Kanazawa

Kanazawa is two and a half hours from Tokyo by Hokuriku Shinkansen. Or two hours from Kyoto. Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kanazawa run two types of trains: “Kagayaki” which takes under 2 hr 30 mins and “Hakutaka” which takes a little over 3 hours. The fare will be the same. There are about a dozen each ”Kagayaki” and “Hakutaka” services a day. “Kagayaki” is reserved seats only, “Hakutaka’ has carriages with unreserved seats (cars 1-4).

The city is located on the coast of the Japan Sea. During the Edo-period (1603-1868) the ruling Maeda clan developed it to rival Kyoto as Japan’s city of culture. Kanazawa means “Marsh of Gold” and the city produces over 98% of all gold leaf in Japan. You will see pieces of gold leaf sprinkled on ice cream and other food items.

Kanazawa is a compact city and it is possible to explore it on foot though buses are frequent and convenient. There are a number of hotels near the railway station which are convenient for day trips starting at the station. Ōmichō Market is 1km from the station. Kōrinbō, the main shopping district of Kanazawa is another 1km away.

If you like seafood Kanazawa is the place to visit.


Kaisendon or seafood in a donburi with gold leaf at Ōmichō Market.


Toyama

On January 7, 2025, The New York Times announced “52 Places to Go in 2025,” and Toyama City and Osaka City were selected from Japan. The New York Times selects and announces recommended travel destinations around the world every January, and this year Toyama City was selected as the 30th place.

“Cradled on one side by the Japanese Alps and on the other by the Sea of Japan, the city of Toyama serves as a gateway to the Noto Peninsula, which was devastated in 2024 by an earthquake and torrential rain and, although still recovering, is now courting tourists as part of its recovery efforts. The Glass Art Museum, which contains a public library and was designed by Kengo Kuma, is a towering cathedral of timber and light. In early September, the lantern-lit Owara Kaze no Bon festival fills the suburb of Yatsuo with dance. Many of Toyama’s culinary delights are southeast of its historical castle and central park: Alpes offers French bistro bites; Hida unexpectedly — but deliciously — pairs natural wine with oden (one-pot dishes) and izakaya (Japanese pub) fare; Suzukeema serves seasonal Japanese curries. Sip coffee surrounded by model trains at Blue Train and end the day with a cocktail at Hanamizuki-no-heya, a family-run jazz bar.” — Craig Mod

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/...ions-2025.html


View from Toyama City Hall Observation Tower.