Kanazawa is the capital of the prefecture Ishikawa in Hokuriku region, and it has been developped as a castle town of the biggest daimyo (feudal lord) in Edo period, and its population was big after 3cities as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.

Known as "Kaga Hyakuman koku" (the wealthy Kaga Domain with a net worth of 1 million koku of rice), people and feudal lords admired its prosperity and even though the city is out from principal roades, the original graceful city has been founded.
Kaga has not been involved and damaged by wars, and by the Second World War, the classic and charming beauty remains.
Moreover, successive lords of the Domain encouraged the cultural activities, various traditional cultures are succeded until today.

  

Garden Kenrokuen

Kenroku-en is known as one of the 3 best parks in Japan, a circuit style garden classed 3-star in the Michelin guide. 
In each season, the park shows beautiful various beauty; the cherry blossom in spring, fresh green leaves in summer, red and yellow leaves in autumn, and Yukitsuri in winter (the technique for the protection of the trees for avoiding snow damage) and off course, a variety of flowers are worth to see in the garden.

Kenroku-en belongs to the Kanazawa castle, and it is located in a low hill, but there are many ponds and the warterways, trees and objets d'art make a magnificent harmony in the garden. 

  
 

"21 seiki Bijutsukan" (21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art)

This museum features the contemporary arts after 1980 and the up-and coming artists' artworks are on exhibition.
As they are contemporary arts, perhaps the name of artists are not yet famous, but they will be well known, so that this is the  investiments for the future.
For example, the unit of the architects SAANA who won the Golden Lion prize for the most significant work in the international architecture exhibition of the Venice Biennale constructed the unique circular design and elegant galleries one floor under ground and one floor above ground.

Now SANAA is in charge of the design for the renovation of the old department store in Paris, La Samaritaine de Paris.

  

Temple "Ninja-Dera"

Myoryuji is the official name of this temple, but it is called as the Ninja Temple because of many trap doors and secret passageways inside.
The temple has no relation with the historical ninja who spies and assasins, but this architecture has been made because of the history of the domain of Kaga.
The domain of Kaga was called as "Kaga Hyakuman koku" (the wealthy Kaga Domain with a net worth of 1 million koku of rice), and the very wealthy and powerful feudral clan so that they have been watched out by the central gouvernment the Tokugawa Shogunate.
However, they could not officialy protect them by the gouvernement, so that they built the temple with fully function of protection secretly for the emergency of atacks. 

The visit tour must be pre-booked in advance, and the guide will show you the traps inside of the temple.

  
 

"Higashi & Nishi Chaya District, Kazue-machi & Naga-machi Chaya District and Samurai residence"

Without beein involved into the wars, this region maintains classic and peaceful streets of Edo period unti today.
They have been influenced by the elegant culture of Kyoto because of the location, and the entertainment district with luxury restaurants with Maiko and Geisha was developped along the river Saigawa. 
Especially, Higashi Chaya District and Kazue-machi Chaya District are designated as the Nation's Preservation District for Groups of Historic Buildings.
And in Nagamachi, the beautiful earthen walls of upper and middle classes samurai's residences and pavements will drive you in the ancient classical period.

  

"Seison-kaku"

Seison-kaku is specified in the Nation's Important Cultural Properties and built in 1863, in the transition period from Edo to Meiji, very turbulent time of Japan.
It is built by the lord of Kaga for the retirement of his mother, so that we can find his careful attention for the parent in the elegance of the construction.

The ground floor is buit in Shoinzukuri style (the traditional style of Japanese residential architecture) of feudal lord, and the 1st flor is in the style of Sukiyazukuri which is based of a Japanese tea ceremony building. Each room has been decorated in own theme.
We can find the modern oxidental touch which was very modern at that time into the traditional construction and these aspects make the special charm of the building.

 

"Park of Kanazawa castle"

The Kanazawa castle is the residence of Kaga Domain "Kaga Hyakuman koku" (the wealthy Kaga Domain with a net worth of 1 million koku of rice), the family of Maeda.
What we see today is the renovated one in the end of 20th century, and the most of the original part of the castle has been burnt in the end of 18th century. In 19th century, it was used as military facilities of the army, and it was used as the campus of the university after the Second World War.
The main building of the castle is not restored, but the central raised platform and the main gate, and positions and constructions of the facilities are historicaly re-produced.
Especially the technique of stone walls are very high and you can find the stone walls of different style and different period, so that this castle is also called as "the museum of stone walls".

  

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