and very cosy. Not much English is spoken but you manage to get your message across. Be adventurous, point to the menu and you can't go wrong. Staff are very friendly and efficient.
*Hirosaka-Tei (ヒロサカ亭), 2-31-32,Katamachi, +81 076-223-8422, 5:30PM-11:30PM. Located a few doors down and across the road from The Spice Box. Rustic style izakaya with an open kitchen, there is an emphasis on local seafood so the tempura selection (¥1,300) and sashimi of the day platter (¥1,500) are good choices to begin with. The homemade ginger ale has quite a kick and goes well with the fish dishes. Japanese menu but English is spoken by the owner.
*Le Mars (ルマルス), Kohrinbo, tel./fax: +81 076-262-5343, 11:30AM-2PM and 6PM-10:30PM, closed W. Husband and wife team serving up tasty Belgian inspired food in a relaxed atmosphere. Good range of European beers available. Tucked away down a side street near the Excel Hotel.
*MoriMoriZushi (もりもり寿し), Forus 6F (right outside Kanazawa stn), +81 076-265-3510. Excellent sushi starting at ¥120 per plate. The salmon is divine and they even do a meat lovers' hamburger nigiri! The house special is the "three-point plate" (三点盛り) which gets you three different seasonal delicacies for ¥598. You can sit at the counter or for more elbow room ask for a table. No smoking throughout. There is a newly opened branch in Omicho market.
*Osteria Albero, Katamachi, tel: 076-236-1580 Open 18:00 - 24:00. Serving up great Italian food in a quiet corner of town. The pasta is handmade while you wait (around ¥1500 per dish) and the focaccia is superb and a bargain at ¥250. Menu in Japanese and Italian.
*Pilsen (ぴるぜん), Katamachi, +81 076-221-0688. Opened in 1968, this German beer hall style restaurant is well known in Kanazawa. There is a long counter downstairs and more intimate table seating upstairs. Limited English is spoken but they are used to foreign customers and have an English food menu. Drinks from ¥600 main dishes start around ¥800. Closed Su.
*Aashirwad 2-12-15, Kohrinbo, +81 076-262-2170, Tu-Sun 11:00AM-10PM. An excellent Indian and Nepalese restaurant. Lunch set from ¥1000. A good selection of Indian and Nepalese beers. Vegetarian-friendly. Menu in English.
*Spice Box, 2-30-8,Katamachi, +81 076-234-3313, M-Sa 6:30PM-3AM, Su 6PM-midnight. An authentic Indian and Sri Lankan restaurant downtown. Based on the tapas concept dishes start at ¥300. Vegetarian options are availabe along with an English menu. Ask the manager if you have special requests. No credit cards accepted.
*Sushi Ippei (鮨一平), 1-5-29, Katamachi, +81 076-261-8674, 6PM-1AM, closed Su and national holidays. Tucked down a side street this family run restaurant offers the chance to try authentic sushi without breaking the bank. Prices start at ¥100, expect to pay around ¥3000 for a good feed. English menu and limited English spoken by the beaming kimono-clad okamisan.
Taiheizushi (太平寿し), Nonoichi-machi, Taihei-Ji, +81 076-248-5131, 11AM-2PM and 5PM-11PM, closed W. When Japanese celebrities visit Kanazawa this is the place they go for superb sushi. The master chef is soccer crazy and speaks excellent English. Lunch begins at ¥5000 per head and dinner starts from ¥10,000. Watch out for the wasabi rolls. Worth every penny/yen! Counter seats 12. Book well in advance.
* Takeshi (たけし), Saigawa, Katamachi +81 076-234-2121 (Japanese only), 5PM-11PM, closed Su. Modern Japanese cuisine in stylish surroundings. The color yellow is a major theme and even the chef's phone is yellow! Courses start at ¥5250 per person for 8 dishes, not including drinks. Reservations essential.
* Tsubajin (つば甚), Teramachi, +81 076-241-2181 (Japanese only). Open for Lunch and Dinner, reservations required (http://www.tsubajin.co.jp/yoyaku.asp). Founded in 1752, and the première Japanese dining experience in Kanazawa, Tsubajin has hosted daimyo, members of the Imperial Family, government ministers, and others who can afford the hospitality of this 250-year-old ryotei - dinners start at ¥20,000 and rise into the upper stratosphere. A mere ¥9,000 will allow you to taste their lunch set menu. The current building dates from the early Taisho period (1912-1925), and is designed in the finest Kanazawa style.
* Ume No Hana (梅の花), 1-101 Tomizu-machi, +81 076-237-4188 (Japanese only), 11AM-2:30PM and 5PM-9PM daily. For a true Japanese dining experience that is hard to beat this place will make even ex-pat lifers in Japan misty eyed. Beautiful landscaped gardens; immaculate tatami rooms with each room having themed pottery; a mind bending array of tofu dishes and phenomenal service. Kaiseki lunches start at ¥1,500 while dinner starts at ¥3,500 per person. Allow plenty of time to savour the experience as dish after dish will be brought to you. A nice discrete touch is that instead of a check you will be given a keyring to handover when you leave. Ensuring only the bill payer sees the total! Reservations essential even at lunch time. Away from the main sights so a taxi is the easiest way to get there. You will never look at tofu in the same way again!
