6 new hotels to stay in “Little Kyoto” Kanazawa, Japan
Easily accessible by train from Tokyo and other major cities in Japan, Kanazawa is a popular destination for tourists to experience traditional Japanese culture.
Kanazawa is a city located in Ishikawa Prefecture on the west coast of Honshu, Japan's main island. It is known as “Little Kyoto” for its well-preserved Edo period (1603-1868) districts, such as Nagamachi (Samurai District) and Higashi Chaya (Geisha District), which offer visitors a glimpse into Japan's past.
The city is also famous for its traditional crafts, including lacquerware, gold leaf, and Kutani ware. It is home to popular tourist attractions like Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen, one of Japan's Three Great Gardens—the other two being Okayama’s Korakuen and Ibaraki’s Kairakuen.
Kanazawa has a rich cultural heritage and is home to many museums and galleries, including the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, and the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art. It also has a thriving food scene and is known for its seafood, especially its snow crab.
As it is easily accessible by train from Tokyo and other major cities in Japan, Kanazawa is a popular destination for tourists looking to experience the traditional Japanese culture minus the crowd. Here are six recently opened hotels in Kanazawa that you can consider staying at.
1. Hyatt Centric Kanazawa & Hyatt House Kanazawa (Opened in August 2020)
Hyatt Centric Kanazawa: Agoda | Booking.com | HotelsCombined | Trip.com
Hyatt Centric Kanazawa showcases Kanazawa’s traditional art forms and rich history and puts a modern twist on the vibrant culture of the city. The rooms are designed with the guests’ ease in mind and include many convenient features, as well as decorations evocative of Kanazawa’s charm.
Hyatt House Kanazawa: Agoda | Booking.com | HotelsCombined | Trip.com
Hyatt House Kanazawa offers spacious rooms and suites with separate living and sleeping areas as well as full kitchens for practicality and convenience. It is perfect for families on vacation and those travelling for business.
2. Lian Kanazawa (Opened in June 2020)
Agoda | Booking.com | Trip.com
Lian Kanazawa is packed with the atmosphere of Kanazawa, the city of crafts and art. There are three types of rooms, all of which are condominium-style with kitchenettes and spacious living areas. Guests can enjoy a homely stay as if they were actually living there. Crafts and artwork are displayed throughout the hotel and rooms, allowing guests to experience Japanese culture to the fullest.
3. Kanazawa Sainoniwa Hotel (Reopened in April 2022)
Agoda | Booking.com | HotelsCombined | Trip.com
Kanazawa Sainoniwa Hotel was renovated to meet new needs, such as the increasing number of family trips. It reduced the total number of rooms from 64 to 58 to ensure that all rooms are at least 32 square metres, and established new family-friendly rooms that can accommodate up to eight people.
In addition, new large-screen TVs have been installed in all rooms. Room clothes for both men and women have been standardised in consideration of LGBTQ. Plastic bottles in the rooms have also been changed to cans to strengthen Sustainable Development Goals initiatives.
4. OMO5 Kanazawa Katamachi by Hoshino Resorts (Opened in May 2022)
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OMO5 Kanazawa Katamachi is Hoshino Resort's first OMO brand hotel in the Hokuriku region. It is located on Tatemachi Street in the centre of Kanazawa city, known as the best gourmet town in Hokuriku with thousands of restaurants and is loved by many. The hotel offers several food experiences and activities for curious guests to learn about food-related history and culture.
There are six types of guest rooms available, some with kitchenettes. The hotel has its own café with a typical Kanazawa menu. It also offers local workshops where visitors can indulge in unique Kanazawa experiences, such as a free walking tour of Katamachi, the oldest shopping street in Japan, and making rakugan (traditional Japanese sweets).
5. Soki Kanazawa (Opened in November 2022)
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Soki Kanazawa is conveniently located in front of Omicho Market and is the second Soki brand hotel after Atami. Soki means “plain vessel”, and the hotel is designed for one to “feel the seasons, savour the land, and enjoy the ingredients”. It embodies the concept of “a journey of natural, carefree living, where you can recover yourself just as you are”.
6. The Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa (Opened in December 2022)
Agoda | Booking.com | HotelsCombined | Trip.com
The Hotel Sanraku Kanazawa is a minute's walk from Omicho Market and a three-minute walk from Kanazawa Castle Park. The guest rooms, richly decorated with Kanazawa crafts, are all generously sized at 32 square metres or more, allowing guests to spend time surrounded by Kanazawa's unique atmosphere.
In the centre of the hotel is a courtyard with a six-tiered waterfall running through. There is also a Club Lounge, a rare facility in Kanazawa, where guests can enjoy exclusive breakfast, afternoon tea, cocktail hour, etc. There are 41 rooms with access to the Club Lounge, including 13 suites, suitable for VIP guests.
Check airfare here: Skyscanner | Trip.com
Book accommodations and activities here: Agoda | Booking.com | Klook | KKday | HotelsCombined
General info here: Tripadvisor
Affordable data plans here
And while you are at it, get your travel insurance with FWD | Alliance Assistance | Income | Prudential
