What Our Customers Say
Testimonials
November 2025
We had an absolutely wonderful experience with Kanazawa Tours on their Kanazawa Night Tour, and our guide, Saya, made it truly unforgettable. She was friendly, bubbly, and incredibly knowledgeable — you could immediately tell how passionate she is about her work and her deep love for Kanazawa. Walking through the quiet, lantern-lit streets of Higashi Chaya at night felt magical. Seeing the district completely empty was such a striking contrast to the daytime crowds and allowed us to appreciate its beauty in a calm, almost enchanting atmosphere. We also visited Kazue Chaya, another historic geisha district we might not have discovered on our own, and it added even more depth to the experience. To end the evening, Saya brought us to a cozy local restaurant where we cooked udon right at the table. It was delicious, fun, and felt like a truly authentic spot we never would’ve found without her. Overall, this night tour was one of the highlights of our trip. If you’re visiting Kanazawa, I can’t recommend Kanazawa Tours and especially Saya highly enough!
Lynn Ornellas
November 2025
Our half-day Artisans of Kanazawa tour with Ian was truly one of the most meaningful experiences of our trip. From the moment we met him, his calm and thoughtful way of sharing the city made us feel completely immersed in Kanazawa’s beauty and spirit. Ian guided us through some of Kanazawa’s most treasured places — from the peaceful Samurai district and charming Geisha quarter to the stunning Kenrokuen Garden, where each view seemed perfectly composed. His explanations helped us see the city not just as visitors, but through the eyes of someone who deeply appreciates its history and traditions. One of the most memorable parts of the morning was our visit with a local artisan at Wagasa-Kasamori, where we learned about the intricate process of creating traditional Japanese umbrellas. Watching the craftsmanship up close — the delicate paper, bamboo, and careful handwork — gave us such respect for the generations who have kept this art alive. It was quiet, beautiful, and humbling to witness. Ian made sure everything moved at a comfortable pace, and his gentle attention to detail made it easy to simply enjoy each moment. This wasn’t just a tour — it was an experience that connected us to the heart of Kanazawa and its people.
Christina Griffith
November 2025
We recently completed a series of tours with Kanazawa Tours as a group of seven—two families traveling together with five adults and two kids—and we could not be more impressed. Our itinerary included day tours of Takayama, Kanazawa, Gokayama and Inami, as well as Kyoto. Every single day was planned and executed perfectly.
All of the logistics, from transfers to timing, were seamless, making the trip incredibly easy and enjoyable for our entire group. Each guide we had was excellent—knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive to both the adults and the kids. Their insights brought each destination to life and added so much depth to our experience.
We truly had an amazing trip and felt completely taken care of from start to finish. Kanazawa Tours delivered a flawless travel experience, and we highly recommend them to anyone looking to explore this beautiful region of Japan.
Justin D
September 2025
We had a really great tour with our best guide Ian. His knowledge about the history was perfekt and stunning to here about all the several time periods and how they all merged trogether. He was wonderful an patient with our small toddler walking around and not always the way the adults wanted. We even stopped at a playground to give him some play time. The dinner was traditional and very good. We really enjoyed this tour! The taken photos by Ian is a perfect added service. Thank you Ian and Kanazawa Tours!
Christian Conrads
September 2025
We took a two-day private tour from Takayama to Shirakawago and Kanazawa with Kanazawa Tours and were more than satisfied. We were a large group of 21 family members, and the organisation was flawless from the start. Communication with Mike Keenan beforehand went smoothly: he explained all the options to us in detail and helped us create the perfect itinerary for everyone. Thanks to the attentiveness and professionalism of our tour guide team, the experience exceeded our expectations. For the first two days, we were accompanied by Ku, who was simply incredible: approachable, friendly and with extensive knowledge of every attraction we visited. Her explanations and recommendations brought each stop to life. In Kanazawa, we also had Sachiko, whose passion for the city and its history allowed us to experience it in a much more authentic and special way. The logistics (transfers, scheduling and visiting times) went perfectly, which is no easy task for such a large group. We were all thrilled and felt we had experienced something unique. I highly recommend Kanazawa Tours to anyone looking for a personalised, well-organised experience accompanied by first-class guides.
