Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel
by the TopOfHotel team
Kanazawa Tokyu puts you in the middle of Korinbo — walking distance to Kenroku-en, the 21st Century Museum, and the Nagamachi Samurai District all at once.
Kanazawa Tokyu puts you in the middle of Korinbo — walking distance to Kenroku-en, the 21st Century Museum, and the Nagamachi Samurai District all at once.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The Twin Standard runs about $92 a night and measures 22 sqm, done in a classic cream-and-brown scheme with two 100x195 cm twin beds, Simmons mattresses, and down pillows. The 4 sqm bathroom has a tub, a shower, and a Toto Washlet, with P&G Pantene toiletries — standard rather than plush, but clean and well kept. From a 12th-floor room the view takes in Kanazawa Castle and Kenroku-en within 800 m, with the Korinbo 109 mall right beside the building. Kids in the group tend to like watching the traffic move along the street below.
Food and amenities
There are 4 restaurants in the building. Dinner at the Italian spot, Maple, on the 17th floor is a pasta set for about $30 a head, eaten over a nighttime view of the city with the castle lit up. The breakfast buffet at the Maple Lounge is around $19 and includes Jibuni — the local duck-and-noodle stew — Japanese sweets dusted with gold leaf, and a made-to-order omelet station. The hotel also has a spa and a fitness room. As a Tokyu Hotels property it earns Comfort Members points, and there's a Tokyu ATM on site for credit-card cash.
Location and getting there
This is a base for travelers who want to do Kenroku-en, the 21st Century Museum, and the Nagamachi Samurai District in a single day without touching a bus. From the hotel it's a 10-minute walk to Kenroku-en through Korinbo Park — the garden opens at 7:00 in summer, costs about $2, and earns its name from the six attributes a perfect garden should have: spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, water, and panorama. You'll see the Hisago-ike pond, 200-year-old pines, and the oddly shaped Kotoji-toro stone lantern. Five minutes on is the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, a circular glass building designed by SANAA (a Pritzker Prize firm), home to Leandro Erlich's The Swimming Pool, where you can stand under the water; entry is about $3. Another 8 minutes brings you to the Nagamachi Samurai District and the Nomura House museum, around $4.
Things to know before booking
The big trade-off is the station. At 1.6 km from JR Kanazawa, you'll rely on the free shuttle (every 30 minutes, 09:00 to 21:00), the Loop Bus, or a taxi rather than a quick walk to your train. The building opened in 1995 — about 25 years older than the Hyatt nearby — so the rooms read classic, not modern. And rates rise on long holidays to roughly $120 a night, which eats into the value. Korinbo is a shopping area, so expect crowds of shoppers around the hotel during the day.
Our take
The Kanazawa Tokyu Hotel is the smart choice if your trip centers on Kenroku-en, the 21st Century Museum, and the Nagamachi Samurai District — three sights clustered together and reachable on foot — and you like having the Korinbo 109 mall next door. At about $92 a night it undercuts the Hyatt by a fair margin, the price you pay being distance from the station rather than location near the sights. It makes the most sense for a stay of two nights or more, where the savings outweigh the bus and taxi fares — and it suits families who want to shop as well as couples who care about being close to the 21st Century Museum.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The Korinbo location is the whole point — Kenroku-en is a 10-minute walk, the 21st Century Museum is 5 minutes, and the Nagamachi Samurai District is 8 minutes, so you can cover all three on foot in one day.
- The Korinbo 109 mall is attached to the building and the Daiwa Department Store is right there too, so shopping is as easy as stepping out the door.
- It's a Tokyu Hotels property, so you can earn Comfort Members points and use the in-house Tokyu ATM for credit-card cash.
- Four restaurants under one roof — Italian, Japanese, Chinese, and the Maple Lounge — so you're never stuck for dinner after a long day of walking.
- There's a free shuttle to JR Kanazawa Station running every 30 minutes from 09:00 to 21:00, which softens the distance problem.
- It's 1.6 km from JR Kanazawa Station, so unlike the station-side hotels you'll depend on the Loop Bus, the hotel shuttle, or a taxi to get to your train.
- The building opened in 1995 — that's 25 years older than the Hyatt nearby — and the rooms are decorated in a classic style rather than anything contemporary.
- Rates climb on long holidays, reaching around $120 a night, so the value advantage narrows when you travel over a peak period.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Kanazawa
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Insider Tips
- Use the free hotel shuttle from JR Kanazawa Station — it runs every 30 minutes, but register in advance.
- Walk 5 minutes to the 21st Century Museum; photographing the exterior is free, including Leandro Erlich's virtual swimming pool.
- Book a table at the Italian restaurant Maple on the 17th floor — the set lunch is about $23 with a view over the city.