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What are the ruins of the famous castle built by the feudal lords of Kaga Hyakumangoku?

The history and culture of Kaga's Hyakumangoku feudal lords are still preserved today.

Kanazawa Castle was originally located on the site of a Jodo Shinshu temple called "Oyama Gobo (Kanazawa Godo)," which was renamed Kanazawa Castle in 1580, and full-scale castle construction began in 1583, when Toshiie Maeda, the founder of the Kaga Hyakumangoku clan, entered Kanazawa Castle. From there, the castle became the residence of successive lords of the Maeda family and prospered for approximately 290 years.
Repeated fires destroyed all the buildings except for the "Ishikawa-mon Gate" and "Sanjuken Nagaya," but restoration work proceeded, and the castle was opened to the public as "Kanazawa Castle Park" in 2001. From there, further restoration and maintenance work has been carried out, and the gorgeousness and splendor of the garden and gates of those days have gradually been restored.

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Cherry blossom viewing spots in Ishikawa

Kanazawa Castle is also known as one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Kanazawa, with some 400 cherry trees, including Someiyoshino cherry trees, higan cherry trees, and yamazakura cherry trees, in full bloom in early April, attracting many cherry blossom viewers every year.
The Ishikawa Gate is especially popular as a viewing spot. The two shots of the Ishikawamon gate and the cherry blossoms, which look like a sea of clouds, can only be seen at this time of the year. The cherry blossoms along the inner moats of Otemori and Hishiyagura are also not to be missed.
At night, the park is illuminated along with the adjacent Kenrokuen Garden, so you can enjoy a different view of the cherry blossoms than in the daytime.

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Passing through the Ishikawa Gate into Kanazawa Castle Park

Ishikawa-mon Gate is a good place to start a stroll

There are a total of five gates to Kanazawa Castle Park. If you want to enjoy the park in combination with Kenrokuen Garden, we recommend starting from Ishikawa Gate, which is located across from Kenrokuen Garden. It is also the main gate to Kanazawa Castle Park, so it is recommended to pass through this gate first.
Ishikawa Gate was once completely destroyed by fire in 1759, but was rebuilt during the reign of Harunaga Maeda, the 11th lord of the domain. It was rebuilt during the reign of Harunaga Maeda, the 11th lord of the domain. It was spared from destruction in subsequent large fires, and is designated as a national important cultural property as a valuable remaining structure from the Edo period.

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faithfully reproduced "Hishi Tower", "Gojyumen Nagaya", "Hashizume-mon continuation tower" and "Hashizume-mon Gate

Impressive "Gojuken Nagaya" with its long building

Passing through the Ishikawa Gate, the first thing that comes into view at "San-no-maru Hiroba" is a long building. This building is actually a series of three buildings, connected inside. From left to right, they are "Hashizume-mon Tsugyogura," "Gojiken Nagaya," and "Hishi Yagura," the only Property in Kanazawa Castle Park that requires an admission fee. Inside, visitors can view a variety of exhibits.
The 50-ken row houses are generally called Tamon-yagura (Tamon turret), and are mainly used as warehouses for storing weapons and other items, while also functioning as castle walls in times of emergency.

Hishi Yagura" with its fun shapes and tricks

As the name suggests, the key point of the Hishiyagura is that you can enjoy the diamond shape throughout the building. Since the main role of the building was to keep an eye on the surrounding area, it is said that the rhombus shape was used for the effect of reducing blind spots and widening the field of vision. The building's 100 pillars, as well as its flat surface, are also rhombic in shape, and it is a real pleasure to see the superior technology of the time.
The rhombus tower is a three-story structure built on an 11.7-meter-high stone wall. Visitors can also see a defensive device called "Ishidoshi.

Hashizume-mon continuation turret" which monitors the most prestigious gate

The Hashizume-mon Tsugyorya is located overlooking the Hashizume-mon Gate, the main gate of the Ninomaru area. It is said to have played an important role as a watchtower for people crossing the Hashizume Bridge from the San-no-maru plaza to the Ninomaru area.
The third-floor windows have no glass, making it a popular spot for taking beautiful photos. The Ishikawa Gate, San-no-maru Plaza, and the Tsurunomaru Resting Pavilion can be viewed from the top of the building, making it a unique spot to take beautiful photos.

