A solo day trip for 10,000 yen! ~ Kanazawa edition ~

This time, we will introduce a travel plan for touring the arts in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture. There are probably many people who are interested in art but have never been to an art museum. We will focus on art museums that are very popular on social media and stylish cafes that are easy to enter even for first-time art trips, and we will also make sure to include gourmet food and souvenirs unique to Ishikawa Prefecture, such as seafood and matcha, and have fun all for less than 10,000 yen! Why not try it out on your next day off?

*Prices include tax.

Your trip to Kanazawa begins!

The flight from Haneda Airport to Komatsu Airport takes approximately one hour.

Once you arrive at Komatsu Airport, you will board a limousine bus bound for Kanazawa Station. Your return flight is about 10 hours away, so aim to arrive at Komatsu Airport one hour before departure. This is the start of your one-day art trip to enjoy Kanazawa to the fullest!

Approximately 40 minutes by airport limousine bus

5 minutes by bus or 15 minutes on foot from Kanazawa Station

*Bus tickets from Komatsu Airport to Kanazawa Station can also be purchased on the JAL MaaS website.

Komatsu Airport Limousine Bus Digital Ticket

[Gourmet] Breakfast at a local market. Start your trip to Kanazawa with a seafood bowl and eel skewers! | Omicho Market

First, we fill our stomachs and head to Omicho Market, Kanazawa's kitchen, where nearly 170 retail stores are lined up in a small space.

From among the many options, I chose "Yamasan Sushi Honten," a popular restaurant in the shopping district that serves freshly caught fish. It is a well-established restaurant that was founded in 1950. Here, I ordered the "Omakase Donburi."

You can enjoy a luxurious bowl of rice topped with a variety of seafood, such as sweet shrimp, tuna, salmon roe, salmon, negitoro, and octopus, at a reasonable price. The ingredients are plump and satisfying. The fresh fish melts in your mouth, and you'll be very satisfied with this luxurious breakfast!

Other popular dishes include the signature "Seafood Bowl" topped with 18 types of seafood, and nigiri sushi.

Yamasan Sushi Main Store

Leaving "Yamasan Sushi Main Store" behind, I discovered some delicious looking eel skewers at "Kawaki Shoten" about a minute's walk away. Since I was there, I decided to try some!

The freshly grilled charcoal-grilled eel has a perfect balance of crispy skin and soft meat. The specially made sweet and spicy sauce and the aroma of charcoal whet your appetite, and the portion size is just right, so you'll be able to eat it all in no time.

Kawaki Shoten is a crab and eel specialty store. They also have seasonal seafood from the Sea of Japan, such as sweet shrimp and oysters. They also have a selection of easy-to-eat dishes available at the storefront, so feel free to stop by between strolling the market.

Kawaki Shop

There are plenty of other great eats to try at Omicho Market. Check out the restaurants that interest you in this article!

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Omicho Market Recommended Food Walking Map. 10 Popular Gourmet Selections from Seafood Bowls to Kanazawa Specialties

Omicho Market, located in the center of Kanazawa, is affectionately known as "Kanazawa's Kitchen" and is a popular tourist spot with a lively atmosphere, conveniently located just a 15-minute walk from Kanazawa Station. The market is lined with shops selling fresh seafood, vegetables, fruits, and more, and the attraction is that you can taste a variety of gourmet foods. Here are 10 shops where you can enjoy Kanazawa gourmet food at Omicho Market.

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Approximately 20 minutes on foot

[Experience & Photo Spot] Try a solo museum visit with friendly contemporary art | 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa

After breakfast, head to your first art experience. Start by enjoying a solo art experience at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, a well-known landmark in Kanazawa.

The Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art is a museum that focuses on contemporary art. It is a circular building with an exterior wall completely covered in glass, and it is an open space where visitors can freely move in and out through four entrances. The installations that make full use of the space are very popular on Instagram and other social media! Another feature is that it is an open art space where you can not only view the artworks, but also touch them and become a part of them. Even if it is your first time visiting a museum alone, you should be able to enjoy it without feeling any high barriers. There are also tourist attractions such as Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle nearby, so it is a fun area to stroll around the surrounding area.

