10 Best Kanazawa Shrines and Temples: Complete Guide to Japan's Hidden Spiritual Gems (2025)
Kanazawa is one of Japan's premier historic cities, characterized by traditional streetscapes that developed from its castle town origins. The city also features many modern facilities, and as someone who loves contemporary art and architecture, I count Kanazawa among my favorite cities.
However, it's true that Kanazawa's deep history and living traditions can make it challenging for first-time foreign visitors to fully appreciate. In fact, a friend of mine once said, "I could only vaguely sense its elegance and refinement, and I felt frustrated when I returned home."
If you don't want to have similar regrets, I highly recommend joining a tour where locals guide you through Kanazawa's historic spots. By participating in the Kanazawa Half-day Historical Walking Tour, you can explore Kanazawa's must-see locations while listening to explanations from local guides.
Another appealing aspect of Kanazawa is its rich food culture. If you want to enjoy Kanazawa's exquisite seafood and local cuisine, join the Kanazawa Night Foodie Tour and experience restaurants that locals truly love.
Magical Trip, which offers these tours, is a trusted tour company that has won Tripadvisor's Best of the Best award for two consecutive years in 2024 and 2025.
If you want to explore Japan's tourist destinations efficiently and deeply, definitely try Magical Trip's local tours guided by locals!
Introduction
Kanazawa is a historic city that flourished as a castle town under Kanazawa Castle approximately 400 years ago during the Edo period. Having escaped war damage, Kanazawa still preserves the townscape from that era today. This emotionally rich cityscape makes Kanazawa particularly famous for its abundance of spots where visitors can experience historical landmarks and traditional culture in Japan.
Among the many Kanazawa Shrines and Temples, you'll find everything from shrines connected to the Maeda Family who governed the castle town of Kanazawa, to the unique "Ninja Temple" where you can enjoy distinctive mechanisms - all offering abundant opportunities to savor Japanese culture to the fullest.
In this guide, we'll provide detailed explanations of the shrines and temples in Kanazawa where you can feel Japan's traditions, along with their unique charms and access information.
Four Shrines to Visit Together with Kenroku-en/Kanazawa Castle
Kenroku-en, landscaped by the Maeda Family who contributed to Kanazawa's development during the Edo period, and Kanazawa Castle, which served as the Maeda Family's residence, are must-see popular spots when touring Kanazawa.
Around the Kenroku-en and Kanazawa Castle area, shrines connected to the Maeda Family are scattered throughout, so visiting them together allows you to experience Kanazawa's history more deeply. Here we introduce four representative shrines from the Kenroku-en and Kanazawa Castle area - definitely worth checking out when exploring Kanazawa Shrines and Temples.
Oyama Shrine
Oyama Shrine is a shrine dedicated to Maeda Toshiie, the first lord of the Kaga domain who governed Kanazawa during the Edo period, and his wife Matsu. This shrine was built in 1873 to honor the achievements of Maeda Toshiie, who contributed to Kanazawa's development.
The main highlight of this shrine is the "Shinmon Gate," which serves as Oyama Shrine's main entrance. This gate features an unusual design that combines traditional Japanese wooden architecture with Western stained glass. The beautiful sight of colorful stained glass shining in the sunlight is particularly must-see.
Due to its unique architectural style, Oyama Shrine has been designated as a particularly valuable cultural property by the government. The lightning rod at the roof's peak, said to be Japan's oldest, is also one of the precious features worth seeing.
Since Oyama Shrine is located about a 5-minute walk from Kanazawa Castle's "Nezumitamon gate," please be sure to visit it together with Kanazawa Castle.
Information
- Address: 11-1 Oyama-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
- Operating hours: 24 hours ※Purchasing amulets etc. 9:00～17:00
- Closed: None
- Phone number: 076-231-7210
- Official website: http://www.oyama-jinja.or.jp/
Kanazawa Shrine
Kanazawa Shrine is a shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, famous as the "God of Learning." This shrine was founded in 1794 by the 11th lord of the Kaga domain as a guardian deity for a school for the domain's children and young people. Even today, it's beloved as a deity for academic success, business prosperity, and good fortune.
