4-Day 3-Night Road Trip: Kanazawa, Fukui, Hikone — Tea House District and Japan's Heritage

This 4-day, 3-night road trip plan starts in Kanazawa, takes the shinkansen to Fukui, drives to Hikone, and finishes back in Osaka. The three cities are only one to two hours apart by car, so renting a car is well worth it. Each city also has its own famous sights: Kanazawa and Hikone have castles and gardens listed as Japan's cultural heritage, Fukui is known as a dinosaur town, and nearby Omihachiman has Okishima Island. Let's take a look at what makes this plan so interesting.

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4-Day 3-Night Road Trip Plan: Kanazawa, Fukui, Hikone — Tea House Streets, Sea Views, and Cultural Heritage

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Day 1: Travel to Kanazawa

★ 9:20 - 11:55 Take the shinkansen to Kanazawa

Kanazawa is a city with a long history and many famous attractions that carry the atmosphere of old Japan. From Tokyo, you can reach Kanazawa in about two and a half hours without changing trains, and you can even bring a boxed breakfast to eat on the train.

・How to get there: Board the Kagayaki Shinkansen at Tokyo Station (departing at 9:20) and arrive at Kanazawa Station at 11:52.

・Fare: (Kagayaki 507) reserved seat is about ¥14,976 per person (depends on the date and time of booking)

・Book train tickets here: https://www.klook.com/japan-rail/shinkansen/28-tokyo/kanazawa-station/

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DdRhoUsBPfwwRcXU9

★ 12:00 Drop off luggage at APA Hotel Kanazawa Ekimae

Drop off your luggage ahead of check-in at this APA Hotel chain property, which has every amenity you need. It's right next to Kanazawa Station, in a convenient location close to shops and restaurants.

・How to get there: about a 3-minute walk from Kanazawa Station to the hotel

・Map : https://maps.app.goo.gl/2qVF8vqTfda1nP9r9

★ 12:30 - 13:30 Lunch at Kanazawa Temakizushi Coil

A modern-style restaurant serving temaki sushi, or hand-rolled sushi. The ingredients are varied and high quality, served with hot Japanese-style tea that pairs perfectly with the sushi.

・How to get there: about an 18-minute walk from the hotel to Kanazawa Temakizushi Coil

・Hours: 11:00 - 21:30

・Cost: about ¥2,000 - 3,000 per person

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/udxV2oCtMF8xFDkD9

★ 14:00 - 15:30 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art

Note: This museum closes for a long renovation from May 6, 2027 until around March 2028.

An art museum whose highlight is the Swimming Pool installation, which you can enter and photograph from inside — giving the illusion of standing underwater without getting wet at all. It is an unusual photo spot, and the reason most people come.

・How to get there: Walk from Kanazawa Temakizushi Coil to the Musashigatsuji-Ohmicho Market bus stop, take bus route 18 Hanazato Line / 19 Kasamai-eki West Line (buses every 12 minutes) to the Hirosaka - 21st Century Museum stop, then walk to the museum. Total time about 12 minutes.

・Fare: ¥210 per person

・Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 (closed Mondays)

・Admission: ¥1,400

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tvhDMSgKSfTSdQoVA

★ 16:00 - 17:30 Shopping at Kanazawa Forus

A shopping mall right across from Kanazawa Station, very convenient to reach, with a wide range of goods, especially men's and women's fashion.

・How to get there: Walk back to the same Hirosaka - 21st Century Museum bus stop, take any of bus routes 94/90/93/95 to the Rifare-mae stop, then walk to the mall. Total time about 23 minutes.

・Fare: ¥210 per person

・Hours: 10:00 - 21:00

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5oW8E2BtrQskHZR59

★ 17:45 - 18:45 Dinner at Tomikinton Kanazawa Forus

A tonkatsu restaurant on the 6th floor of the mall. The recommended dish is the Barakatsu Set — thin slices of pork layered together, then breaded and fried. It is made with Noto pork, a Kanazawa speciality. Don't miss the seasonal items either, such as fried shrimp and scallops.