Admission is free, but this time I got a ticket to enter the exhibition zone as well. If you buy a date and time-specified advance ticket online, you can get a discount on the special exhibition and you don't have to line up at the counter!

Special exhibitions change depending on the season, but you can view works by artists from Japan and abroad using a variety of media, including not only paintings but also video and installation art.

[Photo Spot] A mysterious experience of playing with sound | Crankfeld Number 3 for the Arena (Interaction Zone: Free)

Let's start by taking a look around the museum! The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa has many artworks that you can not only view but also take photos of, so be sure to bring your camera or smartphone with you.

The lawn of the museum is dotted with 12 trumpet-shaped tubes growing out of the ground. Not only are they visually striking, but when you look closely, you can see their beautiful curves, which are sure to make for great photos. When you shoot a voice or sound into the tube, it will reach an unexpected place... It's an experience just like using a string telephone.

[Photo spot] A space lined with cute "rabbit-shaped" chairs | Rabbit Chairs (Interaction Zone: Free)

A popular photo spot that you often see on social media and definitely want to check out is the "Rabbit Chair" zone. The sight of them all lined up is overwhelming! They were designed by SANAA, the architectural unit that designed this museum, and are modeled after rabbit ears. If you look closely, you'll see that the ears are slightly different in shape on each side, which is adorable and makes them seem like artwork. Why not take a good look and try to spot the differences?

[Photo Spot] An interesting experience that shakes up what is considered "the norm" | Swimming pool

The most famous spot at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa is the "swimming pool." If you take a peek into the pool, which is set up in one of the "light gardens," a courtyard surrounded by glass on all four sides... you'll see people walking around in the pool! You can also enter the underground part of the pool. This requires a reservation on the day and a queue on-site, but since you're here, why not try and time it up and experience it for yourself?

[Photo Spot] A vertical garden that appears on the museum wall | Green Bridge

This work was created as part of a project by a botanist and artist to create "vertical gardens" in various environments around the world. It is built across a glass corridor, and various plants are arranged so that they can be enjoyed throughout the four seasons. The bold green that appears in the pure white space of the museum is soothing! When taking photos, it will look great if you let the light in so that you can see the end of the corridor!

21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa

[Gourmet] Enjoy an elegant lunch at the museum restaurant | Fusion21

Continue to the restaurant "Fusion21" inside the Kanazawa 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. Here, you can enjoy a special lunch made with plenty of seasonal ingredients, including traditional Kaga vegetables from Kanazawa. Enjoy an elegant lunchtime in the glass-walled restaurant while looking out at the nature and art in the garden.

I ordered the popular classic menu "Fusion Lunch." In addition to the main dish, it was a luxurious set that included an appetizer, salad, soup, and a bread buffet. I was very satisfied with the delicate flavors that made the most of the ingredients! The food served on the pure white plates looked like a work of art, making it a lunchtime that was enjoyable for the eyes as well.

Fusion21

Approximately 8 minutes on foot

[Experience & Photo Spot] Experience historical architecture and various designs at a museum where you can enjoy modern crafts and design | National Crafts Museum

Our next destination is the National Crafts Museum, the only art museum in Japan that specializes in crafts and design works.
After opening in Kitanomaru Park, Tokyo as the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art Crafts Gallery, the museum has been beloved for over 40 years and will relocate and reopen in Kanazawa in 2020.
This facility was created by relocating and restoring a wooden building from the Meiji period that is also a nationally registered tangible cultural property, so you can enjoy the beautiful retro architecture along with the exhibits.

I bought a ticket for the current exhibition "Shinsho Kogei Exhibition (running until Sunday, December 1st)" for 1,000 yen (ticket prices vary depending on the exhibition). Apparently, admission is free on Culture Day (November 3rd).
This is a spot that can be enjoyed by a wide range of people, from children experiencing art for the first time to adults who want to deepen their learning.

A wide variety of craft and design works are displayed depending on the theme of the exhibition, so you can enjoy the various crafts and designs for each project, feeling the changes that have occurred over the years and appreciating beauty that remains unchanged over time.

