VISIT KANAZAWA, JAPAN - Official Travel Guide

For those who find the nightlife of Japan's metropolises of Osaka too frenetic and Tokyo too vast, Kanazawa provides a much more chill form of a night out, a friendly vibe in an easy-to-navigate area of the city. The Katamachi area is packed full of bars and small restaurants, beckoning patrons in from the night for an exquisite meal and an ice-cold mug of beer or a warm, aromatic cup of sake. The laughter of friends hanging out after work spill out of the bars onto the neon-lit streets.

For a completely different vibe, take a night stroll along the streets of one of Kanazawa's three historical geisha districts. Higashi Chaya is the largest of the three, where still-functioning geisha teahouses stand side-by-side with historical buildings now functioning as restaurants, shops, and cafes. Geisha teahouses are mainly exclusive and by invitation only, but one of the teahouses hosts special events where visitors can attend casual performances explained in English. Even if you can't attend an event, pay attention as you walk through the streets, and you might overhear a geisha song accompanied by the traditional shamisen stringed instrument floating down from an upper floor.

During certain periods of the year, Kenrokuen Garden has seasonal illuminations after dark which coincide with the various seasons of the year. A stroll through the garden and the adjacent Kanazawa Castle Park after dark is a romantic way to enjoy the sights of Kanazawa with someone you love. Even if you've spent a day enjoying the beauty of the garden, return at night for superb views that are entirely different. There are many places to enjoy the garden at night, but the illuminations of the ancient Karasaki pine tree and the famous scene of the Kotojitoro lantern beside Kasumigaike Pond are particularly outstanding.

Kanazawa Castle Park is illuminated after dark every evening, however certain areas also have seasonal illumination events. One is Gyokuseninmaru Garden, which has daily illumination shows that change with the seasons and loop continuously during evening operating hours.

If you miss the seasonal illumination events, you'll still find various locations around the castle area are still beautiful destinations for a night stroll. Around the perimeter of the castle, many structures are illuminated after dark, including the recently reconstructed Nezumita-mon Gate connecting the castle grounds to Oyama Jinja Shrine. The Oyama Jinja Shrine is also beautiful at night. The main shrine is illuminated for evening worshippers to enjoy with the unique and beautiful stained glass used in its main gate, a fusion of western, Chinese, and Japanese design.

Kanazawa's compact geography and friendly locals lend to its accessible and nostalgic nightlife. It offers destinations for singles and couples alike, for making fast friendships, building lasting relationships, or just going solo. And its seasonal evening illuminations are destinations unto themselves, worth building an entire itinerary for a visit to Kanazawa around. So when the sun goes down over our fair city, it's time to come out and play!