The attractive point of this shrine is the beautiful scenery where the vermillion-painted shrine buildings stand out against the vivid green of the grounds. In the quiet precincts, you can enjoy worship and strolling while appreciating nature throughout the four seasons.
Also, my recommended spot at this shrine is the "Kinjo Reitaku Sacred Well," which is said to be the origin of the place name "Kanazawa." According to legend, long ago, a farmer was washing potatoes in a "sawa" (a place where water collects and grass grows) when "gold dust" (meaning "kana" in Japanese) came out.
Since Kanazawa Shrine is adjacent to Kenroku-en, please be sure to visit them together.
Information
- Address: 1-3 Kenroku-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
- Phone number: 076-261-0502
- Operating hours: 24 hours ※Purchasing amulets etc. 9:30～17:00
- Closed: None
- Official website: https://www.kanazawa-jj.or.jp/
Ozaki Shrine
Ozaki Shrine is a shrine built in 1643 by the 4th lord of the Kaga domain to enshrine his great-grandfather, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Ozaki Shrine is also called "Kanazawa's Nikko Toshogu Shrine," and its highlight is the gorgeous shrine buildings reminiscent of the World Heritage-listed Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
At Ozaki Shrine, the main hall, worship hall, gates, and other structures have been designated as particularly valuable cultural properties by the government. The luxurious shrine buildings decorated with vermillion paint, carvings, and golden metal fittings are breathtaking. Particularly at the main hall and worship hall, my standard way of enjoying them is to closely and carefully observe the beautiful colorful carvings and decorations.
Ozaki Shrine is also known as a famous spot for autumn foliage. In autumn, the collaboration between the vermillion-painted shrine buildings and the vivid red and yellow autumn leaves creates an absolutely stunning view. Since Ozaki Shrine is about a 3-minute walk from Kanazawa Castle Park, why not visit them together?
Information
- Address: 5-5 Marunouchi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
- Operating hours: 24 hours
- Closed: None
- Phone number: 076-231-0127
- Official website: https://www.ishikawa-jinjacho.or.jp/shrine/j0213/
Ishiura Shrine
Source:Kanazawa Keizai Shimbun
Ishiura Shrine is Kanazawa's oldest shrine, founded in 547. This shrine is known as a deity for matchmaking and has been beloved by locals since ancient times. The tasteful wooden shrine buildings feature carvings and Japanese paintings, allowing you to feel the atmosphere of traditional Japanese shrines.
The attractive point of Ishiura Shrine is that it not only allows you to fully enjoy a historic Japanese shrine but also combines modern appeal. In 2019, a pathway called "101torii" was built with 101 vermillion torii gates lined up, becoming a new popular photography spot perfect for social media.
Also at Ishiura Shrine, you can experience a unique atmosphere where tradition and individuality merge, with cute mascot characters modeled after dogs and rabbits, and colorful amulets available in as many as 48 colors. Please be sure to capture beautiful photos unique to this shrine as lasting memories.
Information
- Address: 3-1-30 Honda-cho, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
- Operating hours: 24 hours ※Purchasing amulets etc. 9:00～16:00
- Closed: None
- Phone number: 076-231-3314
- Official website: https://www.ishiura.jp/
If you want to deeply enjoy Kanazawa tourism, having local residents guide you is also recommended
The Kanazawa Half-day Historical Walking Tour is a guided tour that visits Kanazawa's major tourist attractions including Kenroku-en, Kanazawa Castle, and Omicho Market. This tour offers quintessentially Kanazawa experiences such as dining while viewing the world's oldest fountain within Kenroku-en, and savoring matcha tea and traditional Japanese sweets.
Kanazawa, which escaped war damage, preserves historical streetscapes where you can feel the atmosphere of the Edo period when the Maeda Family flourished. By participating in this tour guided by local guides, you can explore the Higashi Chaya District, one of Kanazawa's representative traditional districts, while learning more deeply about Kanazawa's history.
Since this tour involves walking more than 4km around Kanazawa city, please participate in weather-appropriate clothing - heat protection measures in summer and cold protection measures in winter.
