Planning a week or more in Kanazawa? Here is why an Apartment Hotel with a kitchen and laundry is your key to unlocking the city’s best food and culture.
Kanazawa is more than just a quick stop on the Golden Route. With its preserved samurai districts, world-class contemporary art, and some of the best seafood in Japan, it’s a city that rewards those who linger. Recently, more travelers are choosing to slow down and stay for a week or even a month. But extended stays come with challenges that weekend tourists don’t face.
“I can’t eat expensive restaurant meals three times a day.” “I need to wash my clothes, but I don’t want to waste time at a coin laundry.” “Staying in a tiny business hotel for 7 days sounds like a prison sentence.”
To truly enjoy a long stay in Kanazawa, you need to change your accommodation strategy from “a place to sleep” to “a place to live.” In this guide, I’ll share the essential features you need for a comfortable long stay and introduce the hotel that ticks every box.
The Verdict: The Best Way to Stay Long-Term
Source：Minn Official Website
For busy travelers, here is the bottom line. If you are staying for more than a few days, skip the standard hotels. Choose an Apartment Hotel located near Omicho Market, like Minn Kanazawa. With full kitchens and in-room laundry, it transforms your trip from “visiting” to “living.”
【Official】Book Minn Here for the Best Rates
(Located just steps from the market. Perfect for extended stays.)
4 Essentials for a Successful Long Stay in Kanazawa
A room that is fine for 2 nights can be a nightmare for 10. Here is your checklist for a stress-free extended stay.
1. A Kitchen to Unlock the Food Culture
In Kanazawa, a kitchen isn’t just for saving money; it’s an experience. Omicho Market is overflowing with fresh snow crab, sweet shrimp, and Kaga vegetables.
- The Experience: Instead of just looking, buy the ingredients. Take them back to your hotel kitchen and cook a simple, delicious meal paired with local sake. This “market-to-table” lifestyle is the highlight of living in Kanazawa.
2. In-Room Laundry (Crucial in Kanazawa!)
There is a local saying: “You can forget your lunchbox, but don’t forget your umbrella.” Kanazawa rains a lot.
- The Reality: You will get wet. Having a washing machine in your room means you can dry your clothes immediately. It also allows you to pack light, knowing you can wash your favorite outfit whenever you need to.
3. Space to Breathe (25sqm+)
Japanese business hotels average 12–15 sqm. For a long stay, this is claustrophobic.
- The Requirement: Look for rooms that are at least 25 sqm. You need a sofa to read on and a table to eat or work at. Separation between “sleeping” and “living” is vital for your mental health.
4. Proximity to the Market
You want to live where the food is. Being within walking distance of Omicho Market means you can pop out for fresh fruit in the morning or grab a bento for lunch without a long commute.
How to Spend Your Days: The “Slow Travel” Guide
When you aren’t rushing to see everything in 24 hours, Kanazawa opens up.
- Make the Market Your Pantry: Start your day with a stroll through Omicho Market. Ask the fishmonger what’s good today. It becomes a delightful daily ritual.
- Own the Morning & Night: Famous spots like Higashi Chaya District and Kenrokuen Garden are packed during the day. As a local resident, you can visit at 7 AM or after sunset to have these magical places almost to yourself.
- Rainy Day Crafts: If it pours, stay in. Buy a gold leaf craft kit or read a book about Japanese history in your spacious living room. No need to force yourself out into the storm.
Why “Minn Kanazawa” is the Top Choice for Long Stays
Source：Minn Official Website
If you want a property that checks every single box above, Minn Kanazawa is the answer. Here is why it’s the preferred base for digital nomads and slow travelers.
1. Location: Your Neighbor is the Market
Minn Kanazawa is located just a few minutes’ walk from Omicho Market.
- The Benefit: Heavy grocery bags? No problem. You are just steps away from your kitchen. It also has easy access to Katamachi (dining district) for nights when you want to eat out.
2. Fully Equipped for Real Cooking
Minn rooms feature stylish kitchens with induction cooktops, cookware, and microwaves.
- The Menu: Whether it’s a crab hot pot (Nabe) or a hand-rolled sushi party, you have the tools to make it happen.
3. Space for Everyone (1-8 People)
Whether you are a solo nomad or a family of 5, Minn has a suite for you.
- The Comfort: Spacious living areas allow you to do yoga, work from a laptop, or just relax without feeling cramped.
4. Laundry = Freedom
With in-room washing machines, you are free from the “laundry cycle.” Wash a small load while you cook dinner, and wake up to clean clothes.
Real Traveler Stories
Source：Minn Official Website
Here is how guests are using Minn for their extended trips:
- The Digital Nomad (5 nights): “I worked from the dining table during the day (great Wi-Fi) and explored the geisha districts in the late afternoon. It felt like I actually lived there.”
- The Family (3 nights): “Eating out every meal with a toddler is hard. We bought grilled fish and croquettes at the market and ate in our room. The washing machine was a lifesaver.”
What is an Apartment Hotel?
Source：Minn Official Website
For those new to the concept: It is a hybrid accommodation that combines the service of a hotel (professional cleaning, linens, amenities) with the facilities of an apartment (Kitchen, Laundry, Living space).
- Why it wins: No lease, no key money, no hassle. Just check in and start living.
Verdict: Don’t Just Visit, Belong.
Source：Minn Official Website
To truly understand Kanazawa, you need to stay long enough to find your rhythm. Don’t let a tiny room or laundry struggles ruin the experience. By choosing a spacious, fully equipped Apartment Hotel like Minn, you turn a “trip” into a “lifestyle.”
Long-stay suites book out fast. Secure your home away from home today.
【Official】Minn Reservations | Experience a “Stay as You Live” Style
(Select “Minn Kanazawa” for the best market access.)