Juan HEVIA-AZA SUAREZ
July 2025
We had the absolute pleasure of being guided by the sweetest person ever, Kumiko Matsuhata from the moment we met her, it was clear we were in good hands. She was not only incredibly knowledgeable and well-prepared, but also brought such a kind, genuine energy that made the entire experience unforgettable. Her passion and care truly shone through in every detail, and she made us feel comfortable, welcomed, and completely taken care of. It was more than just a tour—it was a meaningful, joyful experience thanks to Kumiko We cannot recommend her highly enough! She even showed our son how to make origami frogs
Polly Copeman
July 2025
We had a private dinner with Geiko in Kanazawa with Nozomi, and it was the highlight of our trip to Japan! Nozomi was incredibly knowledgeable and so kind & welcoming. She helped make the language difference between my husband and I and the Geikos easy to navigate, expertly translating and engaging effortlessly in conversation. She also took fantastic pictures and was just a joy to spend the evening with! We really enjoyed our time and would definitely highly recommend both Nozomi and the Geiko dinner experience to anyone visiting Kanazawa.
HCH
June 2025
We had a absolute fantastic time with Kanazawa tours. We booked a couple of tours and all of them were unique and amazing. Nozomi showed us the Geisha district with lots of inside information in a very funny and entertaining way and invited us to a authentic Japanese dinner. It was a great experience! Thank you so much! On another day we went for a kimono dress up session and had a traditional tea ceremony with Sachiko. What a great and fun experience! experience. We laughed a lot and had a real good time. Thank you so much! The next day Sachiko showed us Kanazawa in a way that our two Teenagers had the best day. We all loved it, but especially our kids enjoyed the day very much. She designed it on the spot just for our needs and for us adults she explained a lot about the history of Kanazawa. It was really great and everybody was happy! Thank you for those two wonderful days. We also booked a driving tour with Kanazawa. Tetsuro was a great guide and a very save and calm driver. He took us to Yamanaka and showed us beautiful spots in the country side. He knows a lot about natur and how it’s used. Brilliant! He took great care of us and made a special effort to fulfil all our needs. Thank you for that beautiful experience!
Silvia Sturzebecher
April 2025
We had such a wonderful time with Ai, she was so accommodating for our
group (5 adults + 16 month old) and really went out of her way to make us feel
welcome. We learned so much from her about modern and historic Kanazawa,
the cultures and the food which is exactly what we hoped for. She even pointed
out to us some of her favorite restaurants and her Yakitori recommendation was
literally out of this world amazing.
Norman Mang
January 2025
We took three tours with Kanazawa Tours, all of which were amazing.
Our two city walking tours with Sachiko covered all of the highlights. We were really impressed with her boundless enthusiasm (even in the midst of a mini-hailstorm during our castle garden visit!) and obvious passion for the city she grew up in. She really made the history and culture of Kanazawa come alive and we learnt a lot from our time together. We have done walking tours all over the world and these were some of the best we’ve ever experienced! Special shoutout to her excellent photography skills as well; we could safely put our phones away and immerse ourselves in the experience knowing that she would send the photos afterwards
We also spent a day with Tetsuro touring Shirakawago, Takayama and Hida Furakawa. Really appreciated his safe driving in challenging icy conditions, and he managed our itinerary very well, allowing us to spend enough time in each location despite the tight schedule.
Arigato Gozaimasu and see you next time!
Joel Ng
January 2025
Our day with our Kanazawa Tours guide Nazomi Kondo was one of the highlights of our trip to Japan. Nazomi was such a delight to spend the day with. Through being shown Kanazawa by Nazomi we had a totally unique and imaginative experience. We were looked after so thoughtfully and Nazomi went far out of her way to give us a much deeper and fuller experience of Kanazawa than I could have hoped. Nazomi created an experience for us rather than giving us an experience she had already created. Thank you to Kanazawa Tours and specifically Nazomi Kondo for making our time with you so special.
Coll McDonnell
December 2024
We had two tours booked with Kanazawa Tours: a private geisha evening, and a day trip to Shirakawago, Gokayama and Takayama.
For the geisha experience, it was truly a wonderful once in a lifetime experience and our guide Nozomi-san enhanced it all with her helpful guidance, translations, and bubbly personality. Worth every penny!
