Kanazawa Castle

4.3 (200)・Park・Tourist Attraction・Point Of Interest・Establishment

Kanazawa Castle, a historical landmark in Kanazawa, has played a pivotal role in the country's feudal history since its construction in the late 16th century. Originally built in 1583 by the Maeda family, one of the most powerful samurai clans during the Edo period, the castle served as their seat of power, influencing the region's politics, economy, and culture for centuries.

The castle's architecture is a testament to Japan's skilled craftsmanship and strategic design. Most striking is the castle's white lead-tiled roofs, which added elegance and served as a defense mechanism, reflecting sunlight to make the castle appear larger and more formidable to potential attackers. The Ishikawa-mon Gate, dating back to 1788, is one of the few original structures that survived various disasters, including fires that led to multiple reconstructions of the castle.

Kanazawa Castle's unique construction features include the use of traditional Japanese joinery techniques, which require no nails or metal fasteners. This method enhanced the castle's flexibility and resistance to earthquakes. Today, visitors can explore the Hishi Yagura turret, Gojikken Nagaya warehouse, and Hashizume-mon Tsuzuki Yagura, all meticulously restored to reflect their historical significance.

Hours:

7:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Closed:

No closing days

Available:

All year

Minimum Age:

All ages are welcome.

Fees:

Free

Hours

Monday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Sunday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Phone

+81 76-234-3800

Website

www.pref.ishikawa.jp

The area

Address

1-1 Marunouchi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0937, Japan

Top ways to experience Kanazawa Castle

4hrs

Kanazawa half-day Historical Photo Spot Walking Tour

From $197 /person

8hrs

Kanazawa Full-Day Private Walking Tour With a Local Guide

From $342 /person

4hrs

Kanazawa Half-Day Private Walking Tour With a Local Guide

From $186 /person

What other travelers are saying about Kanazawa Castle

This is a beautiful walking area around the Castle of Kanazawa and it is surprisingly free! You can pay to visit some buildings of the Castle for a reasonable fee but we did not do that. We just enjoyed the open space with the castle view. Definitely recommended even if you just pass by perhaps coming from the Kenrokuen Garden which is adjacent to the castle.

Alessandro Balocco

Sep 20, 2024

Visited one night in early April to view the cherry blossom illumination. The castle and the garden views were stunning - we hit just the right time to see them. I got some really cool photos. There was a decent number of people, but it was still pretty magical.

Alison Kiraly

Aug 7, 2024

Kanazawa Castle is a great place to visit. Many of the buildings have been extensively restored. You can explore the grounds on foot and even enter many of the buildings and watchtowers. A combined ticket for the castle and park costs 500 yen. It can be paid for conveniently by credit card.

Oskar Vitlif

Aug 3, 2024

The park is a historical castle ground where some historical buildings such as ishikawa gate were very well preserved. I visited during a sunny and windy day and it was super enjoyable. It wasn't so busy during 17:00 - 18:00 when i visited so there were plenty of places in the park where we could sit down and just enjoy the scenery.

Charles Liu

Jun 15, 2024

I can’t believe this place is free, it’s huge and there’s so much to explore. Some nice paths and gardens as well as an information center with a little cafe. Well maintained.