From 1583 to the end of the Edo Period, Kanazawa Castle (金沢城, Kanazawajō) was the seat of the powerful Maeda Clan, lords of Kaga, a feudal domain ranking second only to the Tokugawa possessions in terms of size and wealth.
The castle burnt down several times over the centuries, and the most recent fires of 1881 were survived only by two storehouses and the Ishikawa-mon Gate. The gate dates from 1788 and faces Kenrokuen. For several decades, Kanazawa University occupied the former castle grounds until the campus was moved to the city's outskirts in the early 1990s. Since then, a project is underway to rebuild the castle's former buildings. In the meantime, most central structures are standing again and make a visit more interesting.
The first buildings to be reconstructed were the two turrets (Hishi and Tsuzuki Yagura) and a long storehouse (Gojukken Nagaya) that connects the two turrets. The buildings were rebuilt to their original 1850s appearance using traditional techniques and materials. They were opened to the public in 2001 and contain excellent displays on traditional carpentry. In 2015, the adjacent Hashizume-mon Gate was added. The turrets and the storehouse are the only part of the castle where an admission fee is charged.
Several of the castle's other gates have also been reconstructed, including the former main entrance gate, the Kahoku-mon Gate (in 2010) and the Nezumita-mon Gate (in 2020) near Oyama Shrine. The upper floors of both gates can be entered for free and contain displays about the gates' history and construction. In 2015, the Gyokuseninmaru Garden, a pretty garden with a central pond and circular walking path, was reconstructed and can be enjoyed for free. The castle's main keep was lost in a fire in 1602 and has not been rebuilt ever since.
Getting there and around
Kanazawa Castle Park is a large park in the center of Kanazawa and is accessible from many different sides. The most popular approach is through the Ishikawa-mon Gate, which is located only a few meters from the main entrance of Kenrokuen.
Kenrokuen and the castle park are a stop along the tourist-oriented Kanazawa Loop Bus which departs from the station's east exit (aka Kenrokuen Exit). The one way ride from Kanazawa Station takes about 20 minutes and costs 210 yen.
Alternatively, frequent Hokutetsu buses run between Kanazawa Station and Kenrokuen (15 minutes, 210 yen one way). Get off at Kenrokuen-shita bus stop, a short walk from the castle park. Furthermore, there are 1-3 JR buses per hour from Kanazawa Station, which are covered by the Japan Rail Pass. All buses depart from Kanazawa Station's east exit (Kenrokuen Exit).
How to get to and around Kanazawa
Hours and Fees
Castle Grounds
Hours
8:00 to 17:00 (October 16 through February)
Closed
Admission
Gojukken Nagaya Storehouse and Turrets
Hours
Closed
Admission
Kahoku-mon Gate and Nezumita-mon Gate
Hours
Closed
Admission
Questions? Ask in our forum.
Links and Resources
Japanese
Hotels around Kanazawa
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HOTEL 101 KANAZAWASet in Kanazawa, 2 km from Kanazawa Castle, HOTEL 101 KANAZAWA offers accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a terrace and a restaurant. This 4-star hotel offers luggage storage space. Offering free WiFi throughout the property, the non-smoking hotel has a hot tub. At the hotel all rooms include air conditioning, a wardrobe, a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom and a balcony with a garden view. All guest rooms will provide guests with a fridge. Popular points of interest near HOTEL 101 KANAZAWA include Kanazawa Station, Saigen-ji Temple and Kokyo-ji Temple. Komatsu Airport is 32 km from the property.View on Booking.com -
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Guest House PongyiLocated in Kanazawa, 2.7 km from Kenrokuen Garden, Guest House Pongyi provides recently renovated accommodation with free WiFi and a terrace. It is set 2.7 km from Kanazawa Castle and offers a shared kitchen. The property is close to popular attractions like Kozen-ji Temple, Gankei-ji Temple and Senko-ji Temple. Each unit is fitted with air conditioning, a shared bathroom and a well-fitted kitchenette including a microwave, toaster, fridge and a stovetop. All units are equipped with a safety deposit box and selected rooms come with river views. The units include bed linen. There is a coffee shop on-site. A bicycle rental service is available at the guest house. Popular points of interest near Guest House Pongyi include Kanazawa Station, Fukunen-ji Temple and Hosho-ji Temple. Komatsu Airport is 31 km away.View on Booking.com -
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Machi no OdoribaSet 2 km from Kanazawa Castle, Machi no Odoriba offers 3-star accommodation in Kanazawa and features a garden. There is an on-site restaurant, plus free private parking and free WiFi are available. Guests can use the hot spring bath, or enjoy garden views. The units come with air conditioning, an oven, a microwave, a kettle, a bidet, slippers and a desk. At the ryokan, the units are fitted with a terrace, a private bathroom and a flat-screen TV. Guests at the ryokan can enjoy an Asian breakfast. There is a coffee shop on-site. Popular points of interest near Machi no Odoriba include Kanazawa Station, Saigen-ji Temple and Kokyo-ji Temple. Komatsu Airport is 32 km away.View on Booking.com -
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Hotel Kanazawa ZoushiSet in Kanazawa and within 1.4 km of Kanazawa Castle, Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi has a shared lounge, allergy-free rooms, and free WiFi throughout the property. This 4-star hotel offers luggage storage space. The property is non-smoking and is situated 1.7 km from Kenrokuen Garden. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a desk, a kettle, a fridge, a minibar, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. All guest rooms feature a wardrobe. Guests at Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi can enjoy an Asian breakfast. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Kanazawa Station, Saifuku-ji Temple and Gankei-ji Temple. Komatsu Airport is 31 km from the property.View on Booking.com -