Information:
- Meeting point: FamilyMart+Drug Komeya Kanazawa Musashi Store
- Tour area: Musashigatsuji ~ Kanazawa Castle and Kenroku-en area ~ Higashiyama
- Start time: From 10:00
Recommended Kanazawa Shrines and Temples where you can have unique experiences
From here, we introduce three shrines and temples where you can enjoy special experiences beyond typical worship, including temples where you can experience mechanisms like those in a Ninja House and temples where you can experience Zen meditation.
Myouryuji (Ninja Temple)
Myouryuji is a temple built in 1643 by the third lord of the Kaga Domain. This temple, also called the "Ninja Temple," is a popular tourist spot where you can observe numerous ingenious mechanisms installed to prepare for enemy attacks.
Contrary to its external appearance of being two stories, Myouryuji actually has an interior structure of four floors with seven levels. The interior is said to contain 23 rooms and 29 staircases, and the attractive point is being able to actually tour and see this complex temple structure.
What particularly impressed me during my visit to Myouryuji were the s##tairs that become a pitfall when the floorboards are removed, and the offering box that can also be used as a pitfall. These mechanisms, so ingeniously crafted that you wouldn't notice them without explanation, provide a valuable experience that makes you feel as if you've become a ninja yourself.
Additionally, please enjoy other unique mechanisms exclusive to the "Ninja Temple" that you won't find at other shrines, such as the well that was supposedly equipped with a secret passage to Kanazawa Castle.
Information:
- Address: 1-2-12 Nomachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
- Business hours: 9:00-16:00
- Closed: January 1st & 2nd, other irregular holidays
- Phone: 076-241-0888
- Official website: http://www.myouryuji.or.jp/
Daijō-ji
Source:Kanazawa Tourism Official
Daijō-ji is an authentic Soto Zen temple where monks undergo training to obtain head priest qualifications. At Daijō-ji, training monks lead disciplined ascetic lives, and it's popular because tourists can experience Zen meditation in the same environment as active training monks.
For those experiencing Zen meditation for the first time, the "Sunday Zazen Session" held every Sunday is particularly recommended. At Daijō-ji, surrounded by deep greenery, you can experience the special time of quietly examining yourself and purifying your mind.
At Daijō-ji, the Buddha Hall, designated by the state as a cultural property of particularly high historical value, is also a highlight. In the Buddha Hall built in 1702, you can observe traditional Japanese architecture, including the roof where flat and round tiles are alternately combined.
Why not experience authentic Zen Buddhist culture at this lush, traditional temple in Kanazawa?
Information:
- Address: Ru-10 Nagasaka-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
- Business hours: 9:00-17:00 ※Purchasing amulets etc. 9:00-15:00
- Closed: None
- Phone: 076-241-2680
- Official website: https://daijoji.info/
Hoshoji
Source:Kanazawa Tourism Official
Hoshoji is a Zen temple founded in 1631. Hoshoji's main gate, main hall, and Kuri (temple kitchen) are considered to be from the original construction, allowing you to observe historical buildings that retain the atmosphere of that time.
Hoshoji is also known as an unusual temple in Kanazawa where you can enjoy meals at a "temple cafe" utilizing a corner of the main hall. Inside the cafe, there are Japanese-style tea rooms and East-meets-West chair seating, where you can savor matcha and traditional Kanazawa Japanese sweets in a retro atmosphere.
My particular recommendation is the matcha with floating gold leaf, a Kanazawa specialty product. This quintessentially Kanazawa cup, where the gold of the gold leaf reflects beautifully against the vivid green of the matcha, is visually stunning. Furthermore, the head priest is highly regarded as a calligrapher, and you can enjoy your meal while appreciating the priest's calligraphy works displayed in the cafe.
Why not experience the special moment of relaxing in a cafe located within traditional temple architecture, along with worshipping at Hoshoji?
Information:
- Address: 5-5-76 Teramachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
- Business hours: [Cafe] 10:00-16:00
- Closed: [Cafe] Tuesdays, other irregular holidays
- Phone: 076-287-3870
- Official website: https://housyouji.jp/
Houenji
Source:Google Maps
Houenji is the family temple of the Maeda Family, founded in 1581 by Maeda Toshiie, the first lord of the Kaga Domain. This temple, where Maeda Toshiie's funeral was held, houses the "Mihatsu-dou & Miei-dou" which contain Maeda Toshiie's hair and self-portrait, making it deeply connected to the Maeda Family.