For our day trip, Sachiko-san was very proactive in contacting me to let me know traffic conditions were quite bad that day, and helpfully advised us on timings to ensure we experienced exactly what we wanted. She was also very helpful with explaining our destinations and its history, and things that were famous there. Shout out to driver-san, who along with Sachiko-san kept an eye on traffic and found out about a highway closure and chose a longer but less busy road for our return to Kanazawa, so that we weren’t stuck on the road for hours!
Thank you so much to both Nozomi-san and Sachiko-san for the wonderful memories we created! My family have decided we will be sure to visit Kanazawa again
Priscilla Chong
December 2024
A Magical Christmas Tour with Ku – A Truly Special Experience!
We were lucky enough to have Ku as our guide for a private tour around Takayama and Shirakawa-go on Christmas Day, and I cannot recommend her enough. From the moment we met her, Ku’s warmth and kindness made us feel so welcome. She went above and beyond to make the day feel truly special and festive.
Ku added personal Christmas touches that brought smiles to all of us – she even sewed a little Santa hat for her panda puppet and made a charming Christmas sign! These thoughtful gestures made the experience feel magical and unforgettable.
Her attention to detail was incredible. Ku has clearly put so much effort into crafting her own folder of information about the sites we visited – details that are often hard to find in English. This gave us such a deeper appreciation for the history and beauty of Takayama and Shirakawa-go.
What stood out most was Ku’s sincerity and genuine care for everyone on the tour. She gave us plenty of free time to explore, always making sure the tour felt relaxed and flexible to suit our interests. Ku’s passion for sharing her culture and ensuring we had the best possible experience shone through in everything she did.
If you are planning a visit to Takayama or Shirakawa-go, I highly recommend booking a tour with Ku. She doesn’t just guide you – she creates memories that you will treasure forever. Thank you, Ku, for making our Christmas one we will never forget!
F T
November 2024
We took two tours through Kanazawa Tours during our first trip to Japan. A day tour with Ikue in Takayama, and a night tour with Ian in Kanazawa. Both guides were super fun, kind, on time, knowledgeable, happy to answer questions, and added so much to our experience with each city. Ikue was able to recommend multiple wonderful things to do in Takayama after the tour and they made our time there so much more rewarding. Ian took us to a wonderful udon restaurant we would never have found on our own, helped us order, taught us some valuable phrases, and was excellent company. Would highly recommend these tours to anyone visiting who wants to make sure their time in the city is well spent and extends beneath the surface level into deeper cultural and historical contexts. And anyone who wants to have fun!
Eric Van Scoik
October 2024
We had a great time during the Taste of Kanazawa Tour and Ian was incredibly informative during our tour. We were able to taste some delicious local foods that we wouldn’t have tried on our own. The stop for local sweets in the Higashi Chaya district was a highlight.
Callum Willis
October 2024
An Unforgettable Experience with Sachiko of Kanazawa Tours
Our tour with Sachiko of Kanazawa Tours was absolutely fabulous! From start to finish, she went above and beyond to make the experience unforgettable. Sachiko was kind, flexible, and incredibly knowledgeable, providing rich insights into every place we visited. Her deep understanding of Kanazawa’s history and culture added so much depth to our tour.
Her English was perfect, and she had a special gift for connecting with the four kids in our group. Sachiko made sure they felt included in the activities and even arranged reservations for us after the tour to keep everyone happy. Her thoughtfulness and attention to detail made the whole day seamless and enjoyable for both the adults and children.
Additionally, she documented our tour with photos and videos sending a link to our own album at the end of the tour. I’m beyond thankful.
I would recommend Sachiko 1000 times over! If you’re looking for a guide who truly cares about your experience, look no further.
Olga Weinberger
September 2024
Nozomi was the guide that was the highlight of our trip. She got us special access to artisans such as a traditional kimono painter and maker of golf leaf. We were able to spend lots of one-on-one time with each artisan learning about their craft, and even sometimes trying ourselves. She acted as a flawless translator. The experience was not touristy at all. Nozomi I often knew the master personally, so it was an authentic experience she could provide. Very special. Additionally, Nozomi was a pleasure to spend time with and had lots of perspective and history to add. She has lived all over the world, so she had a terrific perspective on what was unique to Japanese culture vs elsewhere. We will always remember our time with her.