・How to get there: located on the 6th floor of Kanazawa Forus

・Hours: 10:00 - 22:00

・Cost: about ¥1,000 - 2,000 per person

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WGhn6EaaafLWWTht5

★ 19:00 Return to APA Hotel Kanazawa Ekimae

・How to get there: about a 6-minute walk from Kanazawa Forus to the hotel

・Accommodation: 2 nights, about ¥37,000 (breakfast included)

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2qVF8vqTfda1nP9r9

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Day 2: Tea House District and Heritage Castle

★ 9:05 - 9:35 Breakfast at Fumuroya Cafe Kanazawa

Start the day with a relaxed breakfast at Fumuroya Cafe Kanazawa, a convenient cafe right by Kanazawa Station. Besides desserts and coffee, it also serves set meals with a range of ingredients like chicken, salmon, shiitake mushroom, and various vegetables — perfect for starting a new day.

・How to get there: about a 3-minute walk from the hotel to the cafe (around 200 meters)

・Hours: 9:00 - 21:00

・Cost: about ¥1,000 - 2,000 per person

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RewgqjNBbsckp8GH9

★ 9:55 - 11:55 Walk around Higashi Chaya District

This tea house district is designated the country's second most important preservation district for historic buildings, after Kyoto's Gion district. It's a place that captures the atmosphere of old Japan, with the Ochaya Shima tea house museum, unique architecture, and geisha performances called “Geisha Evenings in Kanazawa.” As you walk around, there are also plenty of cafes and craft shops to browse.

・How to get there: Walk from APA Hotel Kanazawa Ekimae to the Kanazawa Station East Gate bus stop, take bus No. 12 Yuwaku Line/Meikin Line to the Hashibacho stop, then walk 5 minutes to Higashi Chaya District (total time about 16 minutes)

・Fare: ¥210

・Hours: open 24 hours, but most shops are open from around 9:00 to 18:00

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gKpMZF5ffCPd7wJ88

★ 12:05 - 13:30 Eat your way through Omicho Market

Omicho Market is home to more than 170 shops selling fresh fish, vegetables, and fruit, along with restaurants of all kinds. Locals come here to shop for ingredients. There are also sushi and kaisendon shops using seafood from the Sea of Japan that draw many tourists — whether it's akanishi shellfish or pink seabream, this is the market to find them.

・How to get there: Walk from Higashi Chaya District to the main road, board bus No. 32/85 Yanagibashi-Enkoji Line at the Hashibacho stop, and get off at Musashigatsuji-Ohmicho Market, right next to Omicho Market (total time about 5 - 7 minutes)

・Fare: ¥210 per person

・Hours: 9:00 - 17:00

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/iRdASzVD257GQAtg6

★ 13:50 - 14:50 Oyama Shrine

After filling up on market food, head to Oyama Shrine next. The must-see photo spot is the entrance gate, whose architecture blends Japanese, Chinese, and Western styles, and which is registered as one of Japan's cultural heritage sites. It's another important attraction in Kanazawa.

・How to get there: Walk from Omicho Market to the same Musashigatsuji-Ohmicho Market bus stop, take any of routes 18/31/54 or the Meikin Line to the Minami-cho-Oyama Jinja stop (about 7 minutes), then walk about 11 more minutes to the shrine

・Fare: ¥210 per person

・Admission: free

・Hours: 9:00 - 17:00

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cHmJRHCSnq9BLa3r8

★ 15:10 - 16:40 Walk around Kanazawa Castle

Another castle registered as Japan's cultural heritage, with many spots to explore, from the Ishikawa-mon Gate, a popular photo spot at the entrance, to the Gyokuseninmaru Garden, with its pond and rocks creating a calm, Zen-like atmosphere, plus many other buildings around the castle grounds. You could spend the whole day taking photos and never get bored. Most notably, in spring you'll get cherry blossom views around the castle, in autumn it glows with orange maple leaves, and in winter the castle is covered in snow, giving it the beauty of a castle from a storybook. Whichever season you visit, it's stunning.

