Kanazawa Castle
金沢城
Built in 1580 and ruled by the Maeda clan for 14 generations, this castle's reconstructed structures reflect its appearance in the 1850s.
〒 920-0937How to get there
金沢Hokuriku Shinkansen · IR Ishikawa Railway Line27 min walk from the station
Kanazawa Castle is a large Japanese castle located near the famous Kenroku-en Garden, which once served as the castle's private outer garden. The current structures are mostly reconstructions of how the castle appeared in the 1850s. The castle was originally built by Oda Nobunaga's general, Sakuma Morimasa, in 1580 as he conquered Kaga Province. However, after the assassination of Nobunaga, Morimasa was defeated by Maeda Toshiie in the Battle of Shizugatake in 1583. Toshiie then made Kanazawa the headquarters of Kaga Domain, and it was ruled by the Maeda clan for 14 generations from the Sengoku period until the Meiji Restoration in 1871. The castle was designated a National Historic Site in 2008.
What's on here
| Date | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| April 2027 | ||
| 30 Apr – 2 May 2027Date to be confirmed | The Four Seasons of Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden: Spring Illuminations | |
Getting There
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Places nearby
Gyokusen'inmaru Garden
A garden built in 1634 within Kanazawa Castle, notable as the first to use creatively patterned stone walls, reconstructed beginning in 2013.
Kanazawa · Ishikawa
Kenrokuen Garden
A strolling garden in Kanazawa laid out by the lords of Kaga over two centuries, counted among the Three Great Gardens of Japan.
Kanazawa · Ishikawa
Kanazawa City Hall
Kanazawa City Hall blends traditional Japanese craftsmanship with modern design across two buildings serving this UNESCO Creative City of 460,000 residents.
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Castle constructed in 1612 as the center of a major Edo-era post station, destroyed in World War II bombing but reconstructed since 1957.
Nagoya · Aichi
Inuyama Castle
Castle with a watchtower believed to be Japan's oldest tenshu, dating to the 1580s and rebuilt multiple times before being seized after the Meiji Restoration.
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Nemuro Peninsula Chashi Site
Ainu fortifications on Nemuro Peninsula's windswept cliffs, built between the 16th and 18th centuries and ranked number one among Japan's 100 castles.
Nemuro · Hokkaido
Kanazawa Jazz Street
One of Japan's largest jazz events transforms Kanazawa's historic streets, shrines, and public spaces into stages for world-class musicians each September.
19–21 Sep 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKanazawa · Ishikawa
Snowman Festival
Thousands of handmade snowmen light up after dark, transforming two mountain towns into a glowing winter spectacle, while local food vendors offer regional specialties to visitors.
6 Feb 2027Exact date not confirmed yetHakusan · Ishikawa
Kanazawa Hyakumangoku Festival
Kanazawa's Hyakumangoku Festival honours Lord Maeda Toshiie, whose 1583 entry into the castle established the city, and has grown into a prominent regional cultural event.
5–7 Jun 2027Exact date not confirmed yetKanazawa · Ishikawa
