Kanazawa is the perfect stop-over city if you are looking to experience history, arts and culture but don’t have the time to visit Kyoto. The city showcases centuries old Japanese arts and crafts as well as castles and gardens with a history dating back to the Edo period. Kanazawa is a small city with lots to see and do and is easy to navigate allowing you to make the most of a short stopover. Located on the west coast of Honshu, Kanazawa is easily accessible from Honshu ski resorts, particularly those in Nagano.