Lot’s of small museums are hidden among the city center and enable you to learn more about Japanese culture as well as famous inhabitants the city has seen in the past centuries.

At the north-eastern end of Japan’s Noto Peninsula, just a short drive away from the city of Kanazawa – known for its samurai districts, museums, and gardens, is the beach they call Goshikigahama or Five Colors Beach.

Since these cities aren't what the typical tourist thinks to drop in on, you also won’t have to suffer through the crushing crowds, and can instead enjoy a more relaxed, authentic taste of Japanese beauty and culture.

If you are in Kanazawa and want to try it out for yourself, where should you go? There are various places in and around the city that are suitable for a solid forest bathing experience. I’ve listed my favorite three spots for you.

As I am a regular visitor to all these places and enjoying my regular cup of coffee there, I know all places personally very well and am very happy to tell you about it!

This route is designed for all visitors who only have one day to visit Kanazawa and want to make the most out of it. It starts and ends at Kanazawa station. You can reach all destinations via foot or by bus (check the section below for the information about bus routes).

If you want to see the mountainside and enjoy spectacular nature, special hot spring waters, as well as finest Japanese craft, Yamanaka Onsen is the right place to go. In this article, I want to give you some ideas of what you can do in this beautiful mountainside town and how to spend a nice day there.

Sunsets alone along the Sea of Japan, or Nihonkai as it’s called in Japanese, make getting there well worth the effort, and the cycling and camping it offers make it more than well worth it.

The Japanese refer to Kanazawa as Sho-Kyoto, or Little Kyoto, and at no time is this more evident than when taking in the historic atmosphere that can be found in the city’s three chaya (teahouse) districts.

The Noto peninsula is only a short drive away from Kanazawa, and it has many interesting things to do and see.

Each of the three restaurants visited in this article are located in Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa. In each, the integrity of the ingredients is held to an Ishikawan standard; that is, if it is good enough for the world’s top chefs, it is good enough for you.

Located 30 minutes driving—about 36 km from Kanazawa city, Chirihama Beach is a great escape, either for camping or just to spend time chilling by the beach with friends or family.