Emily Turner
July 15th, 2024
Exceptional Experience with Guide Sachiko in Kanazawa
I recently had the pleasure of exploring the enchanting city of Kanazawa with the remarkable guide Sachiko. As a family of four, including two energetic boys aged 10 and 13, we embarked on a fascinating journey filled with culture, history, and adventure. Sachiko’s extensive knowledge and engaging personality truly made our experience memorable and insightful.
From the moment we met Sachiko, her warmth and enthusiasm were evident. She tailored the tour perfectly to suit the interests and energy levels of our boys, seamlessly blending education with fun. Our first stop at the Ninja and Geisha Town captivated us all as Sachiko brought to life the stories of these intriguing figures from Japanese history. Her storytelling skills and interactive approach kept the boys engaged throughout, ensuring they not only learned but also enjoyed every moment.
Moving on to the breathtaking garden opposite the castle, Sachiko’s explanations of the historical significance and symbolism behind the landscape added depth to our visit. It was refreshing to see how she effortlessly adapted her explanations to cater to the wide age range of our family, making the experience educational yet accessible to all.
Sachiko’s organizational skills were impeccable; she helped us navigate the busy sites with ease while allowing ample time for exploration and photos. Her passion for Kanazawa’s rich heritage shone through in every detail she shared, making us appreciate the city even more.
As a family, we left the tour with a newfound appreciation for Kanazawa’s hidden gems, thanks to Sachiko’s expert guidance. Her patience, kindness, and genuine interest in ensuring our satisfaction made her not just a guide, but a companion on our journey through this captivating city.
In conclusion, I cannot recommend Sachiko and the Kanazawa Tours highly enough. If you seek an enriching and delightful exploration of Kanazawa with a guide who goes above and beyond, Sachiko is the perfect choice. Thank you, Sachiko, for a truly unforgettable experience that our family will treasure for years to come.
Thomas Erne
June 24th, 2024
Best Day We Had in Japan!
We were fortunate to have Sachiko as our guide for a day in Kanazawa. She helped us make the most of our limited time in this charming smaller city. We were able to pack in all the major sights, do a little souvenir shopping, have a great lunch, and try our hand at gold leaf, all in a one day tour! Sachiko was knowledgeable, and went out of her way to accommodate one of our party with mobility restrictions. Her English was excellent, and she patiently answered all our questions about life in Japan. She even booked a post tour dinner for us at tasty restaurant that was walking distance from our lodging. To top it all off, she snapped numerous pictures of our day, and shared them with us, to help us remember all we had seen and done.
All of the above alone would have resulted in a great tour. But our day in Kanazawa also happened to be my birthday. Sachiko went out of her way to make my day special. The chef at lunch brought a small dessert. The helpers at the gold leaf shop gift wrapped my work and made me a birthday card. The server at dinner wished me a happy birthday. Sachiko took the time and effort to make the day extra special, making her our very favorite guide we had in Japan, against some stiff competition!
I cannot speak to all of the tour guides at Kanazawa Tours, but if the others are half as wonderful as Sachiko, you would be in good hands. The company is well organized, and communicates well, so I am optimistic that any tour with them would be worthwhile. Arigato goziamasu for a great day and great guide!
Maia Sisk
June 2nd
Excellent Full Day Tour of Kanazawa’s Traditional Artisan Crafts
Had an excellent tour with a private guide, Nozomi Kondo, starting with a tour & history of Kanazawa’s local Samurai district and on to a local sign writing (Hirakiya) artisan workshop to learn about the traditional craft of creating huge banners for a temple using traditional sign writing techniques. Excellent session with lots of information provided by Nozomi.
Then taken to a kaisendon (seafood bowl) restaurant for lunch at Koufuku, which we thoroughly enjoyed and then walked through the nearby fresh produce Omicho Market where we sampled a number of foods.
Then onto another traditional lacquerware/kintsugi artisan family house/workshop (Mr. & Ms. Sadaike) to learn all about the creation of black lacquerware items, with excellent information provided again by Nozomi. Fascinating session.
Finally, Nozomi took us to Kanazawa’s Higashi geisha district and explained all about the geisha training and life, before leaving us to look around and find a restaurant for an evening meal, with easy to follow directions to get back to our hotel.
