This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Kanazawa.
Kanazawa, Japan, is located on the western coast of Honshu Island, in the Ishikawa Prefecture, about two hundred thirty kilometres away from Kyoto and four hundred kilometres from Tokyo. Kanazawa is known for its highly preserved cultural buildings and neighbourhoods, as well as being responsible for ninety-nine percent of all gold leaf produced in Japan, which is why there are so many food stands and cafes offering various types of edible gold-leaf options. One particularly popular option is enjoying a piece of gold leaf on top of soft-serve ice cream!
There are several distinctive neighbourhoods travelers can visit, such as the Higashi Chaya District and the Nagamachi Samurai District. Also known as the Old Town, Higashi Chaya is a beautifully unique and well-preserved area. There's even a small and charming area called the Kazue-Machi District, known as the Geisha district. Filled with teahouses and entertaining houses, this is where tourists can experience a traditional Geisha tea ceremony.
The city of Kanazawa is also filled with incredibly modern architecture. Just arriving at the Kanazawa train station, visitors are greeted with an imposing and futuristic structure. All around the city centre, visitors can find inspiring public buildings with inspiring architecture, such as the Twenty-First Century Museum of Contemporary Art or the Tsuzumi Gate.
Kanazawa is a fairly small city and can be easily explored with a bicycle. Many Kanazawa, Japan hostels and accommodation options provide onsite bicycle rentals. There are also rentals available at the train station and other private businesses. If taking a bicycle sounds like too much physical activity, there are also public buses and specified tourists route buses that will take visitors to well-known city attractions.
Kanazawa has plenty of accommodation options available, from luxurious hotels to budget-friendly Kanazawa, Japan hostels scattered all throughout the city. Most hostels in Kanazawa, Japan, have private, double, and dorm-room options, as well as mixed and female dorms only. Onsite kitchens and common rooms are also typical characteristics of Kanazawa, Japan hostels. Lots of local Japanese tourists also enjoy staying at budget-friendly hostel options, so it's not an uncommon to see families at hostels in Kanazawa, Japan.
Written by local enthusiast for Kanazawa hostels
Charmaine