Cities / Asia / Japan / Kanazawa

Best walking routes in Kanazawa

12 routes ranked on sights, efficiency, hills & length — real foot distance and elevation.

3.4 scoreHills 1/107.5 kmBest Apr, Oct, Nov
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Ranked routes

Same score for every walk. Click a card to expand details on the map.

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#1
Viewpoint

One Hour in Kanazawa: A Short Walk

1 hour

6 stops2.6 km1 h 10 min~177 m stairs

2.6 kmdistance1 h 10 minwith stops6stops+54 mgain~177 mstairs
4.7 sights5.9 efficiency0.9 hills6.8 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 35 min+ up to 4 h 5 min insides+54 m climb along route
  1. Oyama Shrine
  2. Kanazawa Castle
  3. 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
  4. National Crafts Museum
  5. Seisonkaku
  6. Kenroku-en
24–59 m

Photo: Viewpoint663highlandCC BY 2.5

4.9/10
#2
Viewpoint

Kanazawa in One Day: Walking Itinerary

One day

16 stops10.6 km4 h 10 min~132 m stairs

Inside visits push a full day to ~5 h 15 min.

Inside: Oyama Shrine (~20 min) + Kanazawa Castle (~45 min). Estimates only.

10.6 kmdistance4 h 10 minwith stops16stops~5 h 15 minfull day+83 mgain~132 mstairs
3.1 sights6.5 efficiency1.4 hills9.4 length
Open in Google Maps 1/2 ↗Open in Google Maps 2/2 ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 2 h 20 min+ up to 8 h 25 min insides+83 m climb along route
  1. Tentoku-in Temple
  2. Hōen-ji Temple
  3. Higashiyama-Higashi
  4. Kazuemachi
  5. Ozaki Shrine
  6. Oyama Shrine (inside ~20 min)
  7. Kanazawa Castle (inside ~45 min)
  8. Kenroku-en
  9. Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Traditonal Arts and Crafts
  10. Seisonkaku
  11. Ishikawa Prefectural History Museum
  12. National Crafts Museum
  13. Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
  14. 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
  15. Dairen-ji Temple
  16. Myōryū-ji Temple
12–65 m

Photo: ViewpointphosphorCC BY-SA 3.0

4.7/10
#3
Viewpoint

Best Viewpoints in Kanazawa: Walking Route

Viewpoints

5 stops4.6 km1 h 25 min

4.6 kmdistance1 h 25 minwith stops5stops+146 mgain
2.0 sights6.9 efficiency2.4 hills7.0 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 1 h+146 m climb along route
  1. Higashiyama-Higashi
  2. Okudai hill
  3. Gohonmatsu (Five Pines)
  4. Chouboudai Viewpoint
  5. Kenroku-en
14–132 m

Photo: Viewpoint663highlandCC BY 2.5

4.0/10
#4
Viewpoint

Kanazawa Museum Walk

Museums

11 stops5.1 km2 h 5 min

5.1 kmdistance2 h 5 minwith stops11stops+41 mgain
2.4 sights7.2 efficiency0.7 hills5.5 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 1 h 10 min+ up to 9 h insides+41 m climb along route
  1. Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum
  2. Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Traditonal Arts and Crafts
  3. Seisonkaku
  4. Ishikawa Prefectural History Museum
  5. National Crafts Museum
  6. Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
  7. D.T. Suzuki Museum
  8. 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
  9. Kanazawa Noh Museum
  10. Ishikawa Museum of Modern Literature
  11. Kanazawa City Ashigaru Museum
12–57 m

Photo: Viewpoint金沢市CC BY 2.1 jp

3.9/10
#5
Viewpoint

Self-Guided Walking Tour of Kanazawa

Walking tour

11 stops9.2 km3 h~153 m stairs

9.2 kmdistance3 hwith stops11stops+120 mgain~153 mstairs
3.5 sights6.5 efficiency2.0 hills0.0 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 1 h 55 min+ up to 5 h 25 min insides+120 m climb along route
  1. Higashiyama-Higashi
  2. Kazuemachi
  3. Ozaki Shrine
  4. Kanazawa Castle
  5. 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
  6. Kenroku-en
  7. Seisonkaku
  8. Saigawa Bridge
  9. National Crafts Museum
  10. Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
  11. Myōryū-ji Temple
12–62 m

