Kanazawa City

Often referred to as “The Little Kyoto”, the charming city of Kanazawa often flies under the radar for Japan adventures and it should really be on one’s list. An easy shinkansen trip from Tokyo via the Hokuriku shinkansen; its perfect for a weekend away (or longer) and a wonderful alternative for those looking to explore a region rich with tradition, history, art, food and stunning landscapes.

Kanazawa is one end of “The Mitsuboshi Kaidou” (the Three Star Road) which stretches through Gokayama and the Nanto Region in Toyama, Shirakawa-go in Takayama to Matsumoto City in Nagano prefecture; this famous yet lesser travelled sightseeing route is renowned for it’s vast amount of Japanese National Treasures and World Heritage Sites.