Essentials
- City
- Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
- Population
- Approx. 463,000
- Internet Speed
- 95 Mbps avg; Fiber optics widely available in most rentals
- Currency & Banking
- 1 JPY ≈ 0.0067 USD. Major banks: Hokkoku Bank, Japan Post Bank
- Tap Water
- Safe and drinkable; Kanazawa water is known for being soft and tasty
- Power
- 100V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A & B sockets (Flat two-pole)
- SIM Card
- Ubigi (eSIM), Sakura Mobile (long-term), or Mobal; available at Komatsu Airport
- Banking for Expats
- Sony Bank (English app), Wise, and Seven Bank (widely available ATMs)
- Accommodation
- Machiya (traditional townhouses), Business Hotels (Dormy Inn), and Airbnb
- Cashless Friendly
- Mostly; Suica/IC cards and PayPay used widely, but keep cash for small temples
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (approx. ¥120,000/month) or KANAZAWASTAY machiya rentals
- Budget Accommodation
- K's House Kanazawa (¥3,500/night) or Emblem Stay Kanazawa
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Higashi Chaya District or near Kanazawa Castle Park
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Katamachi (nightlife/food) or near Kanazawa Station (transit/convenience)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- IT Business Plaza Kanazawa (Musashigatsuji) - ¥1,000/day
- Best Cafe for Work
- Curio Espresso and Bake Shop (near Omicho Market) - Great Wi-Fi and English-friendly
- Networking Events
- Startup Weekend Kanazawa; local events at 'The Share Hotels Hatchi'
- Social Events for Expats
- Kanazawa International Exchange Foundation (KIEF) meetups
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- GO Taxi (Uber is limited to premium cars in Japan)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Machi-Nori (Public Bike Share): ¥165 per 30 mins; stations city-wide
- Best Beach Nearby
- Uchinada Beach (20 mins by Hokutetsu Railway)
- Top Regional Airline
- ANA (All Nippon Airways) operating from Komatsu Airport (KMQ)
- Top International Airline
- Korean Air or EVA Air (connecting via Seoul or Taipei from Komatsu)
- Highway Access
- Hokuriku Expressway (E8) connecting to Toyama and Kyoto
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- JR Kanazawa Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen stop)
- Public Transport Passes
- Kanazawa One-day Pass (¥800) for unlimited loop bus rides
- Regional Travel
- Shinkansen to Tokyo (2.5 hrs, ¥14,380) or Thunderbird Express to Osaka (2.5 hrs)
Business
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥300,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = ¥15,000,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥550,000 per m² (e.g., 70 m² = ¥38,500,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥350,000 per m² (e.g., 70 m² = ¥24,500,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx. 30.6% (combined effective rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 20.42% for non-residents
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for permanent residents; non-permanent residents taxed on Japan-source income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (plus 10% local inhabitant tax)
- VAT
- 10% (standard consumption tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to foreign companies with tax rates below 20%
- Property Tax
- 1.4% fixed asset tax plus 0.3% city planning tax annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- Real estate acquisition tax (3-4%) plus registration fees
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- New 6-month Digital Nomad Visa (introduced 2024), but standard tax rules apply after 183 days
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥350,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = ¥10,500,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥220,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = ¥6,600,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥450,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = ¥22,500,000)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Kanazawa University Hospital (English speaking staff available)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Studio Bi (near station) or Hot Yoga Studio LAVAVA
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Anytime Fitness Kanazawa-Arimatsu (24/7 access, ¥7,500/month)
- Laundry Services
- Pierrot Coin Laundry (automated) or Hakuyosha (dry cleaning)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats and Wolt (active in the city center)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Jibu-ni (duck stew) or Kanazawa Curry (Gold Curry near the station)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Los Angeles (Vegan restaurant near Kanazawa Castle)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Hakuichi for Gold Leaf Soft Serve (¥891)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Omicho Market (fresh seafood) and Valor Supermarket
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.co.jp, Rakuten, and Mercari
- Grocery Delivery
- Aeon Net Super or Coop Ishikawa
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Katamachi (Tatemachi street area)
- Local Brewery
- Oriental Brewing (Higashi Chaya or Station locations)
- Wine Bars
- Villa della Pace (local focus) or Bistro Yuiga
- Street Food Stalls
- Omicho Market stalls (selling grilled scallops and sea urchin)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Pizzeria e Trattoria Da Take (Italian) or Ganesha (Indian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Kenroku-en Garden (one of Japan's top three) and Kanazawa Castle
- Museums & Art Venues
- 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
- Historical Sites
- Nomura Clan Samurai House in Nagamachi
- Religious Sites
- Oyama Shrine (unique stained-glass gate) and Myoryuji (Ninja Temple)
- Annual Events
- Hyakumangoku Festival (June) - huge samurai parade
- Cultural Districts
- Higashi Chaya, Nishi Chaya, and Kazuemachi Chaya districts
- Theater Venues
- Ishikawa Prefectural Noh Theater
- Local Markets
- Omicho Market (The 'Kitchen of Kanazawa')
- Music Scene
- Kanazawa House of Jazz (Mokkiri-ya)
- Street Art
- Murals around the Tatemachi shopping street area
- Cooking Classes
- Cooking Kanazawa (Sushi making classes)
- Art Galleries
- Kashue Art Gallery (Traditional lacquerware and pottery)
- Historic Buildings
- Seisonkaku Villa (inside Kenroku-en)
- Local Heritage
- Kaga Y友禅 (Yuzen) silk dyeing and Gold Leaf (Kinpaku) crafts
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Mount Utatsu for city panoramas and hiking trails
- National Parks Nearby
- Hakusan National Park (approx. 60 mins drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Sai River Terrace (Saigawa) paths for running and cycling
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The top floor of Kanazawa City Hall or Mt. Utatsu
- Birdwatching Locations
- Kahoku-gata Lagoon (north of the city)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Tedori River camping grounds (designated areas only)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Yamato Transport (Kuroneko) or Sagawa Express
- Tech Repair Services
- Bic Camera (near station) or PC Koubou Kanazawa
- Table Tennis Spots
- Kanazawa City Gymnasium
- Language Classes
- Euro-Centres Kanazawa or private tutors at KIEF
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Ishikawa Prefectural Library (modern, stunning architecture)
- Community Centers
- Kanazawa Art Gummi
- Gaming Lounges
- Game Sky (Arcade) and local internet cafes like Media Cafe Popeye
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Pachinko halls (e.g., Keiz Kanazawa); legal casinos do not exist yet