Ruins of Castle Where Maeda Family of Kaga Clan Resided detail
Kanazawa Castle Park
In 1583, Lord Maeda Toshiie, who was Toyotomi Hideyoshi's first retainer, moved to Kanazawa. The Maeda family resided in Kanazawa Castle and governed the Kaga Clan (the present Ishikawa and Toyama areas) for more than 280 years henceforth. The castle tower was burned down by a fire in the past and has not been rebuilt, but other fortress buildings were reconstructed repeatedly. The Ishikawamon Gate, which was rebuilt in 1788, and the Sanjikken Nagaya (50-yard-long warehouse), which was rebuilt in 1858, still remain. Both of them have been designated as Japan's important cultural assets.The place was used as a base of the Japanese army. Later, Kanazawa University used it as a campus. The place was repaired in 1996, and the Hishiyagura (diamond-shaped turret), Gojikken Nagaya (90-yard-long warehouse), and Hashizumemon Tsuzuki Yagura (turret protecting the nearby gate) were restored and the park opened.
In the time of the Maeda family, moats surrounded Kanazawa Castle. The castle had a fort function with loopholes for matchlocks on the outer wall to defend the castle from enemies. The beautiful white tiles that grace the roof are weathered lead and the wall is made of white mortar with flat tiles attached to it.
The stone walls vary in type with each place, and it is apparent that the stonewalls were built in separate periods. The stone walls include those built more than 400 years ago.
Kanazawa Castle
Detail
| Hours | 7:00-18:00 (from Octorber to Feb 8:00-17:00) |
|---|---|
| Close | Open 365 days a year |
| Admission | Free |
| Access | Bus: Get off at the Bus stop 'Kenrokuen-Shita' (15 minutes from Kanazawa St) |
| Tel | (076)234-3800 |
| Official Web | http://www.pref.ishikawa.jp/siro-niwa/kanazawajou/e/index.html |