Step back into the feudal heart of the Kaga Domain (加賀藩) with our guide to Kanazawa Castle Park (金沢城公園). Once the seat of the powerful Maeda clan (前田氏), this sprawling fortress stands as a testament to the “City of Gold’s” rich samurai heritage. While the original main keep was lost centuries ago, the meticulous reconstruction of the Hishi Yagura turret and the massive Gojikken Nagaya storehouse, built using traditional wooden joinery without a single nail, showcases the pinnacle of Edo-period engineering. From the iconic white-tiled Ishikawa-mon Gate to the newly restored Nezumitamon Gate and the tranquil Gyokusen’inmaru Garden, Kanazawa Castle offers a stunning “stone wall museum” of diverse masonry styles. Whether you are visiting for the spring cherry blossoms or the winter light displays, discover why this historic landmark, located just steps from Kenrokuen Garden (兼六園), is an essential stop for any traveler exploring Kanazawa.
What to See at Kanazawa Castle Park
- About Kanazawa Castle
- Kanazawa Castle’s Attractions
- Kanazawa Castle’s Nighttime Light-Up
- Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Free Guided Tour
- Kanazawa Castle Mobile App
- Cherry Blossom and Autumn Foliage at Kanazawa Castle
Please refer to Ishikawa Prefecture’s website HERE for the Kanazawa Castle Map. It will also provide you with information about all the attractions in the castle.
Click HERE to skip to Kanazawa Castle’s opening hours, admission fee, and free guided tours.
Explore Kanazawa Castle and Kanazawa With a Guided Tour
If you prefer a guide to introduce you to Kanazawa Castle and the rest of Kanazawa or a photographer to take professional photos for you, how about joining one of the following tours?
- Full-Day Tour from Kanazawa: Samurai, Matcha, Gardens and Geisha
- Photoshoot session by a professional photographer in Kanazawa
- Discover the Secret Gems in Kanazawa
About Kanazawa Castle
Unfortunately, most of the castle was destroyed by several fire hazards in the past. But it was rebuilt in the Heisei period (1989 – 2009). In 1996, with the completion of the reconstruction, the castle was opened to the public as Kanazawa Castle Park (金沢城址公園).
Originally, the castle did have a castle keep. But just 20 years after the first lord of the Maeda clan, Maeda Toshiie (前田 利家), moved into the castle, it was burnt down after it was struck by lightning in 1602. 160 years after that, after most of the castle was lost due to a great fire hazard in Kanazawa, instead of the core of the castle (本丸), only the second quarter of the castle (二の丸) was restored, as it was where most of the castle’s functions were located.
Ishikawa Gate (石川門)
If you are coming from Kenrokuen Garden like us, the easiest way to access the castle is by crossing the Ishikawa Bridge (石川橋) that is in front of the Ishikawa Gate (石川門) of the castle. This gate is not just any castle gate in Japan, but is actually a designated Important Cultural Property of the country!
While the fire hazards have destroyed most of Kanazawa Castle, this gate has remained standing since its restoration in 1788.
Observe closely when you enter the castle from this gate. Once you pass through the gate, you will be in a rectangular space surrounded by castle walls. To enter the castle, you have to pass through another gate.
The Japanese call this kind of structure “Masugata (枡形),” meaning boxed shape. Once the two gates are closed, the enemy will be literally boxed in by the castle wall, making it very easy for the samurai of Kanazawa Castle to defend themselves.
If you have been to Osaka Castle, you might have seen this type of gate already, but the gate in Osaka Castle was only restored more recently. If you want a gate built in the Edo period, you must come to Kanazawa Castle!
Kahoku Gate (河北門)
The Kahoku Gate, located near Ishikawa Gate, is another gate that has existed since the Edo period. Being restored in 1772, it is even older than the Ishikawa Gate!
It is another example of a Matsugata-style gate. One has to enter through the bigger gate on the right in the photo before entering the castle’s grounds through the smaller gate on the left.
Together with the Ishikawa Gate and the Hashizume Gate that we will introduce next, they are known as the Kanazawa Castle’s Three Major Gates.
Hashizume Gate (橋爪門)
Hashizume Gate is the main gate of the second quarter (二の丸) of Kanazawa Castle. This most prestigious gate in the castle was restored in 2015 after being burnt down in 1881.
As the second quarter of the castle used to be where most of the functions of the castle took place, the guardhouse in the Hashizume Tsuzuki Yagura or Hashizume Tsuzuki Turret (橋爪門続櫓) is the biggest amongst the whole castle.
A Museum of Stone Walls
Another special thing about Kanazawa Castle is that you will find various stone walls throughout the castle. Picking the Ishikawa Gate as an example, the castle walls inside the gate were already constructed by two different stacking methods.
Almost every kind of stone wall, with various stacking methods and materials, can be found at Kanazawa Castle, which is why it is nicknamed the Museum of Stone Walls!
Also, you will find more than 200 marks carved onto the stone walls’ stones, another characteristic of Kanazawa Castle.
As you pass through the second gate of Ishikawa Gate (石川門), a wide area of lawn called Sanomaru Square (三の丸広場) spreads right in front of you. At the far end, a Japanese castle-style tenement that stretched up to 90 meters provided accommodation for the castle’s attendants and also served as a storage area for weapons and food. At the same time, it serves as the castle wall to protect the core part of the castle.
Gojūkken Nagaya (五十間長屋)
The Gojūkken Nagaya was only restored for the first time in 120 years in 2001. When you are there, if you look closely at the roof tiles, you should see some white on them. In winter, you might conclude the white bit of the tiles must be snow. But even in warmer seasons, the white thing you thought was snow is still there!
