Kinpaku Kirara (Gold-Leaf Snow Guards) 2026 Dates TBA
金箔雪吊り「金箔きらら」 — Kanazawa, Ishikawa (Hokuriku)
- Season
- Dates TBA (usually: mid-October to mid-February)
- Venue
- Omicho Market area (Musashi district) (近江町市場周辺(武蔵地区))
- Tickets
- Free to view.
- Official site
- www.kanazawa-kankoukyoukai.or.jp
Snow-guard ropes (yukitsuri) strung with gold leaf are lit up around Omicho Market for one of Kanazawa's signature winter sights — a display unique to Ishikawa, which produces nearly all of Japan's gold leaf.
Background
Organized by the Musashi district shopping association, the display uses roughly 2,800 gold-leaf-wrapped yukitsuri ornaments, turning a functional snow-protection technique used on trees across Kanazawa in winter into a decorative centerpiece.
Getting there
The Musashigatsuji / Omicho Market bus stop, served by the Kanazawa Loop Bus and local routes, sits right at the display.
Tips
- Combine the visit with Omicho Market itself, Kanazawa's largest fresh food market, open during the day just steps away.
- Kenrokuen Garden's own snow-guard illumination (a separate, ticketed event on select nights in February) is a short bus ride away if you want to see yukitsuri lit up in a formal garden setting too.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Kinpaku Kirara (Gold-Leaf Snow Guards) illuminated?
- Kinpaku Kirara (Gold-Leaf Snow Guards) is typically lit up from Oct 17 – Feb 15. Exact dates shift year to year, so check the official site close to your trip.
- Where is Kinpaku Kirara (Gold-Leaf Snow Guards), and how do you get there?
- Kinpaku Kirara (Gold-Leaf Snow Guards) is located at Omicho Market area (Musashi district) in Kanazawa, Ishikawa. The Musashigatsuji / Omicho Market bus stop, served by the Kanazawa Loop Bus and local routes, sits right at the display.
- Is Kinpaku Kirara (Gold-Leaf Snow Guards) free to visit, or do I need tickets?
- Free to view.
Last verified against the official source: Sun, August 2, 2026
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