Photo: Viewpoint663highlandCC BY 2.5

3.6/10
#6
Viewpoint

Kanazawa Photo Walk: Most Instagrammable Spots

Photo spots

13 stops8.2 km3 h 5 min~177 m stairs

8.2 kmdistance3 h 5 minwith stops13stops+190 mgain~177 mstairs
3.3 sights6.6 efficiency3.2 hills0.0 length
Open in Google Maps 1/2 ↗Open in Google Maps 2/2 ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 1 h 50 min+ up to 6 h 25 min insides+190 m climb along route
  1. Myōryū-ji Temple
  2. Oyama Shrine
  3. Kanazawa Castle
  4. 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
  5. Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
  6. National Crafts Museum
  7. Ishikawa Prefectural History Museum
  8. Seisonkaku
  9. Kenroku-en
  10. Chouboudai Viewpoint
  11. Higashiyama-Higashi
  12. Gohonmatsu (Five Pines)
  13. Okudai hill
12–132 m

Photo: ViewpointJ oCC BY-SA 4.0

3.6/10
#7
Viewpoint

Kanazawa Loop Walk from Ishikawa Museum of Modern Literature

Loop

15 stops8.6 km3 h 10 min

8.6 kmdistance3 h 10 minwith stops15stops+57 mgain
2.5 sights6.7 efficiency0.9 hills0.8 length
Open in Google Maps 1/2 ↗Open in Google Maps 2/2 ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 1 h 50 min+ up to 7 h 20 min insides+57 m climb along route
  1. Ishikawa Museum of Modern Literature
  2. Kanazawa Noh Museum
  3. 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
  4. Saigawa Bridge
  5. Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
  6. National Crafts Museum
  7. Ishikawa Prefectural History Museum
  8. Daitōa Seisen Taihi
  9. Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Traditonal Arts and Crafts
  10. Seisonkaku
  11. Kenroku-en
  12. Kenroku-en Garden
  13. Higashiyama-Higashi
  14. Kazuemachi
  15. Ozaki Shrine
12–57 m

Photo: ViewpointKakidaiCC BY-SA 4.0

3.1/10
#8
Viewpoint

Temples & Shrines of Kanazawa Walk

Temples Shrines

7 stops6.4 km2 h 35 min

6.4 kmdistance2 h 35 minwith stops7stops+26 mgain
2.1 sights6.9 efficiency0.4 hills1.7 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 1 h 25 min+ up to 2 h 20 min insides+26 m climb along route
  1. Tentoku-in Temple
  2. Hōen-ji Temple
  3. Ozaki Shrine
  4. Oyama Shrine
  5. Shinmeiguu Shrine
  6. Dairen-ji Temple
  7. Myōryū-ji Temple
14–65 m

Photo: ViewpointYusuke.ogawaCC BY 2.5

3.1/10
#9
Viewpoint

Kanazawa Old Town Walking Tour

Old town

11 stops10.6 km3 h 35 min

10.6 kmdistance3 h 35 minwith stops11stops+107 mgain
2.2 sights5.8 efficiency1.8 hills0.0 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 2 h 20 min+ up to 2 h 45 min insides+107 m climb along route
  1. Saigawa Bridge
  2. Myōryū-ji Temple
  3. Dairen-ji Temple
  4. Kanazawa Shinise Memorial Hall (Old Merchant House)
  5. Oyama Shrine
  6. Ozaki Shrine
  7. Asanogawa Ōhashi Bridge
  8. Kanazawa Castle
  9. Daitōa Seisen Taihi
  10. Hōen-ji Temple
  11. Tentoku-in Temple
12–65 m

Photo: ViewpointIrina GelbukhCC BY-SA 3.0

2.8/10
#10
Viewpoint

Old Town of Kanazawa in 2 Hours

Old town

8 stops7.5 km2 h 25 min

7.5 kmdistance2 h 25 minwith stops8stops+80 mgain
2.3 sights5.8 efficiency1.3 hills0.0 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 1 h 40 min+ up to 1 h 45 min insides+80 m climb along route
  1. Saigawa Bridge
  2. Kanazawa Shinise Memorial Hall (Old Merchant House)
  3. Oyama Shrine
  4. Ozaki Shrine
  5. Asanogawa Ōhashi Bridge
  6. Kanazawa Castle
  7. Daitōa Seisen Taihi
  8. Hōen-ji Temple
12–59 m