・How to get there: about an 11-minute walk from the shrine to the castle (around 800 meters)

・Hours: (garden and outer castle grounds) March - Oct 15: 07:00 - 18:00 / Oct 16 - late Feb: 08:00 - 17:00

・Admission: garden and outer castle grounds free, other castle buildings ¥320

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Cn3oe78vHGBX1oZD8

★ 16:50 - 17:30 Kenroku-en Garden

This garden is celebrated as one of Japan's three most beautiful gardens. The key photo spot is the pond at its center, carefully designed and laid out for perfect views from any angle. Every season brings a different view — cherry blossoms, maple leaves, or snow — so time your visit to the one you like best.

・How to get there: about a 7-minute walk from Kanazawa Castle to Kenroku-en Garden (around 500 meters)

・Hours: March - Oct 15: 07:00 - 18:00 / Oct 16 - late Feb: 08:00 - 17:00

・Admission: ¥310

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dxzpheRo9Cism5zSA

★ 18:10 - 19:10 Dinner at Kanazawa Noukou Amaebi Ramen Benibotan

End the day at this recommended ramen shop near Kanazawa Station. Its highlight is a rich broth made by simmering sweet shrimp, or amaebi, until fragrant, served with thick noodles that pair perfectly with the rich soup. It's a special recipe seafood lovers shouldn't miss.

・How to get there: Exit through the Kodatsuno Gate side of the garden and walk to the Dewamachi bus stop (about 3 minutes), take bus route 12 Yuwaku Line/11 Nishikimachi B Route to the Rokumaimachi stop, then walk to the ramen shop (total time about 15 minutes), or if you're tired from a full day of sightseeing, taking a taxi is another good option

・Fare: ¥210 per person

・Hours: (Monday - Thursday) 11:30 - 14:30 / 18:00 - 22:00

(Friday - Sunday) 11:30 - 15:00 / 18:00 - 23:00

・Cost: about ¥1,000 - 2,000 per person

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SG8pRQvWev7vJDjU7

★ 19:15 Return to APA Hotel Kanazawa Ekimae

・How to get there: about a 4-minute walk from the ramen shop to the hotel (around 260 meters)

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kQ7iP7NtsZ4MEMPb7

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Day 3: Rent a Car, Visit the Dinosaur Town, Special Omi Beef Dinner

★ 8:00 - 9:00 Breakfast buffet at APA Hotel Kanazawa Ekimae Le Veranda

Start day 3 with a varied breakfast buffet at APA Hotel Kanazawa Ekimae. Whether you're after Japanese or Western food, there's plenty to choose from, with more than 60 menu items in total.

・How to get there: located inside APA Hotel Kanazawa Ekimae

・Hours: 6:30 - 9:30 (last order 9:00)

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2qVF8vqTfda1nP9r9

★ 9:30 Pack up and check out of APA Hotel Kanazawa Ekimae

It's time to head to Fukui Prefecture, a small prefecture with a character all its own, known for its dinosaurs and for its seaside location.

★ 9:40 - 10:11 Travel to Fukui

・How to get there: Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Kanazawa Station (9:47 departure) to Fukui Station, about 23 - 35 minutes

・Fare: about ¥3,210 per person

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tx79xL5JMBjzyXAh7

★ 10:15 Pick up rental car at Toyota Rent-A-Car Fukui Station

Since public transport takes quite a while, renting a car to get around Fukui Prefecture is highly recommended. You can book a car in advance through various travel websites — setting your pickup point at Fukui Station is the most convenient.

・How to get there: located at the East Exit

・Cost: a 4-seat rental car starts at about ¥7,420 per day

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SHMgMyAPQnzqeijh6

★ 11:05 - 12:30 Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum

Prepare to be amazed at Japan's largest dinosaur museum, with as many as 50 full dinosaur skeletons on display. There are also sections covering dinosaur anatomy and world history, plus dinosaur videos to watch.

