A Quiet New Year by the Sea: Winter Light at Kanazawa Port Cruise Terminal

Welcoming the New Year in Peace at Kanazawa Port

When people think of Kanazawa during the New Year holidays, they often imagine snowy landscapes and bustling tourist spots.
But if you shift your perspective just a little, you’ll find a quieter side of the city—one gently wrapped in light and stillness.

This story recounts a peaceful, memorable New Year’s moment I shared with my pregnant wife at the Kanazawa Port Cruise Terminal.

Choosing a Nearby, Peaceful Place to Start the Year

It was a cold winter day, January 5th, just after the New Year’s celebrations had started to settle down.
My wife and I—expecting our first child—talked about going out for a short while. Nothing far, just a little change of scenery.

We wanted somewhere calm, not too cold, and free of crowds. That’s when we remembered the Kanazawa Port Cruise Terminal.
We’d heard it had indoor spaces and gentle winter illuminations—just the kind of peaceful place we needed.

We weren’t planning anything special—just time together in a quiet setting. So that afternoon, we got in the car and drove there.

Gentle Illuminations Light Up the Terminal

As evening approached and the city quieted down, we arrived at the cruise terminal.
Its spacious design was more impressive than I remembered. In a corner of the open atrium, soft lights glowed quietly—not the dazzling kind you find in tourist hotspots, but something much gentler.

My wife pointed to a lone bench and wondered aloud, “Is this a photo spot?”
There was no one else around, which made us feel a bit shy. Still, we laughed and took a single selfie together from a short distance away.

The lights weren’t flashy, but they seemed to say: “Let’s bring a little warmth and brightness to Kanazawa this winter.”

Laughing Together in the Quiet Glow

In that one photo, you can see the soft light around us, and the stillness of the spacious hall.
It felt almost as if we were the only ones there—wrapped in our own gentle world. It was a special kind of peace you simply can’t find in busy places.

Nearby, a mother with a small child was trying to get them to look at her phone camera: “Look over here!” she called.
Watching them, we couldn’t help but imagine our future selves. I realized—this might be one of the last times we’d go out just the two of us.

In that brief moment of laughter, we felt the quiet arrival of a new chapter in our lives. It was a gentle beginning to the year.

Subtle Culture Found Within the Cruise Terminal

When I think back to those quiet lights, I’m reminded that “culture” doesn’t always need to be loud or elaborate.
Sometimes, it lives in understated places like this—a thoughtful design, a warm light on a cold day.

While the terminal often hosts weekend concerts and events, that day it was quiet.
And in that quiet, we found a moment where everyday life softened just a little.

Plan Your Visit

Kaho

Kanazawa Local Guide

Hello and welcome! I’m Kaho – born and raised in Kanazawa, and still happily living here. I created this blog to share the quiet corners, cultural treasures, and everyday beauty of my hometown that many guidebooks overlook. I hope it helps you connect with the deeper side of Kanazawa, and enjoy your stay in a more meaningful way.