Hotel Forza Kanazawa

Rooms and decor

The Standard Twin runs about $80 a night and measures 18 sqm, done in deep brown and gold with carpet underfoot and Kaga-yuzen fabric as the headboard. You get two twin beds at 110x195 cm, soft bedding and two pillows each, a small work desk, and a 3-sqm unit bath with tub, shower and a Toto Washlet all in one. Toiletries are Japanese POLA. The room is small but functional — there's a big wardrobe, a Panasonic Nanoe hair dryer, a Tiger kettle and four free sachets of green tea. From the window you can see Kanazawa Castle in the distance.

Food and amenities

The heart of Hotel Forza is the sashimi breakfast buffet. The sashimi station carries six kinds of fish — tuna, salmon, dark-fleshed nodoguro, sweet amaebi shrimp, shellfish and ikura roe — brought over fresh from Omicho Market each morning, alongside Jibuni stew (duck and noodles in a Kaga clay pot), Japanese sweets dusted with gold leaf, local Kaga vegetables, and a chef making fresh sweet egg. It costs $13 per person and runs 06:30 to 10:00 — reviewers say come around 6:45 for the freshest fish and fewer people, and call it the best breakfast of the trip.

Location and getting there

Forza's biggest strength is that you can do everything on foot. Eat breakfast at 7:00, then walk 2 minutes to Kanazawa Castle Park through the Ote Gate, which looks its best around 8:00 in soft light. Carry on 8 minutes to Kenroku-en Garden, which opens at 7:00 before the crowds — quiet and almost empty, with the Hisago-ike pond, a stone bridge and 200-year-old pines. Head back around 10:00 past the 21st Century Museum (free to photograph from outside), then at 11:30 hit Omicho Market for a Kaisendon lunch. You never need the bus. If you'd rather ride, JR Kanazawa Station is a 10-minute walk (800m) over the river bridge, or 4 minutes on the Loop Bus for about $1.40.

Things to know before booking

The standard rooms are 18 sqm — small even for a Japanese business hotel, so manage expectations on space. The hotel sits 800m from JR Kanazawa Station, a 10-minute walk or a Loop Bus ride, which is a stretch if you're hauling luggage. Parking is limited at about $10 a night and needs to be reserved ahead. The 11-storey brown-and-gold building opened in 2018, so it's modern, with a 4-metre lobby in a modern Japanese style, fresh flowers and a glass case showing off Kanazawa gold leaf.

Our take

Hotel Forza Kanazawa is the best-value choice for budget travelers who want to explore the city centre on foot — Omicho Market 3 minutes away, the Castle 2 minutes, Kenroku-en 15 minutes, and the tastiest sashimi breakfast buffet of the group. It scores 9.0/10 from 450+ reviews and runs about $80 a night, roughly 40% cheaper than the Hyatt. The rooms are small, but the location and food earn their keep. It's a great fit for couples and solo travelers happy to spend around $80 a night on the room and put the rest toward food and experiences.