SilkCode LibraryCastles of Japan
No. 035Hokuriku & TokaiIshikawa

Kanazawa Castle

金沢城

Ruins & historic sites

The Maeda family’s castle combines surviving buildings with traditional timber reconstructions. Alongside white walls and lead-covered roofs, varied masonry reveals successive periods of construction.

Reconstructed buildings and stone walls across a lawn at Kanazawa Castle
Reconstructed buildings and stone walls across a lawn at Kanazawa CastlePhoto: 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · Resized and converted to WebP. Cards crop the display.This photograph shows the site at the time it was taken. Check the notes and official sources for current restoration work and access.

Get to know the castle

Castle at a glance

Site & layout
Maeda castle site with surviving and reconstructed buildings
Origins
Developed in the sixteenth century; Maeda work from 1583
Builders & patrons
Maeda Toshiie and his successors
Other names
—
What remains today
Ishikawa Gate, Sanjikken Nagaya, Tsurumaru Storehouse and walls; reconstructed turrets and gates

THE STORY

The story behind the walls

Maeda Toshiie entered in 1583 and developed the family’s seat. Lightning destroyed the keep in 1602, and it was never rebuilt. Palaces and turrets underwent repeated fires and repairs, with major losses in 1881. Three surviving historic buildings and reconstructions begun in 2001 now interpret the Kaga domain’s castle.

LAYOUT & ARCHITECTURE

Read the landscape and the buildings.

Masonry separates enclosures, while gates and turrets defend entrances and edges. Lead-covered roofs, white plaster and patterned lower walls create a characteristic appearance. Different masonry techniques preserve evidence of construction across several centuries.

A CLOSER LOOK

Details worth a closer look.

01

Three surviving buildings

Ishikawa Gate, Sanjikken Nagaya and Tsurumaru Storehouse survive from the historic castle. Distinguishing them from similar-looking reconstructions clarifies their importance.

02

Hishi Turret and Gojikken Nagaya

This group was reconstructed in timber in 2001. The rhombus-shaped turret and its connection to the long building show a distinctive structural solution.

03

Comparing the stone walls

Walls from different stages survive across the site. Comparing how stones were shaped and fitted reveals the castle’s rebuilding history.

THROUGH THE YEARS

A short timeline

  1. 1583

    Maeda Toshiie entered the castle.

  2. 1602

    Lightning destroyed the keep.

  3. 1881

    Fire destroyed the palace and many other buildings.

  4. 2001

    Hishi Turret and connected buildings were reconstructed.

BEFORE YOU GO

A note before you go.

The park and building interiors have different opening and admission arrangements. Check the prefectural castle website for current access, including reconstruction works.

Official visitor information ↗Find it on a map ↗

Information checked: 27 September 2026

Sources & official information

Some official sources are available in Japanese only.

Keep exploring this volume

Which castle is next?