・How to get there: about a 43-minute drive from Fukui Station to the museum

・Hours: 9:00 - 17:00

・Admission: ¥1,000

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4vaX7uiNrwQErvPPA

★ 12:40 - 13:40 Lunch at Grill Yamada

Refuel for lunch at Grill Yamada, a good stop on the way back from the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, less than 10 minutes away.

Anyone visiting Fukui should try the restaurant's sweet-savory katsudon sauce, and portions are very generous — a must for big eaters. After your meal, the restaurant also offers free coffee to cut through the richness, so you're ready to keep exploring.

・How to get there: about an 8-minute drive from the museum to Grill Yamada

・Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11:30 - 14:00 and 17:30 - 20:00 / Sunday 11:30 - 14:00, evenings by pre-order or takeout only (closed Mondays)

・Cost: about ¥1,000 - 2,000 per person

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nDfSJFG7DWTaY9raA

★ 14:10 - 15:10 Eiheiji Temple

This is an important temple of the Soto Zen sect and a training center for monks, so the atmosphere inside is very serene — perfect for a peaceful nature walk. In front of the temple, there's also a shopping area with souvenirs and local products to pick up.

・How to get there: about a 28-minute drive from Grill Yamada to Eiheiji Temple

・Hours: 08:30 - 16:30

・Admission: adults ¥700 / elementary-junior high students ¥300 / under 7 free

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qBXB9XttnnZjoBnt9

★ 15:10 - 16:50 Travel to KAMENOI HOTEL Hikone

Head to check in at KAMENOI HOTEL Hikone, a hotel where every spacious guest room and bathing area has a view of Lake Biwa. It's perfect for soaking up the atmosphere of Hikone, with the refreshing morning lake air and stunning sunset views.

・How to get there: about a 1.5-2 hour drive from Eiheiji Temple to the hotel

・Accommodation: about ¥43,000 per night (breakfast and dinner included)

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JRH1DnREu26c92MCA

★ 18:00 - 19:00 Special dinner at Setsu Getsu Ka Hikone

After unpacking and resting at the hotel, end the day with a special meal at Setsu Getsu Ka Hikone, which serves both lunch and dinner courses. Its must-try main ingredient is A5-grade Omi beef, available as grilled, shabu-shabu, or sukiyaki.

Omi beef is one of Japan's top-quality wagyu brands, with just the right marbling for a melt-in-your-mouth texture, on par with Kobe or Matsusaka beef. It's a dish you have to try at least once when you're in Hikone.

・How to get there: about a 13 - 15 minute drive from KAMENOI HOTEL to Setsu Getsu Ka Hikone

・Hours: 11:00 - 15:00 and 17:00 - 23:00

・Cost: dinner course, about ¥5,000 - 8,000 per person

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/5yFaaPw4ARppAgmV9

★ 19:30 Return to KAMENOI HOTEL Hikone

・How to get there: about a 13 - 15 minute drive from Setsu Getsu Ka Hikone to the hotel

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JRH1DnREu26c92MCA

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Day 4: Visit the Island Before Returning to Osaka

★ 9:00 Check out and leave KAMENOI HOTEL Hikone

★ 9:15 - 10:00 Breakfast at Pomme d’Amour

Start the day at Pomme d’Amour, a cafe with a relaxing atmosphere, with both indoor and outdoor seating. It has breakfast items like salad and French-style bread, best enjoyed with morning coffee — a refreshing way to start the day.

・How to get there: about a 12-minute drive from KAMENOI HOTEL to cafe Pomme d’Amour

・Hours: 11:30 - 21:30 (closed Tuesdays)

・Cost: about ¥700 - 1,300 per person

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/35QD5hgUAxRAVwTVA

★ 10:10 - 11:10 Walk around Hikone Castle

Hikone Castle is one of Japan's 12 original castles, its structure still perfectly preserved. The castle grounds are surrounded by moats, making it a memorable photo spot, and the top of the tower offers views over the castle grounds and Lake Biwa. Be sure to also take photos at the stone arch gate and wooden bridge, two more highlights.

