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Kanazawa Castle
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
poi · JP

Kanazawa Castle

Getting around: Adjacent to Kenroku-en, about a 20 minute walk from Kanazawa Station, or take the Kanazawa Loop Bus to the Kenrokuen-shita stop.
Hours: Park grounds typically open around 7am-6pm (seasonal variation), free to enter most areas; a couple of reconstructed interior structures have separate paid hours.

Kanazawa Castle was the seat of the powerful Maeda clan for over 280 years during the Edo period, though most of the original structures were lost to fire over the centuries. Several buildings, including gates and turrets, have been carefully reconstructed using traditional carpentry methods, giving a sense of the castle's original scale.

The castle park sits directly across from Kenroku-en, connected by a bridge, so the two are almost always visited together as a single outing.

Kanazawa Castle FAQs

Are the castle buildings original?

No, most were lost to repeated fires; several structures have been carefully reconstructed using traditional techniques.

Is there an entrance fee?

The outer park is largely free; a couple of reconstructed interior buildings charge a small separate fee.

How is it connected to Kenroku-en?

A bridge connects the two directly, and they're typically visited as one combined stop.

How long does a visit take?

About 1 hour for the castle grounds.

Who ruled from this castle?

The Maeda clan, one of the wealthiest and most powerful feudal domains in Edo-period Japan.

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