Photo: Viewpoint金沢市CC BY 4.0

2.7/10
#11
Viewpoint

Hidden Gems of Kanazawa: Off-the-Beaten-Path Walk

Hidden gems

11 stops9.8 km3 h

9.8 kmdistance3 hwith stops11stops+57 mgain
1.2 sights6.3 efficiency0.9 hills0.0 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 2 h+ up to 3 h 20 min insides+57 m climb along route
  1. Kanazawa Yasue Gold Leaf Museum
  2. Asanogawa Ōhashi Bridge
  3. Kanazawa City Ashigaru Museum
  4. Nagamachi Samurai District
  5. Saigawa Bridge
  6. Nishi-Chayagai
  7. Dairen-ji Temple
  8. Kanazawa Noh Museum
  9. Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Traditonal Arts and Crafts
  10. Daitōa Seisen Taihi
  11. Tentoku-in Temple
12–65 m

Photo: ViewpointKakidaiCC BY-SA 4.0

2.3/10
#12
Viewpoint

Hidden Gems of Kanazawa in 2 Hours

Hidden gems

8 stops6.3 km2 h 5 min

6.3 kmdistance2 h 5 minwith stops8stops+18 mgain
1.2 sights5.5 efficiency0.3 hills2.0 length
Open in Google Maps ↗
Stops & elevation
Walking only 1 h 15 min+ up to 2 h 40 min insides+18 m climb along route
  1. Hōen-ji Temple
  2. Daitōa Seisen Taihi
  3. Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Traditonal Arts and Crafts
  4. Kenroku-en Garden
  5. Kanazawa Noh Museum
  6. Kanazawa City Ashigaru Museum
  7. Saigawa Bridge
  8. Dairen-ji Temple
14–57 m

Photo: Viewpoint藤谷良秀(Yoshihide Fujitani)CC BY-SA 4.0

2.3/10

Hills: higher = steeper along the walk. Stairs (when shown): metres of mapped stairways near the route — approximate, not a step countvisit times are estimates.

Kanazawa walking stats

From the 12 rated routes122 stops total32 unique places.

Most climbKanazawa Photo Walk: Most Instagrammable Spots+190 m along route
Most stops / kmOne Hour in Kanazawa: A Short Walk2.3 stops per km
Least climbHidden Gems of Kanazawa in 2 Hours+18 m along route
Most stairsOne Hour in Kanazawa: A Short Walk~177 m mapped stairways (approx., not step count)
Longest / shortest10.6 km2.6 kmKanazawa Old Town Walking Tour / One Hour in Kanazawa: A Short Walk
Places on routes32unique stop ids
How we score. Same formula for every route: Sights 50% (how notable the stops are)Efficiency 25% (less backtracking between stops)Hills 10% (how steep the walk is)Length fit 15% (distance vs the kind of walk). Stairs stay a fact in metres, not a quality bar. Avg score in the hero is the mean across all ranked walks.

Kanazawa FAQ

Short answers from this city’s data.

Best first-visit walk?
One Hour in Kanazawa: A Short Walk (2.6 km, 1 h 10 min with stops) ranks #1 here.
Best months to walk Kanazawa?
Apr, Oct, Nov are usually the nicest months for walking.
Shortest walk?
One Hour in Kanazawa: A Short Walk2.6 km, walking 35 min.
One hour in Kanazawa?
One Hour in Kanazawa: A Short Walk: walking 35 min, with stops 1 h 10 min, 6 stops.
One-day plan?
Kanazawa in One Day: Walking Itinerary: 16 stops, ~4 h 10 min on-route; suggested insides on marked stops; full day ≈ 5 h 15 min. Visit times are estimates.
Stairs and hills?
Hills is 10% of the score (higher = steeper along the walk). Stairs are not scored — when shown, they are metres of mapped stairways near the route (approximate; not a step count). Example: stairways ≈ 0 m.
Can I change stops?
Yes — open in Maps, edit, then paste into Lineo for a cleaner order.
Why are some Google Maps links split?
Google Maps caps how many stops fit in one directions link (we use 11). Longer walks are split into numbered buttons (1/2, 2/2, …). Open them in order — each part starts where the previous one ended.