・How to get there: about a 3-minute drive from cafe Pomme d’Amour to the parking lot at Genkyuen Garden (Sakuraba Parking Lot), then about a 10 - 13 minute walk to the castle

・Hours: 8:30 - 17:00

・Admission: combined ticket for the castle, Genkyuen Garden, and museum ¥1,200 (castle only ¥800)

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FBYyes5T1Usoa6yH8

★ 11:25 - 12:00 Genkyuen Garden

This garden is located right next to Hikone Castle. It's designed around a large pond at its center, so you can photograph the pond view from every direction, but the most popular photo spot is the angle where the pond perfectly reflects the image of Hikone Castle. Every November, there's also an illumination event to enjoy.

・How to get there: about a 10 - 13 minute walk from the castle back to Genkyuen Garden

・Hours: 8:30 - 17:00

・Admission: use the combined ticket for the castle, Genkyuen Garden, and museum, ¥1,200

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ai1z6Mxmtttjg5269

★ 12:10 - 13:00 Lunch at Yachiyo Ekimae

This restaurant has plenty of donburi rice bowls and soba noodles to choose from at great prices. The atmosphere is friendly, with both table and tatami seating, and whichever you choose, you will leave satisfied.

・How to get there: about a 5 - 7 minute drive from the Genkyuen Garden parking lot to Yachiyo Ekimae

・Hours: 11:00 - 21:00 (closed Mondays)

・Cost: about ¥1,000 - 3,000 per person

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/S8oyEuyWm8CZw6zo7

★ 14:15 - 16:00 Enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of Okishima Island

Okishima, in Lake Biwa, is known as a cat island. It is also treated as part of Japan's cultural heritage, because it is rare for people to live on an island in the middle of a lake. Its defining feature is the large number of cats living on the island, all friendly to visitors, with a slow, peaceful atmosphere. If you love cats, this is a must-visit. There's also plenty to do on the island, from visiting the torii gate standing in the water at Itsukushima Shrine, to relaxing cafes, to walking along the island's beach — the atmosphere is deeply calming.

・How to get there: about a 30 - 40 minute drive from Yachiyo Ekimae to the parking lot for Okishima visitors, then about a 5-minute walk to Horikiri Port to buy tickets for the 14:00 boat, and about a 15-minute boat ride to the island

・Fare: ¥500 per boat trip

・Hours: Monday - Saturday, boats run 7:05 - 18:10 / Sunday, boats run 7:05 - 20:45

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8JxytY4r4icujDiw5

★ 16:15 - 18:30 Return to Fukui with lake views along the way

After a fully satisfying day of sightseeing, it's time to head back to Fukui to return the car at the original pickup location (you can choose a different drop-off point, but extra fees apply depending on the location — check pricing on the car rental website). Even though the distance is long, the road back to Fukui offers views of Lake Biwa the whole way.

・How to get there: walk to catch the return boat at 16:15 (about a 15-minute ride), then drive straight back to Fukui Station, about 2 hours

・Fare: ¥500 per boat trip

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NhmBNU2BQic64g9h8

★ 18:40 - 20:40 Take the shinkansen back to Osaka

Osaka is a city in the Kansai region close to an international airport, and it also has plenty of accommodation options, making it a good city to base yourself in before heading home. Since the journey takes a while, before boarding the shinkansen, it's a good idea to buy a boxed dinner to eat on the train.

・How to get there: Board the Tsurugi 41 shinkansen at Fukui Station (departing 18:41), change trains at Tsuruga Station at 19:02, transfer to Thunderbird No. 42 (departing 19:14), and arrive in Osaka at 20:38

・Fare: Tsurugi 41 reserved seat is about ¥5,790 per person (depends on the date and time of booking) and Thunderbird No. 42 is about ¥4,500 per person

・Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Sx1FVfpr4rS4qstJA

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Expense Summary (approximate price per person)

Accommodation: ¥80,000

Food: ¥18,800

Transport: ¥38,160 (not including gas)

Admission fees: ¥4,930

Total: ¥141,890