We couldn’t have asked for a better guide. She was so knowledgeable and willing to answer our questions as well as explaining all aspects of the tour experiences. The tour itself was excellent and we had a really great day.
Thank you.
Maria
May 28th
Kanazawa Tour – worth every yen!
Sachiko was an excellent guide!! She customized our experience to show us amazing highlights of the city! She was timely and we fit so many sights into one day!
We saw: the Omicho Market, Gardens,Castle Grounds, Samurai district, Ninja Temple, an amazing sushi lunch with a very personable chef who was just amazing. He noticed that I am left handed and switched my sushi to be easier to pick up as a lefty! After lunch we headed to the Geisha district for tour and shopping. While there, we visited a gold leaf shop, where the proprietor taught us about the gold leaf making process (so amazing to learn!) while Sachiko translated.
Sachiko guided us through all of the sites (except the Ninja temple – she made reservations for us there, but private guide is not allowed in temple) filling in with useful cultural facts and history throughout the day. She was so knowledgeable!
Shopping with Sachiko was fantastic, she took us to the best shops and also translated anything we needed when we had questions on signs. She was patient and kind throughout our time and I would highly suggest you book a tour with Sachiko and Kanazawa Tours!
Sachiko also took a whole album of pictures during our time, which has been so amazing to look back at!
Debbie
May 13th
True insights into Japanese culture and history from a long time resident of Kanazawa
Went on seven hour tour of Kanazawa with Nazomi Kondo of Kanazawa Walking Tours.She was truly outstanding, and I have had a lot of guides in several countries. She was extremely personable and knowledgeable and totally fluent in English. Answered all my many questions about Japanese culture and history in depth. She was quite flexible and interested in improvising our plans to suit me as we went along. She even spent an extra hour with me “as a friend.” I would highly recommend her to any one visiting Kanazawa
Jane
May 14th
Wonderful and unforgettable experience with Sachiko in Kanazawa
Sachiko was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable, informative, professional, great listener and very helpful.
We had an amazing experience walking around Kanazawa with her. We visited Samurai district, Kenrokuen park, Geisha district and had some delicious lunch together.
Sachiko was a pleasure to be around, very personable and attentive, her trip planning was impeccable!
She gave us good advice on how to buy a yukata, also took many pictures and shared them with us!
We are very lucky to have had her as a guide and will gladly recommend her to our friends and family!
Inga
April 14th
Thank you Tetsuro Aiba!!
I went to Takayama with Tetsuro Aiba for a full day. Do not hesitate to go with this very knowledgeable guide. I learned a lot and was lucky enough to see the spring festival of Takayama with him! I also tasted different types of sake as well as authentic sushi prepared in front of me. I am very grateful for this experience and the sightseeing. He was able to explain to me many things about the history, the architecture, the food, the agriculture and the culture of Takayama. A very resourceful man. Thank you very much!!
Matt
March 15th
Truly exceptional – today was a “wow” day with Sachiko & Kanazawa Tours!
Sachiko is an exceptionally talented tour guide in Kanazawa! She’s very knowledgeable (a lifelong resident), well-prepared (came with maps and other great materials) incredibly helpful, and very fun to be with. Her English was perfect so she was easy to understand and communicate with, and she gave us tons of tips and recommendations for the best local shops, restaurants and sights to hit even after our tour was over, based on our interests, tastes and budget. She’s flexible, adaptable and especially good at tuning in to your specific needs and going at the pace that works best for you, providing just enough details about what we were seeing (including the history and background) but without overwhelming us! In a nutshell, she’s a person we felt lucky to meet – upbeat, very kind, and someone very fun to spend time with. We never would have had such a meaningful, enjoyable and helpful introduction to Kanazawa without Sachiko!
We highly recommend her (and all Kanazawa tour guides) to help navigate, appreciate and visit Kanazawa and this entire region of Japan! We have spent each of the last 3 days with a different one of the Kanazawa Tours guides (all great!) each day (Ikue in Takayama, Yuka driving us from Takayama to Kanazawa with a stop/tour in Shirakawa-go, and today, Sachiko in Kanazawa). Kanazawa Tours clearly focuses on quality and cares about providing an exceptional experience for their clients. We are grateful to have connected with them in Japan. Highly recommended!
Carsch