Kanazawa: Kanazawa Castle
After checking out the shrine grounds, we left via the back, which leads immediately to the Nezumitamon Bridge to Kanazawa Castle (金沢城) 🗾. Initially, the bridge leads to Gyokusen’in Maru Garden (玉泉院丸庭園) 🗾 located just outside the main castle walls. Gyokuseninmaru Garden is named after Gyokusenin, the wife of the second lord of the Kaga domain (present-day Ishikawa Prefecture and surrounding areas). Historically, it was used as a private garden by the lords of the domain.
The castle, partially restored now, was the headquarters of Kaga Domain (a feudal domain ranking second only to the Tokugawa possessions in terms of size and wealth), ruled by the Maeda clan for 14 generations from the Sengoku period until the coming of the Meiji Restoration in 1871. Most of the current buildings are reconstructions based on the castle’s appearance in the 1850s. Between 1949 and 1989, a portion of the castle site was transferred to Kanazawa University. The castle grounds are pretty vast. We walked around and entered the castle’s main building, which showcases its old architecture and features a variety of exhibits.
One of the most interesting sights from the inside is the Hishiyagura Tower, also known as the Diamond Tower. As its primary role was to monitor the surrounding area, its diamond shape was chosen to minimize blind spots and expand its field of vision. The building’s floor plan and its 100 pillars are all diamond-shaped.
We left the main castle grounds through Hashizume-mon, the most crucial gate of the castle. It burned down in 1881 during the Meiji era, but has now been fully restored.
After leaving the castle grounds, we proceeded to visit Kenrokuen gardens.