ANA Crowne Plaza Kanazawa

Immerse yourself in the precise beauty of Kenroku-en, one of the 3 Great Gardens of Japan 10 minutes' drive away. Each season casts a new light on its wide spaces and intricate waterways as you stroll past quintessentially Japanese bridges and tea houses.

Ascend the watchtower at Kanazawa Castle to imagine hoards of 16th-century Japanese troops filing through the city to its port, bound for war in Korea. This vantage gives stunning views of the mountains while the floors below house a fascinating museum.

Kanazawa Castle's picturesque Kahokumon-gate has been reconstructed after its demolition 130 years ago. Its Imori moat has also been restored, allowing it to fill with water for the first time in decades, a short stroll from ANA Crowne Plaza Kanazawa.

Visiting the Myoryuji Temple, known locally as the Ninja Temple due to its plethora of secret defences. The building is riddled with escape routes, disguised attack outposts and hideaways, tucked behind its labyrinth of corridors and staircases.

Get to the Omicho Market early to avoid the lunchtime queues for bowls of steaming rice topped with fresh Kanazawa seafood. This bustling market of about 200 stalls and shops is 20 minutes' stroll from ANA Crowne Plaza Kanazawa.