At Houenji, the main hall, gate, and Kuri (temple kitchen) are designated as particularly valuable cultural properties by the national government. Along with the massive 454cm tall "Nio Guardian Statues" enshrined in the main hall, please be sure to visit these precious historic buildings.
Houenji offers unique activities not found at typical temples, including diverse events such as Zen meditation experiences and tea ceremony classes. Why not create unforgettable memories of your Kanazawa trip by experiencing Japanese culture within this historic temple?
Information
- Address: 6-14 Takara-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
- Business Hours: 9:00-16:00
- Closed: Irregular holidays
- Phone: 076-231-6050
- Official Website: https://www.gokokuzan-houenji.jp/
Kourinji Temple
Kourinji Temple is a Zen temple established in 1651 by Aoki Gohei, one of the chief retainers of the Kaga Domain that ruled Kanazawa during the Edo period. Kourinji Temple is now known as a "wish-making temple," and many worshippers from across the country visit annually to make wishes.
What I particularly recommend to visitors of Kourinji Temple is making wishes at the "Garden of the Twelve Zodiac Signs." The wish-making ritual involves walking around the "Path of Happiness" three times while praying in front of your zodiac animal statue. You can experience worshipping at adorable animal-shaped Jizo statues.
Kourinji Temple also has many spots where you can worship while actually experiencing Japanese culture firsthand. Try various wish-making experiences, such as the "White Fudo statue" that is said to give you beautiful skin when touched, and "Shusse Daruma" where you throw wish balls to pray for career advancement and financial fortune.
Information
- Address: 1-3-15 Nomachi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
- Business Hours: 9:00-17:00 May vary by season
- Closed: None
- Phone: 076-241-3905
- Official Website: https://kourinji.jp/
Toyokuni Shrine
Toyokuni Shrine is a shrine founded in 1616. It originates from when the third lord of the domain, Maeda Toshitsune, inherited the will of the first lord Maeda Toshiie, who played a central role in the government of Toyotomi Hideyoshi who achieved the unification of Japan, and enshrined a statue of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
This shrine is located halfway up Utatsuyama (Utatsu Mountain), which offers a panoramic view of Kanazawa city. Along with Atago Shrine and Utatsuyama Tenmangu Shrine, it's called the "Utatsuyama Three Shrines," and since they're all within walking distance of each other, you can visit all three historic shrines at once.
Toyokuni Shrine is located in the lush greenery of Utatsuyama, and the beautiful scenery where the seasonal nature harmonizes with traditional shrine buildings is an attractive feature. Utatsuyama also has an observation deck where you can view the city of Kanazawa and the Sea of Japan, so please be sure to visit it as well.
Information
- Address: 93 Higashi-mikage-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
- Business Hours: Unknown
- Closed: Unknown
- Phone: 076-221-4957
- Official Website: https://www.ishikawa-jinjacho.or.jp/shrine/j0337/
When You Come to Kanazawa, Also Enjoy the Local Exquisite Cuisine!
After enjoying your tour of Kanazawa's historic Kanazawa Shrines and Temples, I also recommend participating in the Kanazawa Night Foodie Tour to taste Kanazawa's exquisite gourmet food. This tour visits three hidden gem establishments including izakaya (Japanese bars) and bars in Katamachi, Kanazawa's representative entertainment district.
Kanazawa is a treasure trove of exquisite gourmet food that can only be tasted here, including fresh seafood caught in the Sea of Japan and traditional local cuisine called "Kaga Ryori" using local ingredients. On this tour, you can taste local gourmet food that pairs perfectly with alcohol, such as "Kanazawa Oden," which is a hot pot dish of seafood and vegetables from Kanazawa.
Another attractive feature of this tour is that you can experience gourmet food that allows you to feel Japanese tradition, including a wide variety of local sake, Japanese sweets, and matcha. Please note that participation in this tour is limited to those 20 years of age and older.
Information
- Meeting point: In front of the clothing store "BEAMS" in Korinbo Ramoda Bldg
- Tour Area: Korinbo to Katamachi
- Start Time: 18:00-