Guest House Pongyi. (ゲストハウスポンギー) 2-22 Rokumai-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa. Tel: +81 76-225-7369. http://english.pongyi.com/ E-mail: mail@pongyi.com. [url=://kikunoya.ninja-web.net/ E-mail: kikunoyaryokan@ybb.ne.jp. Kikunoya Ryokan is the 60's good old time Japanese style inn. Also Kikunoya Ryokan is surrounded by the famous and popular local cuisine restaurants and bars. 1 person ¥4680, 2 person ¥8960. All rooms tatami mat. TV in room, a/c, refrigerator, towels, Yukata, tea set, Wi-Fi in room. Facilities: Internet Connected PC (a printer, Skype&Headset, Wi-Fi) All Free. Bicycle rental ¥500/day. Cable TV in dining room, Hair Dryer.
* Ryokan Shibaya (旅館しばや), 2-19-7 Hon-machi, +81 76-222-3270[/url]url=://en.ryokanshibaya.com/.[info@ryokanshibaya.com[/url]url=http://english.pongyi.com].]This small guesthouse opened in June 2009 in a traditional Japanese house. Adjacent to one of the picturesque canals. The owner is friendly and extremely helpful and speaks very good English and some Spanish and Portuguese. Very clean and comfortable rooms with new bedding. Kitchen, fridge and free tea and coffee available for guests. Free internet and computer (Wi-Fi,Desktop PC). Dorm beds (4 beds per dorm, mixed dorm and female dorm) ¥2800. Private room for up to 2 persons ¥6000 per room (¥3000). Private room for 3 persons ¥8,000.
* Kikunoya Ryokan (きくのや旅館), 1-1-27, Hirosaka, +81 76-231-3547.[/url] The best thing about this traditional Japanese inn is the bath in the basement. A piping hot, onsen sized affair with bubbling jets that guests can reserve for private use. Only a short walk from the station, it has a peaceful atmosphere, free green tea vending machines in the hallways and big bright rooms (western style or tatami available). Unfortunately, you may have to ask your hosts to turn on the hot water system if you fancy a morning shower. The owners are extremely friendly and helpful but their English is limited. From ¥2800-5400/person (Western or tatami), breakfast ¥800 extra.
* Murataya Ryokan 1-5-2, Katamachi, 81-(0)76-263-0455, http://murataya-ryokan.com/e/ email: info@murataya-ryokan.com Located just around the corner from the Katamachi bus stop this small traditional inn runs has 11 Japanese style tatami rooms with common toilet and bath facilities. The staff speak good English and are incredibly helpful. Wifi is available, as well as a PC downstairs. Breakfast can be had with a prior reservation. Rates are from ¥4500-5000 per person, with 1, 2 and 3 person rooms available. Credit cards are accepted.
Daiwa Roynet Hotel, Kanazawa Station area (1 minute walk from the East Exit, opposite Forus), +81 76-224-7755, [url=http://www.daiwaroynet.jp].]Brand new, with elegantly designed rooms. Professional staff. Internet in the rooms, as well as at internet terminals in the lobby.
* Dormy Inn (ド-ミ-イン金沢), Kanazawa Station area (1 minute walk from the East Exit, opposite Forus), tel: +81-76-263-9888. Opened in November 2006. Singles for ¥8500 and Twin rooms for ¥15,000. Complete with onsen style bathing on the 14th floor to relax those travel weary muscles. Free internet in the lobby. Special rates available, inquire at the Tourist Information office inside the station.
* Garden Hotel Kanazawa (ガーデンホテル金沢), 2-16-16, Hon-machi, JR Kanazawa Station area (2 minutes walk from the East Exit), +81 76-263-3333, [url=http://www.gardenhotel-kanazawa.co.jp/[/url].]Price: Single rooms for ¥5000. Twin and Double rooms for ¥10,000 (¥5000 each) Breakfast ¥1050 extra. Friendly and helpful staffs. A very convenient hotel for sightseeing and business in Kanazawa. Free PCs in the lobby, as well as wireless LAN available in rooms.
* Kanazawa Miyako Hotel, 6-10, Konohana-cho, (directly in front of station), +81 076-261-2111, fax: +81 076-261-2113, [url=http://www.miyakohotels.ne.jp/kanazawa/english/index.html[/url].]From ¥5000. Older, large hotel with good service and free Internet in room (with borrowed cable).
* Toyoko-Inn Hotel, Kohrinbo, [http://www.toyoko-inn.com/eng/[/url]. New, business style hotel - free breakfast included. Professional staff. Free internet connection for every room and free WiFi service (at foyer) available. Very convenient and affordable! Clean and neat as a pin.
The Nikko Hotel, 2-15-1 Hon-machi (3 minutes walk from JR Kanazawa Stn E Exit), +81 76-234-1111. One of Kanazawa's most distinctive landmarks and at 130m the tallest hotel on the Japan Sea side of the country. Standard singles are ¥16,747 while doubles cost ¥28,875. Deluxe Twin Standard rooms are ¥57,750. The Nikko Floor consists of the 26th and 27th floors and rooms on these levels go for several thousand yen more. At the top end of the price range is the Imperial Suite at a whopping ¥288,750 per night.