There is a spacious grassy park right in front of the museum, so after viewing the artworks, we recommend relaxing in nature and soaking in the afterglow of the artworks.

National Crafts Museum

Approximately 15 minutes by bus

[Gourmet] Immerse yourself in the afterglow of art in a high-quality space while enjoying tea | TEA SALON KISSA & Co.

After experiencing all the art, it's time for a short break and tea at the cafe "KISSA & Co." on the first floor of the lifestyle hotel "KUMU Kanazawa by THE SHARE HOTELS." The cafe has an impressive lattice ceiling and a relaxing atmosphere.

The name of the shop comes from the spirit of the Zen phrase "Kissako," which means "Enjoy tea." The shop is attached to a lodging facility that was created with the desire to connect Kanazawa traditions such as Zen and the tea ceremony to the future, and the counter is lined with high-quality tools, including tea utensils selected and created by local metalwork artists, as well as tea utensils by local potters and lacquer artists.

I ordered the iced matcha latte and monaka set (950 yen) made with matcha from the local "Kanbayashi Kanazawa Tea Shop". The aroma of the matcha latte was great and the sweetness of the monaka matched perfectly. It blew away the fatigue of the day. It's a spacious cafe where you can relax even if you're alone.

TEA SALON KISSA & Co. (KUMU Kanazawa by THE SHARE HOTELS)

Approximately 20 minutes on foot

[Souvenirs] Beautiful, jewel-like Japanese sweets to take home as souvenirs | Wagashi Murakami

It's almost time to return to Kanazawa Station. I'd like to buy some Kanazawa sweets as souvenirs.

"Kanazawa Hyakubangai" is a convenient place to pick out souvenirs at the station. I bought "Wagashi Murakami's Warikoori" (cold ice) which has a beautiful jewel-like appearance. The basic ingredients are agar, sugar, and underground water from Mt. Hakusan, one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan. It is a simple sweet that shows off the craftsmanship of the artisan.

Not only is its cute appearance soothing, but it also has a gentle sweetness and a pleasant, crunchy texture, making it a great souvenir for yourself or to give to friends in small packs.

There is a wide range of other Kanazawa souvenirs available! We have introduced them in this article, so please refer to it if you would like to purchase some more.

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Souvenirs that can only be bought in Kanazawa. A carefully selected mix of new and old unique sweets and traditional crafts!

Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, is a castle town that retains the atmosphere of the Edo period and is known for traditional crafts such as Kutani ware and Kaga Yuzen. In this article, we have carefully selected souvenirs that can only be purchased in Kanazawa, including popular items from popular Japanese confectionery shops, pickles, sake, and miscellaneous traditional crafts. These are all items that will make you excited just by holding them in your hands, so be sure to check them out before you travel.

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Japanese sweets Murakami Kanazawa Hyakuban-gai store

Approximately 40 minutes by airport limousine bus from Kanazawa Station

Arrived at Komatsu Airport! It was a very satisfying one-day art trip!

Within a budget of 10,000 yen, I was able to enjoy plenty, from gourmet food and art experiences to photo spots and souvenirs! Kanazawa has many spots within walking distance, so even if you are traveling alone, you don't have to worry and can have a very satisfying day trip.

When you suddenly feel like going on a trip far away, or want to take a break for yourself, why not try changing your mood with an art trip that will also polish your soul, using the sample itinerary we introduced this time as a reference?

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Eating conveyor belt sushi around Kanazawa. A trip around the big three and restaurants recommended by locals

We've carefully selected the best conveyor belt sushi restaurants in Kanazawa that you should visit! We'll introduce you to the big three, such as "Morimori Sushi" and "Conveyor Belt Sushi Saemon," as well as famous restaurants frequented by locals. Let's go on a conveyor belt sushi tour and enjoy the seasonal flavors of Kanazawa.

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Experience art in Kanazawa and Oku-Noto. An art trip to enjoy the whole town

We introduce must-see art spots in Ishikawa Prefecture, a mecca for art and architecture. We will guide you on a journey to enjoy art in various locations, such as an art museum in the center of Kanazawa city, a gallery in a market, and an art festival in the nature-filled Oku-Noto Peninsula.

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