Here are my favourite places to visit and eat while in Kanazawa with kids.
Kanazawa can be done from Tokyo (2.5 hours by public transport) but also from Takayama (3 hours by public transport, 2 hours by car.)
Scroll down straight to the bottom of this post for a non-child friendly restaurant option in Kanazawa ( if you’re lucky enough to have a babysitter with you.)
We grabbed an ekiben (an obento lunchbox purchased inside the station or from a platform kiosk that is made using the ingredients and produce of the area of that particular station) and travelled for 2.5 hours on a bullet train to Kanazawa.
For tips on travelling on the bullet train with kids, see my post here.
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
The station, itself, has been renovated recently and the ‘drum gate’ is quite spectacular.
We have stayed at a business hotel really close to the station called Daiwa Roynet. To be honest, I don’t want to say it’s a must stay as the rooms were small and a bit smokey smelling (even in a non-smoking room.) BUT it did the trick and we were able to access all the sights. If you’re looking for your own family, it might be best to keep shopping around.
There are some pretty nice department stores with restaurants and clothing stores next to the station. We found the Forus Department Store right next to the station to be a good place to pick up a new pair of shoes for my little boy and also their upper floors have some cheap and easy cafes and restaurants. There is a Starbucks on the ground floor of this department store too. It’s open from 10am-9pm.
We got around Kanazawa on foot and in taxis.
First of all we visited the area that we were most excited to see. Higashi-Chaya District.
The streets are just so beautiful with lots of stunning little Japanese sweet shops and gift stores. It’s like a step back in time and my little girl loved running down the alleyways and dancing in the doorways. There were also a few little houses that visitors are able to walk through and get an idea of the inside of the houses and their accompanying gardens.
Also, when in this area, the “done thing” is to try a soft-serve ice-cream with a gold leaf. It cost around 900 yen.
HIGASHICHAYA DISTRICT
金沢市東山1丁目
１CHOME HIGASHIYAMA, KANAZAWA
We also made sure we visited Kenroku-en Japanese gardens. This is one of those amazing gardens where the view is completely different with every season.
KENROKU-EN
金沢市兼六町１
1 KENROKUMACHI, KANAZAWA
OPEN MARCH-OCTOBER 15: 7AM – 6PM
CLOSED OCTOBER 16 – END OF FEBRUARY: 8AM-5PM
ENTRANCE: 310 YEN FOR ADULTS, 100 YEN FOR CHILDREN OVER 6.
WEBSITE
We then walked for 10 minutes to Kanazawa Castle. (Kenroku-en is actually connected to the castle gardens.)
I went into some of the towers with one child at a time but not the whole castle as it certainly wasn’t stroller friendly and hard to keep an eye on climbing kiddies in there too. It was so impressive. I love how this photo (below) looks like it’s been snowing.
金沢市丸の内1番1号
1-1 MARUNOUCHI, KANAZAWA
OPEN EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR
OPEN 7AM-6PM
CLOSED OCTOBER 16 – END OF FEBRUARY: 8AM to 5 PM
WEBSITE
Another 12 minutes walk from the Castle is the Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. Mainly because I was just so keen on seeing the swimming pool exhibit. We were delighted to find that there were a few installations for kids and adults to play on or around on the lawn outside of the museum. Since covid, you need to make reservations to visit the pool exhibit – please do so here.
The place is spectacular – particular if you’re into large art installations.
Unfortunately, we didn’t actually have the most fantastic experience in the museum. I even made a complaint. They say that they allow children to enter but adults must supervise them at all times. As you can see from my other posts, we take our kids to museums all the time. We looked after our kids at all times but the staff didn’t even let them think about misbehaving before telling kids off at every single exhibit. It really ruined the whole experience for us.
If we were to visit again I’d either take turns for adults to go inside and have kids play out the grass OR only have kids with you strapped into their strollers all the time.
金沢市広坂1-2-1
1-2-1 HIROSAKA, KANAZAWA
OPEN 10AM-6PM (UNTIL 8PM ON FRIDAY & SATURDAY)
SEE WEBSITE FOR PRICE DETAILS
WEBSITE
By our third day, we had asked a lot of the kids, and so we asked around and found a park with a playground next to the Tamagawa Children’s Library. The park is 15 minutes walk or 8 minutes in a taxi from Kanazawa Station.
Picture above is from the Hokurikushinkansen Navi website.
TAMAGAWA PARK
石川県金沢市玉川町2
2 TAMAGAWACHO, KANAZAWA, ISHIKAWA
There is a lovely little izakaya ( a Japanese style pub where you order several small dishes and share with others in your family/group) inside the Station Building. It’s pretty popular and they couldn’t fit us in for our first night. However, we did reserve for the next evening instead and the staff even organized for a private room ( a koshitsu) which was fantastic as it took away any concerns we had about kiddies disturbing other diners. Mind you, we did go for dinner at 5:30 or 6pm so I didn’t feel that apologetic.
Unfortunately, this restaurant isn’t a non-smoking establishment but, once again, being our own sectioned off area made it a bit better and, as it was early, we didn’t really notice any smoke while eating.
The food was yummy and it was really reasonably priced.
Since it opens from 11am everyday it could also work as a lunch option.
If you need to change baby there is a change table on the ground floor of this building (there is a breastfeeding room there too.)
HACCHOUYA EKI NO KURA
石川県金沢市木ノ新保町1-1金沢百番街くつろぎ館3F
3F KUTSUROGI-KAN BUILDING, HYAKUBANGAI DEPARTMENT STORE, 1-1 KINOSHINBOMACHI, KANAZAWA, ISHIKAWA PREFECTURE
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-11PM
Also (it wasn’t as good as the restaurant above but still did the job) was a dinner we had inside the Forus Department Store when we first arrived. We ate at Ebitendon Koshi on the 6th floor. Tendon is tempura served on top of rice. Expect to pay only approximately 2000 yen per person. It’s a chain store and this is their Kanazawa branch.