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UTAIMACHIBoasting a hot tub, UTAIMACHI is set in Kanazawa. The 3-star ryokan has garden views and is 1.4 km from Kenrokuen Garden. Free WiFi is available throughout the property and Kanazawa Castle is 1.5 km away. The ryokan will provide guests with air-conditioned units offering a desk, a coffee machine, a microwave, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a walk-in shower. There is also a dining area and a fully equipped kitchen equipped with a stovetop and kitchenware. At the ryokan, units are equipped with bed linen and towels. Popular points of interest near the ryokan include Utasu Shrine, Tokuda Shusei Kinenkan Museum and Kanazawa Yasue Gold-Leaf Museum. Komatsu Airport is 34 km from the property.View on Booking.com -
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SumiyoshiyaOffering free Wi-Fi and free-use bicycles and in-room Japanese meals, Sumiyoshiya is a traditional Japanese-style hotel. It features a garden, hot public baths and coin-operated laundry facilities. A free-use internet PC is available at the lobby. Rooms feature paper sliding doors, Japanese futon bedding and a seating area. All come with an LCD TV, a tea/coffee maker and a sink, and some have a private bathroom. Sumiyoshiya offers laundry services, luggage storage and free parking. A Japanese and a Western breakfast are served in the hotel’s dining room, while Japanese dinners featuring local ingredients can be enjoyed in either the guest room or the dining room. Sumiyoshiya is a 10-minute walk from Kenroku-en Garden, and a 15-minute walk from both JR Kanazawa Station’s East exit and the historical Higashi Chaya-machi district. Omicho market is only a 1-minute walk.View on Booking.com -
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YamanooFeaturing 3-star accommodation, Yamanoo is situated in Kanazawa, 1.7 km from Kenrokuen Garden and 2.9 km from Kanazawa Station. This ryokan provides free private parking, a 24-hour front desk and free WiFi. The property offers allergy-free units and is located 1.8 km from Kanazawa Castle. The ryokan will provide guests with air-conditioned units with a wardrobe, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. The units are equipped with heating facilities. Guests can also relax in the garden. Popular points of interest near the ryokan include Utasu Shrine, Tokuda Shusei Kinenkan Museum and Kanazawa Yasue Gold-Leaf Museum. Komatsu Airport is 34 km away.View on Booking.com -
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Machiya Guest House CartaOffering a shared lounge and garden view, Machiya Guest House Carta is set in Kanazawa, 1.7 km from Kanazawa Castle and 1.3 km from Kenrokuen Garden. Featuring a garden, the 2-star guest house has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a shared bathroom. Private parking can be arranged at an extra charge. At the guest house, each unit is equipped with a tatami. At the guest house, the units include bed linen and towels. Popular points of interest near the guest house include Myoryuji - Ninja Temple, D. T. Suzuki Museum and Shofukaku Garden. Komatsu Airport is 32 km from the property.View on Booking.com -
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HanaakariSet in Kanazawa and within 2 km of Kanazawa Castle, Hanaakari has a garden, non-smoking rooms, and free WiFi throughout the property. This 4-star hotel offers luggage storage space. Kenrokuen Garden is 2.5 km away and Myoryuji - Ninja Temple is 3.9 km from the hotel. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a wardrobe, a kettle, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. At Hanaakari all rooms are fitted with bed linen and towels. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Kanazawa Station, Saigen-ji Temple and Kokyo-ji Temple. The nearest airport is Komatsu Airport, 32 km from Hanaakari.View on Booking.com -
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Ryokan YamamuroLocated a 5-minute drive from JR Kanazawa Station, Ryokan Yamamuro offers Japanese-style guestrooms with free WiFi. Omicho Market and Kanazawa Castle Park can both be reached with a 5-minute walk. Guests can stroll around the Higashi Chaya District, a historical entertainment district with various shops, located a 8-minute walk away from Yamamuro Ryokan. Kenrokuen Garden is 10-minutes’ away on foot while the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art is a 15-minute walk away. Myoryuji - Ninja Temple is a 10-minute drive from the property. With heating and air-conditioning facilities, rooms are fitted with tatami (woven-straw) flooring and feature Japanese futon bedding. One room comes with a private bathroom. Free services offered at the property include luggage storage, newspaper and daily maid services.View on Booking.com
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Experiences around Kanazawa
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Stay at an Inn in Kanazawa’s Higashi Chaya District and Enjoy an Elegant Evening With GeishaSpend a night at Maki no Oto Kanazawa, an intimate four-room inn in Kanazawa’s Higashi Chaya District, offering the charm of a traditional machiya townhouse. After dinner, you’ll visit a teahouse that's typically hard to access, guided by the owner of Maki No Oto Kanazawa, who has close ties to the district. Experience Japanese culture through traditional parlor games with a geisha.View experienceSponsored
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Samurai Town Private Full Day Tour in KanazawaDive deep into the history of Japan’s samurai in this informative private tour of Samurai Town in Kanazawa!View on Klook -
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Kanazawa Kimono Kental by Kimono Rental Wargo Kanazawa Korinbo storeChange into a kimono and go sightseeing in Kanazawa!View on Klook -
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VASARA Kimono and Yukata Rental in KanazawaEnjoy an immersive experience while visiting Kanazawa when you try on a stunning kimono or yukataView on Klook
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