Skip to main content

Livability Report

KanazawaLivability Score

Ishikawa·Pop. 453,605

5-axis livability scores for Kanazawa, Ishikawa based on Japanese government open data. Safety, cost, transport, education, and healthcare.

Published 2026-03-07 · Data updated 2026-10-20

Where in Japan

Hokkai DoAomori KenIwate KenMiyagi KenAkita KenYamagata KenFukushima KenIbaraki KenTochigi KenGunma KenSaitama KenChiba KenTokyo ToKanagawa KenNiigata KenToyama KenIshikawa KenFukui KenYamanashi KenNagano KenGifu KenShizuoka KenAichi KenMie KenShiga KenKyoto FuOsaka FuHyogo KenNara KenWakayama KenTottori KenShimane KenOkayama KenHiroshima KenYamaguchi KenTokushima KenKagawa KenEhime KenKochi KenFukuoka KenSaga KenNagasaki KenKumamoto KenOita KenMiyazaki KenKagoshima KenOkinawa KenKanazawaKanazawa
Map: based on Global Map Japan (Geospatial Information Authority of Japan)

Overall Score

53.9
A
Safety49.9Cost48.3Convenience53.5Welfare56.8Economy56.2

* These scores are based on statistical analysis of public data and do not represent a definitive assessment of any area. Actual livability varies depending on individual values and lifestyle.

5-axis scores

SafetySafety49.9
CostCost48.3
ConvenienceConvenience53.5
WelfareWelfare56.8
EconomyEconomy56.2

Basic Information

Population

453,605

Prefecture

Ishikawa

Q&A with Kai

Alex, Yuki, and Kai discuss what it's really like to live here.

This article's text predates the October 2026 data and scoring revision and is being rewritten.

Safety

Alex

Alex

A safety score of 76.9 is impressive! How low is the crime rate?

Yuki

Yuki

The Hokuriku region has a reputation for safety, and the data seems to confirm that.

Kai

Kanazawa's crime rate is 4.31 per 1,000 residents, giving a safety score of 76.9. This is a very low crime rate, indicating an extremely secure living environment. Ishikawa Prefecture as a whole tends to have low crime rates, influenced by strong community bonds and reduced outdoor activity during snowy winters. As a historic castle town, Kanazawa maintains a calm residential atmosphere that is reassuring for families with children.

Cost of Living

Alex

Alex

A cost score of 88.1 is very high. How affordable is the land price?

Yuki

Yuki

Have property prices gone up since the Shinkansen opened?

Kai

Kanazawa's average land price is 162,918 yen per square meter. The cost score of 88.1 confirms it's a very affordable city. While the area around Kanazawa Station has gained popularity since the Hokuriku Shinkansen opened, overall housing costs remain quite reasonable. The Korinbo-Katamachi area and Musashi area are popular residential zones. Do note that heating costs tend to be higher during the snowy winter months in this region.

Convenience

Alex

Alex

The transport score of 12.7 is very low despite having Shinkansen access. Why?

Yuki

Yuki

Is a car essential for getting around the city?

Kai

Kanazawa's public transit usage rate is 8.9%, resulting in a transport score of 12.7. While the Hokuriku Shinkansen provides excellent long-distance access to Tokyo in about 2.5 hours, local public transit relies mainly on buses with limited rail lines within the city. The Hokutetsu Bus network covers the area, but suburban residents depend heavily on cars. That said, the city center is compact enough that cycling is a viable option for many daily trips, and daily shopping and commuting within the core area are quite manageable.

Welfare

Alex

Alex

The education score is 56.0. How well-equipped are the schools?

Yuki

Yuki

Kanazawa has a reputation as an academic and cultural city, doesn't it?

Kai

Kanazawa has 88 schools, or 0.19 per 1,000 residents. For a city of about 463,000, this is a favorable ratio, giving an education score of 56.0. The city is home to distinctive higher education institutions including Kanazawa University, Kanazawa College of Art, and Kanazawa Institute of Technology. Its cultural heritage as a castle town of the Kaga Domain fostered a tradition of valuing scholarship, making educational richness one of Kanazawa's defining characteristics.

Economy

Alex

Alex

The healthcare score is 33.5. How's the balance between hospitals and clinics?

Yuki

Yuki

Is the medical infrastructure adequate for a city of 460,000?

Kai

Kanazawa has 43 hospitals (0.93 per 10,000 residents) and 421 clinics (9.09 per 10,000), with a combined medical facility density of 10.02 per 10,000. The high clinic density ensures good everyday medical access, and the hospital ratio of 0.93 is also solid. Kanazawa University Hospital serves as an advanced medical center, and the city functions as the healthcare hub for the Hokuriku region. While the healthcare score of 33.5 may seem modest, the actual medical environment is well balanced.

📊 Cities with Similar Scores

Compare Kanazawa with another city

Side-by-side radar chart comparison

Compare →

Detailed Data

IndicatorValueYear
Crime Rate (per 1,000)5.502025
Avg. Land Price (¥/m²)92,8232026
Avg. Rent (¥)48,6062023
Public Transit Usage (%)8.92020
Retail Establishments3,9852021
Retail Establishments (per 1,000)8.792021
Restaurant Establishments2,8592021
Restaurant Establishments (per 1,000)6.302021
Residency Rate (%, census ÷ resident register)102.62025
Medical Facilities (per 10,000, hospitals + clinics)10.192023
Hospitals432023
Hospitals (per 10,000)0.952023
Clinics4192023
Clinics (per 10,000)9.242023
Schools (elementary + junior high + high)1072024
Schools (per 1,000)0.2362024
Schools (per habitable km²)0.5572024
Taxable Income per Capita (¥)3,994,1202025
Net Migration-1672025
Net Migration Rate (%)-0.042025
Total Population453,6052025
crime_count2,4942025
crime_count_pref5,3762025
crime_rate_pref_per_100052025
habitable_area_km21922024
resident_registry_population441,9472026

Data sources

IndicatorSourceYearNotes
Total Population2025 Population CensusStatistics Bureau of Japan2025
Crime Rate (per 1,000)Reported penal code offenses by municipalityIshikawa Prefectural Police2025Counted where offenses occur; per 1,000 uses the 2025 census population
Avg. Land Price (¥/m²)Official land prices (National Land Numerical Information L01)Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism2026Residential sites only; simple average of sites
Avg. Rent (¥)2023 Housing and Land SurveyStatistics Bureau of Japan2023Monthly rent of rented housing; next survey in 2028
Public Transit Usage (%)2020 Population Census (means of commuting)Statistics Bureau of Japan2020To be updated when the 2025 census commuting tables are published
Retail Establishments (per 1,000)2021 Economic Census for Business ActivityMIC and METI2021Next survey in 2026
Restaurant Establishments (per 1,000)2021 Economic Census for Business ActivityMIC and METI2021Next survey in 2026
Medical Facilities (per 10,000, hospitals + clinics)Survey of Medical Institutions (System of Social and Demographic Statistics)Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare2023Hospitals and clinics combined
Schools (per habitable km²)School Basic Survey and habitable area (System of Social and Demographic Statistics)MEXT and Statistics Bureau of Japan2024Elementary, junior high and high schools per habitable km²
Taxable Income per Capita (¥)Survey on municipal tax assessmentMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications2025Taxable income per taxpayer
Net Migration Rate (%)Report on Internal MigrationStatistics Bureau of Japan2025
Residency Rate (%, census ÷ resident register)Census population ÷ resident register populationMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications2025Resident register population as of January 1, 2026

Data years: mainly 2025 (2020–2026 by indicator)

Published 2026-03-07 · Data updated 2026-10-20