EBITENDON KOSHI
6TH FLOOR, FORUS DEPARTMENT STORE
OPEN 10AM-9PM
Another option for lunch or dinner near Kanazawa Station (1 min walk) is Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Cross Gate Kanazawa. This is a great place for a lush dinner or lunch with a reasonable price tag at a restaurant that also allows children. I recommend Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Kanazawa for Kobe Beef and Wagyu. It’s a Beef Cutlet restaurant. It is high quality beef, crumbed and fried so that the outside is crunchy and served with a range of sauces (dipping sauces) and rice. The restaurant is entirely non-smoking. They have an English menu. They also accept most major credit cards.
Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu Cross Gate Kanazawa welcomes children..
Each meal is approx 2000 yen. You can see the full Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu menu here. (Click bottom right to change the language to English) This restaurant is walk-in only.
GYUKATSU KYOTO KATSGYU KANAZAWA
金沢市広岡1-5-3 クロスゲート金沢 2F
2ND FLOOR, CROSS GATE KANAZAWA, 1-5-3 HIROOKA, KANAZAWA
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-10PM
And for dinner with the family, I recommend very family-friendly Kushikatsu restaurant “Kushikatsu Tanaka.” This restaurant is entirely non-smoking. This restaurant does have high chairs. Kushikatsu Tanaka accepts most major credit cards. This restaurant is casual and vibey. There is also a kids menu.
Kushikatsu Tanaka is 12 mins walk from Kanazawa Station.
KUSHIKATSU TANAKA, KANAZAWA BUNKYO
金沢市芳斉2-5-35
2-5-35 HOSAI, KANAZAWA
OPEN 5PM-2AM (OPEN FROM 4PM ON WEEKENDS)
And I know it’s not Japanese food but I also recommend trying Sri Lankan restaurant Srilanka Kitchen. The food is incredible and every dish can be made to be vegan.
Another non-Japanese food recommendation is Pizza Trattoria Da Take Pizza Kanazawa. I recommend their vegan marinara pizzas. They are open for lunch and dinner but are closed on Tuesdays. They accept most major credit cards. They have an English menu and lots of vegetarian options. There is space for strollers inside the restaurant.
For gluten free meals in Kanazawa, I recommend Love For All. This is a burger, salad and appetizers style restaurant with gluten free buns and they also have vegan and vegetarian options.
Sightseeing places that I hope to squeeze in next time: The Fish Market and the Kanazawa Umi Mirai Library (for it’s futuristic architecture and design.)
EXTRA TIP:
If you manage to get some child free time, I recommend making a bee-line straight for Plat Home Kanazawa Kitchen.
This restaurant is traditional Japanese creative fusion with a focus on vegetable and fish dishes. They also serve sake.
Please note that this restaurant does allow smoking and accepts cash only. They are closed on Mondays. They do accept reservations.
Budget per person is around 5000 yen per person. Please note that this is not a child-friendly restaurant.
There is an otoshi charge of 350 yen per person.
The Chef speaks English.
PLAT HOME KANAZAWA KITCHEN
金沢市彦三町1-3-4
1-3-4 HIKOSOMACHI, KANAZAWA
OPEN 5:30PM-10:30PM
CLOSED MONDAYS
If you will be in Kanazawa for New Year’s Eve, I recommend visiting Oyama Shrine. Lots of young people in full kimono. It’s very special.
Here is some more information on spending the New Year’s period in Japan.
WHERE TO STAY IN KANAZAWA WITH KIDS
As mentioned above, we have stayed at a very simple but comfortable business hotel near the station called Daiwa Roynet . I didn’t love it here though as the rooms smelled smokey. But if you are looking for a very affordable option – maybe it’s still of interest?
I would also like to recommend a modern and affordable hotel called Hotel Resol Trinity Kanazawa. This hotel has rooms to accommodate families of 3 -4 members (and more if you have children who are small enough to bedshare. This hotel has rent-a-bikes (adult sizes only), an on-site laundry, it’s own breakfast restaurant that serves lots of fresh veggies and salads and are happy to help you forward your luggage.
I also recommend staying at Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa. Rooms sleep 2-3 adults, depending on the room type you pick. You can also fit in more children if you are able to bed share. The room sizes are here are very very generous (for Japan.) Mitsui Garden Hotel Kanazawa has an incredible buffet breakfast. This hotel has an on-site coin laundry. There is also a public bath (like most public baths in Japan this means no swimsuits. Baths are separated by gender.) To get here, take a train to Kanazawa Station and then a cab for 8 mins. This hotel is close to the seafood market. The staff here speak English well so can assist with doctors appointments or restaurant reservations. It’s a 15 min stroll into the centre of town.
These are the changing & feeding facilities that I found in this area: (download the Mamapapamap app for even more options)
- 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art (breastfeeding room, boiling water upon request)
- Kanazawa Station, Ground Floor, Family Room called “Children’s Land” (highchairs, play space, boiling water, breastfeeding room, change tables) *This space is not open on Mondays.
- Kanazawa Hyakubangai Department Store, Ground Floor (boiling water, breastfeeding rooms, change tables)
- JR Kanazawa Station (breastfeeding rooms, change tables, boiling water)
- Kanazawa Forus Department Store, 2nd Floor (boiling water, breastfeeding rooms, highchairs, vending machines, change tables)
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
