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Explore Kanazawa to Inami, the Woodcarving Town, with the Nanto Kanazawa Free Pass

Duration
6 hours
Transportation
by bus and walk

Take a day trip from Kanazawa to the woodcarving town of Inami by local bus. Why not experience the craftsmanship of Inami, a town recognized as a Japan Heritage site, and immerse yourself in the art of Inami woodcarving? Along the way, you can also enjoy the rustic landscapes of Nanto, with its expansive rural views from the bus window.

Explore Kanazawa to Inami, the Woodcarving Town, with the Nanto Kanazawa Free Pass

Kanazawa Station Tourist Information Center

Purchase the Free Pass at the Kanazawa Station

The Nanto Kanazawa Free Pass can be purchased not only at the Kanazawa Station Tourist Information Center but also at hotels around Kanazawa Station. It’s also recommended to purchase a digital ticket in advance through the "tabiwa" or "my route" apps. With a digital ticket purchased on your smartphone, you can buy it anytime and anywhere, and your phone will serve as the ticket. This eliminates the risk of losing your ticket, providing peace of mind.

Kanazawa Station Tourist Information Center
Kanazawa Station West Exit, Bus Stop 2 (Kaetsuno Bus Nanto Kanazawa Line, approximately 80 minutes)
A short walk from the "Zuisenji-guchi Kōtsū Hiroba" bus stop.

Inami Betsuin Zuisenji temple

The largest temple complex in the Hokuriku region, adorned with Inami woodcarvings

Zuisenji Temple, with a history of over 250 years, is the largest wooden temple in the Hokuriku region. After suffering multiple fires, the temple was rebuilt by Inami craftsmen who learned techniques from renowned artisans in Kyoto. This is where Inami woodcarving was born, making it the birthplace of this craft. Upon arrival, visitors are immediately impressed by the carvings on the mountain gate, and throughout the spacious temple grounds, you’ll find intricate yet magnificent and powerful carvings at every turn. It can truly be described as a museum of woodcarving art.

Inami Betsuin Zuisenji temple
approx. 5 minutes

Wooden Sake Cup Making Experience

Woodcarving Experience in Inami, the Woodcarving Town

A carving experience that even beginners can enjoy with ease. Under the guidance of skilled craftsmen, you’ll use authentic tools to create your own custom wooden sake cup. The experience takes place at "Kurokami-an," a small thatched-roof hermitage located within the grounds of Jōrenji Temple in the heart of Inami. Quietly standing alongside the "Okina-zuka" mound, associated with Matsuo Bashō, the hermitage offers a tranquil setting. Let the sound of your mallet echo in the serene space of the moss-covered garden. (Experience time: approximately 60 minutes)

Wooden Sake Cup Making Experience
Approx.1 minute

Wakakoma Sake Brewery

Let's go see the passionate craftsmanship behind sake brewing!

After the experience, you can enjoy tasting local sake at the nearby sake brewery, "Wakakoma Sake Brewery," using your finished sake cup. The brewery’s directly operated store also offers local sake for purchase.

Wakakoma Sake Brewery

Soba Kaiseki Matsuya

Founded in the first year of the Taisho era, specializing in carefully hand-made soba.

Since its founding in the first year of the Taisho era, the restaurant has maintained its commitment to hand-made soba and has preserved the traditional taste of its broth. The exterior of the shop, which was renovated from a 130-year-old traditional house, is impressive, and the high-level craftsmanship of the fusuma (sliding doors) and transoms, which reflect its long history, is a must-see. The noodles are thin and smooth, easy to eat, and the tempura made with seasonal vegetables is crispy, with a subtle sweetness that lingers.

Soba Kaiseki Matsuya

Stroll through Yoka-machi Street

The sound of the wooden mallet echoes through the cobblestone streets

Along the approach to Zuisenji Temple, you'll find numerous workshops filled with the scent of wood, where the rhythmic sounds of mallets and chisels from the woodcarvers echo from every direction. There are also 30 cute wooden carved cats hidden throughout the town, so be sure to try and find them!

Stroll through Yoka-machi Street
Take the Kaetsunoh Bus "Nanto Kanazawa Line" from the "Zuisenji-guchi Kōtsū Hiroba" bus stop to Kanazawa Station.
  • Kanazawa Station Tourist Information Center
  • Inami Betsuin Zuisenji temple
  • Wooden Sake Cup Making Experience
  • Wakakoma Sake Brewery
  • Stroll through Yoka-machi Street

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