This guide covers how to reach Inami, the temple, the carving street, the carving hall, the hillside park and the way back.
Inami is worth the trip for its carving, since exquisite carvings are applied throughout Inami Betsuin Zuisenji. The sections below follow the day in order, from the morning to the way back.
Getting to Inami from Kanazawa and Takaoka
Yokamachi-dori in Inami has many carving workshops lined up along it. The next step is choosing a route to the town, and the table below sets out the options from each starting point, with the walking times when the town is reached.
From Kanazawa Station West Exit, the Kaetsunou Bus Nanto-Kanazawa line runs to the Zuisenji-guchi Kotsu Hiroba stop. From Takaoka Station and Shin-Takaoka Station, the Kaetsunou Bus Shogawa-Komaki line runs to the Inami-chuo stop. From either stop, Zuisenji is a short walk on foot. Drivers reach the Yokamachi-dori area from Tonami Interchange on the Hokuriku Expressway.
| From | Line and operator | Change | Time or fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanazawa Station West Exit to the Zuisenji-guchi Kotsu Hiroba stop | Kaetsunou Bus, Nanto-Kanazawa line | No change | 65 to 80 minutes |
| Takaoka Station or Shin-Takaoka Station to the Inami-chuo stop | Kaetsunou Bus, Shogawa-Komaki line | No change | 60 minutes |
| Zuisenji-guchi Kotsu Hiroba stop or Inami-chuo stop to Zuisenji, on foot | On foot | — | about 5 minutes |
| Zuisenji-guchi Kotsu Hiroba stop or Inami-chuo stop to Yokamachi-dori, on foot | On foot | — | about 1 minute |
| Tonami Interchange to the Yokamachi-dori area, by car | Car, via the Hokuriku Expressway | — | about 15 minutes |
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Parking at Inami Kotsu Hiroba, standard car | 210 yen per day |
| Tourist information office hours | 8:30 to 16:30 |
| Guide fee | 2,000 yen per guide |
| Japan Heritage free pass for Inami and Takaoka | 1,800 yen for an adult and 900 yen for a child |
| Japan Heritage free pass validity | 2 days from the date of issue |
Morning: Zuisenji Temple
A carved dragon among waves is set on the front of the mountain gate at Zuisenji. Carvings by Inami craftsmen cover the main hall, the Taishi-do hall, the mountain gate and the Shikidai-mon gate. The carvings of the Taishi-do hall use the Inami technique of carving a piece from a block of wood.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Zuisenji admission | 500 yen for high school age and over, and free for elementary and junior high school students |
| Zuisenji visiting hours | 9:00 to 16:30 |
The temple interior has many steps, and footwear is removed when entering the main hall. From the temple, the stone-paved street of Yokamachi-dori extends to the workshops, which is the next stop.
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Late Morning: Yokamachi Street and the Workshops
The approach lane to the temple is lined with wood-scented workshops, and the carvers' mallet and chisel sounds ring out. The sound of the mallets was selected for the Ministry of the Environment's list of Soundscapes of Japan. Wood-carved signs and nameplates can be seen along the street.
The workshops give way to the carving hall that comes next in the day, the Inami Sculpture General Hall, whose scale and layout are modeled on the temple compound of Zuisenji.
Midday: The Inami Sculpture General Hall
The interior of the Inami Sculpture General Hall has a harmony of light and shadow, like a temple interior shaped by natural light. The large exhibition room has a ceiling timber framework and entasis columns inspired by temple architecture, and a large copper-plate roof. The hall was designed by the British architect Peter Salter.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Inami Sculpture General Hall admission | 500 yen for adults and 250 yen for elementary and junior high school students |
| Inami Sculpture General Hall visiting hours | 9:00 to 17:00, with entry until 16:30 |
| Inami Sculpture General Hall closing days | second and fourth Wednesday of each month, and the year-end and New Year period |
| Michi-no-Eki Inami restaurant | 11:00 to 15:00, with last order at 14:30 |
| Michi-no-Eki Inami product corner | 9:00 to 17:00 |
Lunch is available at the restaurant of Michi-no-Eki Inami, which serves through the early afternoon. Visitors with a car can continue to Kanjoji Park for a wider view of the region.
Afternoon: The View from Kanjoji Park
From the upper viewing plaza of Kanjoji Park, the scattered-house landscape peculiar to the region, with houses dotted among farmland, can be seen in full. Gentle lawn slopes spread out across the park.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tonami Interchange to Kanjoji Park, by car | about 20 minutes |
| Kanjoji Park visiting hours | 8:30 to 17:00 |
| Ikenami Shotaro Fureai-kan visiting hours | 10:00 to 17:00 |
| Ikenami Shotaro Fureai-kan closing days | New Year's Day, and every Wednesday since January 2024 |
The Ikenami Shotaro Fureai-kan exhibits valuable items related to the author Ikenami Shotaro and his connection with Inami. The visiting hours of these places end in the late afternoon, which sets the time to start back.
Heading Back: Deciding When to Leave
Wood-carving workshops line the street, and the sound of chisels can still be heard from somewhere. Before heading to the bus stop, check the closing times above, because the tourist information office, Zuisenji and the hall's last admission all end at the same point in the afternoon.
Anyone planning to return to Takaoka for the night can look at places to stay in Takaoka. If you would rather have part of the day arranged for you, look at Inami tours on GetYourGuide.