The underlying reason is the material that was used to make the tiles. Kanazawa receives a lot of snow in winter. To lighten the weight on the roof in winter, lead was used as one of the materials to make the roof tiles in the castle. Not only are these kinds of tiles lighter, but their lifespan is also extended.
When those tiles containing lead are exposed to rain or snow, the tiles’ surfaces are whitened by a chemical reaction. This is commonly known as the bleaching phenomenon. Some also say the tiles can be melted down and used for weaponry if the castle is attacked.
Inside the Gojūkken Nagaya
Most parts of the Kanazawa Castle are accessible to visitors. But note that you will need to remove your shoes to protect the wooden flooring. Plastic bags will be provided so you can put your shoes in, minimising the inconvenience caused by this rule.
Hishi Yagura (菱櫓): The Diamond Turret
At the north of Gojūkken Nagaya, this turret called Hishi serves as the cornerstone of the castle’s defence system. If you can see the turret from above, you will notice it has a rhombus or diamond shape, which is why it is called “Hishi”.
Apparently, an extremely advanced construction skill is required to build a turret this way. This is because the feudal lord wanted the building to look larger from the outside, possibly to deter potential enemies.
Furthermore, those square tiles on the castle’s white wall can be destroyed from the inside, and the hole in the wall will become the perfect place to fire firearms. The enemy wouldn’t know where they would be attacked from, as they would never know which tile would be destroyed by the samurai inside the castle!
Gyokusen’inmaru Garden (玉泉院丸庭園)
Only restored in 2015, the Gyokusen’inmaru Garden, which makes great use of the terrain’s height differences, features a pond at its center. It is a small pond but offers views from various parts of the garden.
It is said that the garden built by the third lord of the Kaga Domain used to be the walking course of successive feudal lords in the morning and evening.
Tea House: Gyokusen-an (玉泉庵)
On one side of the Gyokusen’inmaru Garden, matcha with a premium Japanese sweet is served at the tea house, Gyokusen-an, for 800 yen.
- The Tea house is open from 9 am to 4:30 pm daily except from December 29 to January 3.
- The last admission is at 4 pm.
- Between 12 and 1 pm, cleaning is scheduled. The staff in the tea house won’t take on any guests during the hour.
Nezumita Gate and Bridge (鼠多門・鼠多門橋)
Nezumita-mon Bridge connects the Nezumita Gate of the Kanazawa Castle with Oyama Shrine (尾山神社).
This gate, which survived the big fire that destroyed much of the castle in 1759, was unfortunately lost to a fire hazard in 1884. Its bridge was removed due to aging a bit earlier in 1877.
But here is the great news! In 2020, just before the pandemic, the gate and the bridge finally regained their former glory and are now one of the most popular photo spots at Kanazawa Castle!
Kanazawa Castle Opening Hours and Admission Fee
Regarding the castle’s opening hours and admission fees, please refer to their website HERE for more details. Like Kenrokuen Garden, the castle is open to the public for free in the early morning each day. But note you need to leave 15 minutes before the castle’s usual opening hours, so visitors have to pay for their entry.
Tip: The Kenrokuen+1 Tickets (兼六園プラスワン利用券) allow admission to Kenrokuen Garden and to one additional cultural facility within the city, and cost 500 yen.
Kanazawa Castle’s Nighttime Light-Up
Every day at Kanazawa Castle, the lights are on as the sun goes down. And what is even better is that from sunset to 9 pm, it is free to enter the castle! At Gyokusen’inmaru Garden, depending on the season, a 7-minute lighting show runs; approximate start times are listed below.
- Spring (March to May): between 6 pm and 7 pm
- Summer (June to August): around 7 pm
- Autumn (September to November): between 5 pm and 6 pm
- Winter (December to February): between 5 pm and 5:30 pm
Refer to HERE for a map showing the light-up area.
The Free Kenrokuen and Kanazawa Castle Tour
Inside the Ishikawa-mon Gate, volunteer guides are stationed daily from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm to provide visitors with a free guided tour of the castle and gardens. This is why you want to enter the castle from Ishikawa-mon Gate!
And don’t worry. Some guides can speak English (^_-)-☆. Refer to HERE for more details about the Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden free guided tour.
Tip: The tour is limited to Kanazawa Castle only if you are alone. We recommend you wait for a second guest to arrive so you can enjoy this free service at both Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden.
Kanazawa Castle Mobile App
Like Kenrokuen, Kanazawa Castle has its own mobile app to provide you with a detailed guide when you are at the castle. Once the app is downloaded, its language should automatically change to the language you set on your phone.
Cherry Blossom and Autumn Foliage at Kanazawa Castle
- Kanazawa Castle’s cherry blossom season is usually from early to mid-April.
- Mid to late November is the best time to appreciate autumn foliage at Kanazawa Castle Park.
How to Get to Kanazawa Castle
The access information is the same as Kenrokuen. So please refer to our article about the garden HERE.
Discover Other Fascinating Attractions in Kanazawa City
Step into a world where samurai legacy and modern artistry collide with our guide to Kanazawa (金沢), Japan’s “Little Kyoto.” Whether you are wandering the perfectly preserved wooden teahouses of the Higashi Chaya geisha district or admiring the circular architecture of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa offers a deep dive into Edo-period culture without the overwhelming crowds of larger cities.
Refer to our Kanazawa article for information about our recommended spots in Kanazawa, including where to meet the Geishas and an amazing art museum!