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Tsurunomaru Resting Pavilion

Take a break at Castle View

When you are tired of walking, head to the "Tsurunomaru Resting Hall" where you can enjoy the spectacular view. This rest area is also recommended as a great photo spot, with a close-up view of the Gojyumen Nagaya and Hashizume-mon Gate through the window glass.
In the adjoining exhibition space, an original video introducing the sights and history of Kanazawa Castle Park and Kenrokuen Garden is shown. There is also a quiz corner, so if you have time, be sure to try your hand at the quiz.
There is also a café inside the museum, where visitors can enjoy sushi and sweets served in traditional crafted vessels.

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Gyokuseninmaru Teien (Gyokusenin Maru Garden)

Take your time to enjoy the original Daimyo Garden

The "Gyokuseninmaru Teien" was created by Toshitsune, the third lord of the domain, and remained in existence until the domain was abolished, with changes made by successive lords. This daimyo's garden, a pond garden with a circular garden style, was created using the Tatsumi water supply that was drawn into the castle as its source of water, and was abandoned during the Meiji period.
It features a three-dimensional garden that takes advantage of the 22-meter-high slope, and the shikishi tanzaku-zukuri stone wall integrated with the waterfall is one of the highlights of the garden.

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Nezumitamon and Nezumitamon Bridge

Visit the newest spot in Kanazawa Castle Park

The gate and bridge that once connected the Gyokusenin Maru Garden to the Oyama Shrine have been restored and are the newest addition to the park, completed in July 2020. The restoration has become a hot topic as it is the first time in 140 years since the gate was destroyed by fire in the Meiji period (1868-1912). The Nezumitamon Gate, with its black sea squirt plaster, and the Nezumitamon Bridge, the largest wooden bridge in the castle, have an outstanding presence. The interior of Nezumitamon can be toured free of charge.
The fact that visitors can now go from Kanazawa Castle Park to Oyama Shrine via Nezumatamon and Nezumatamon Bridge has created a new line of flow and made Kanazawa sightseeing easier.

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Various types of stone walls

Nationally valuable stone wall museum

Over its 290-year history, Kanazawa Castle has had a variety of stone walls built. The castle has been called a "stone wall museum" because of the variety of stone walls that can be seen, and there is even a walking course that takes visitors on a tour of the stone walls. You can enjoy a wide variety of stonewalls, from those that are simply piled up with natural stones to those that have been processed and piled up without gaps.
Also, if you look closely at the stone walls, you will see that some have engravings such as ○, △, □, and swastika. There are more than 200 different types, and it is recommended to look for what kind of patterns are drawn on them.

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Light-up held every day

Enjoy the illumination of the Daimyo Garden after sunset

Don't forget to visit the free illumination, which is held from sunset to 9 p.m. every day. Please note that of the five entrances, only the Ishikawa Gate, Gyokuseninmaru Gate, and Nezuta Gate entrances are open to visitors.
Only at night time can visitors enjoy the outlines of the castle illuminated by the lights. In the Gyokuseninmaru Garden, you can enjoy the changing scenery to the accompaniment of music.

Kanazawa Castle Park

• 1-1 Marunouchi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture MAP
• 7 minutes drive from JR Kanazawa Station
• Take a bus from JR Kanazawa Station, get off at Kenrokuen-shita/Kanazawa Castle, and walk about 3 minutes.
• March 1-October 15: 7:00-18:00, October 16-February 31: 8:00-17:00
• No holidays
• About Hishi Yagura, Gojyumen Nagaya, Hashizume-mon Continuation Yagura, and Hashizume-mon (admission fee)
  Adults (18 years old and over): 320 yen, Children (6 to under 18 years old): 100 yen
• 076-234-3800 (Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management Office, Ishikawa Prefecture)
• None