One of the alternative trip from Kanazawa is visiting Shirakawa-go and Takayama.
Shirakawa-go is a small village that have unique houses and the village is listed on World Heritage Site.
Takayama is a town that has lots of offer - old town houses, lots of museums and sake brewery.
Recommended Itinerary
Trip to Shirakawa-go and Takayama
Half a day itinerary
If you have only half a day in Kanazawa, you need to concentrate your trip and cut some attractions where you can see other places. You can see similar or better things out of Kanazawa. Geisha district - you can see it in Kyoto. Castle - you can see it in many places in Japan.
Actually, Kanazawa's geisha district is smaller then Kyoto's Gion geisha district. Kanazawa castle was rebuilt in 2000 and new.
One day itinerary
Even if you have only one day in Kanazawa, you still can visit most touristic places.
From Kanazawa station,
Omicho market - Kazuemachi geisha district - Higashi chayagai and Geisha house Shima - Sakuda gold leaf shop - Kenrokuen - 21st century contemporary are museum - Nagamachi samurai district and Nomura samurai house
