VISIT KANAZAWA, JAPAN - Official Travel Guide

Kenrokuen Garden is beautiful from season to season. One of the most dramatic times to visit Kenrokuen Garden is during the foliage season. The scenery changes from day to day, and a once-in-a-lifetime view created by people and nature awaits you.

Yamazaki-yama Hill : It is said that this mountain was built using the "doi (earthen gate)" of Kanazawa Castle. The entire area, including maple trees and horse chestnut trees, is covered with yellow and red colors, making it a magnificent sight. Also known as “Momiji-yama (maple mountain),” it is the best spot for viewing the autumn leaves at Kenrokuen Garden.

Hanami-Bashi, Flower Viewing Bridge ~ Yamazaki-yama Hill: Crossing the Hanami-Bashi Flower Viewing Bridge, with its parapet of Giboshi ornaments over the Kyokusui River, walking along the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Traditional Arts and Crafts, and on the way to Yamazaki-yama Hill, visitors can admire the beautiful red and yellow maple trees, as well as the picturesque leaves reflected in the river and the fallen leaves spread over the moss.

Kasumiga-ike Pond: The Kotoji Stone Lantern standing by the pond is a widely-recognized spot in Kenrokuen Garden. Circling around the pond, visitors can enjoy the various expressions of the autumn leaves. The most recommended view is from Niji-bashi Bridge that stands in front of the lanters and pine trees with their Yukitsuri (snow coverings) on Oyashirazu Road. From there, visitors can admire the reflection of the autumn leaves on the opposite shore on the water.

Sazae-yama, Shelfish-Hill: 

 This 9-meter-high hill was built with soil from the excavation of Kasumiga-ike Pond during the Edo period. From the top, visitors can enjoy the contrast between the colorful autumn leaves and the blue of the pond, as well as the view of Mt.Utatsu with autumn leaves. When illuminated, the maple tree in the foreground and the Karasaki Pine Tree float in the darkness, creating a fantastic sight.

※As of November 2024, Sazae-yama is off-limits. It is possible to view it from the surrounding area. Please check the Kenrokuen Garden website for the latest information.

Hisago-ike Pond: Hisago-ike Pond is located immediately after entering the Mayumizaka Gate on the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. The colorful forest encircling the pond and the Midori-taki Waterfall running through the forest give the pond an atmosphere of a deep mountain valley. When the pond is lit up, the colorful autumn leaves are reflected on the surface of the water, creating a mysterious atmosphere.

(Written by Ken Wakai, Hokuriku Writer)

Kanazawa is known as the "City of Forests." The city is full of greenery, and beautiful autumn leaves can be seen everywhere in the autumn. Here are some popular autumn foliage spots in the center of Kanazawa.

American Maple Avenue: The straight 250-meter road connecting the front of Kanazawa City Hall and Kanazawa Castle Park Gyokuseninmaru Entrance is lined with American Maple trees. Together with the adjacent The Fourth High School Memorial Park and Hirosaka Greens, visitors can enjoy the refined autumn foliage typical of the City of Forests During the fall foliage season, the trees are lit up at night. The best time to view the leaves is a little early in early November.

Kanazawa Castle Park: Starting with the Honmaruenchi Park, which is covered with dense trees, there are deep forests that one would not expect to find in the center of town. In addition to maples and cherry trees, there are beech trees, and the red and yellow leaves look beautiful against the evergreens.

Honda-no-Mori Forest: Located in a corner of the nature-rich Kodatsuno Plateau, this forest is dotted with cultural facilities. The contrast between the retro buildings, such as the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History and the National Crafts Museum, and the autumn leaves is certainly picturesque. The café at the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, with its large glass windows jutting out into the forest, is also popular.

"Bijutsu-no Komichi"(Art Path), "Midori-no Komichi"(Green Path): The "Bijutsu-no Komichi (Art Path)" leading from the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art to the Kanazawa Nakamura Memorial Museum and the “Midori-no Komichi (Green Path)” leading from the Kanazawa Nakamura Memorial Museum to D.T. Suzuki Museum are pleasant walking paths away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The dense foliage is colorful in the fall, making for a fantastic scene.

Shin-en Garden of Oyama Jinja Shrine: The garden extends to the right of the main hall. The garden features a pond and fountain, with a central island shaped like a Gagaku (Japanese traditional court music) instrument and elaborate bridges connecting the island and the pond. The garden is beautifully colored with autumn leaves in mid-November.

MAEDA Toshiie, the first lord of the Kaga Domain, and Toshinaga, the second, learned the tea ceremony from their tea master Sen no Rikyu, and the Kaga Domain widely promoted the tea ceremony, which still flourishes today. Kanazawa is known as a town where traditional tea ceremonies remain popular today.

*All of the gardens introduced here require an admission fee. For details, please refer to the links below.

Nishida Family's Gyokusen-en Garden : This garden is a two-tiered upper and lower pond garden with a variety of foliage. It also has the oldest teahouse in Kanazawa and has been designated as a place of scenic beauty by Ishikawa Prefecture.

Samurai residence Kurando Terashima's House: There is an old azalea tree that is over 300 years old and about 200 trees, mostly those that bear fruit for food, in the garden. Designated as a historical site by Kanazawa City.

Nomura Samurai Residence: The water from the Onosho canal flows over the porch of the garden, and the lanterns and beautifully pruned trees around the garden create a relaxing atmosphere. The garden was awarded two stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan.

Tsujike-teien Garden: An English-style garden created by Jihei Ogawa VII, the father of modern Japanese gardens. The 300-year-old zelkova tree, the symbol of the garden, is stunning. The garden is a Kanazawa City Designated Cultural Property.

Gyokuseninmaru Garden: The garden was created by MAEDA Toshitsune, the third lord of the Kaga Domain, and existed in the Gyokuseninmaru of Kanazawa Castle until the abolition of the domain. The current garden was faithfully restored in 2015.