Best Spring Spots & Tours Near Kanazawa
As the snow melts in the Hokuriku region, the already beautiful winter landscapes reveal the refreshing green trees and grasses of the mountains. The plum blossoms give way to cherry blossoms followed by the light greens of all the new tree growth. In the cities of Kanazawa, Toyama and Fukui, the flowers and trees are as beautiful or even more so than the big cities of Tokyo or Osaka, with much less crowding. Kanazawa is a great base to explore the region. The traditional tea houses and modern nightlife district makes it a great city to spend a few days. In spring the city comes alive with plum and cherry blossoms and you can sit and picnic under the trees in peace, unlike many of the big cities. After you relax and soak in the beauty of Kanazawa you can easily day trip to so many amazing spring sights. There is at least a week’s worth of things to see in the region and this page will show you a few that are good for spring!
Below is a list of our best spots to see those great landscapes, flowers and cherry blossoms in and around Kanazawa.
— Asahi Funagawa Spring Quartet
KANAZAWA CITY / best viewing time: early March to early April
The largest city in the region and the place where most visitors will pass through, Kanazawa is a traditional city not to miss during the spring season. Kanazawa Castle, pictured above, is the most spectacular cherry blossom site, but there are others, too. Make sure to check out Kenrokuen Garden, Kazuemachi Teahouse District and the Saigawa River for other great places to see cherry blossoms. Kenrokuen Garden is also famous for the plum blossoms that bloom starting in late February until the end of March.
Join us for a tour of Kanazawa and all the major sights of the city. If you come in season you can see many of the best cherry blossom sights.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour from Kanazawa: Samurai, Matcha, Gardens and Geisha | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:00 – 17:30 |
| Meeting Place | Kanazawa Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥11,000 |
SHIRAKAWAGO & GOKAYAMA / best viewing time: mid-April to early May
These two UNESCO World Heritage Sites are most famous for their thatch-roof houses but they also have many spring flowers and cherry blossoms, as well. Both Shirakawago and Gokayama have plenty of great big trees that stand alone, allowing for excellent pictures to be taken from all angles. They are both up in the mountains so the cherry blossoms start a couple weeks later than Tokyo and Kyoto. The peak for viewing the trees is usually in mid-April.
Explore Shirakawago, Gokayama and Inami, the wood carving village on this full day tour of these three small Japanese towns. Join us any time by following the link below!
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Shirakawa-go, Gokayama and Wood Carving Village | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 09:00 – 18:00 |
| Meeting Place | Kanazawa Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥23,800 / 25,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥15,000 / 17,000 |
NOTO SAKURA STATION / best viewing time: mid-April
This station has become famous throughout Japan as one the best places to see cherry blossoms because of its mix of nice trains with the pink-white hues of the trees. About an hour and a half north of Kanazawa, it is not only popular during the daytime. At night there are lights that illuminate the trees and create a ethereal experience at this station in the middle of rural Japan.
FUKUI CITY & EIHEIJI / best viewing time: mid-March to mid-April
Fukui has a number of spots that are must sees for spring. In the city itself, all along the Asuwa River are cherry blossoms, numbering around 600 trees. There are food stalls and other fun activities during the peak season. The Zen Buddhist temple of Eiheiji is another great sight for spring. The plum and cherry blossoms quietly sit in and around the complex, creating nice picturesque mixes of nature and traditional architecture.
Interested in Eiheiji Temple and Fukui City in general? Join us for a tour of both and, in the springtime, you can even see the two sights mentioned above. See below for more information.
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Eiheiji Temple and Fukui City Castle Town | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 08:30 – 18:00 |
| Meeting Place | Kanazawa Station Fukui Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥25,300 / 17,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥14,500 / 11,000 |
TATEYAMA-KUROBE ALPINE ROUTE / best viewing time: April and May
A completely different type of experience to the others on this list, the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route allows you to experience winter in spring. Even as the temperature continue to rise, the mountain tops are still snow covered and give you an opportunity to walk in the relatively warm weather (for a mountain top). It usually open every year from April 15th and is a snow covered paradise until the end of May.
If you are coming from Kanazawa and want the piece of mind of hopping on one mode of transportation all the way to the top, join us for a tour of Tateyama from the end of April below. If you you are coming from the Nagano side, click the link below that one for more information.
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Tour from Kanazawa & Toyama: Snow Wall and Mysterious Valley | |
| Period | April to June |
| Time | 08:00 – 19:00 |
| Meeting Place | Kanazawa Station / Toyama Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥30,000 |
| Child Rate | ¥23,800 |
1 Day Tour
| [Spring Only] 1-Day Tour from Nagano: Snow Walls of Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route | |
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| Period | April to June |
| Time | 07:50/08:15 – 18:00-19:00 |
| Meeting Place | Hotel Kokusai 21 Nagano Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥30,000 |
| Child Rate | ¥23,800 |
ASAHI FUNAGAWA SPRING QUARTET / best viewing time: mid-April
In the eastern part of Toyama are the magnificent Hida mountains, along with many rural landscapes that stretch for kilometers. The most famous of these is the Asahi Funagawa Spring Quartet. It is a combination of four beautiful natural sights that are visible simultaneously: the snow covered mountains, the cherry blossoms, the rapeseed blossoms and the tulips. The key here is to try to find the spot that gives you the best angle of all four! It can be quite difficult.
TONAMI TULIP FESTIVAL / best viewing time: end of April to the beginning of May
A short distance from Kanazawa and near Takaoka is one of the biggest tulip festivals in all of Japan. The city of Tonami prides itself in the 3 million flowers that bloom every year here. There are tulip tunnels, tulip islands, tulip art and all other different ways that tulips are used throughout the park. The scale of everything will truly blow you away.
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Looking for a private tour or charter to any of the locations listed in this article? We’ve got you covered.
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