Tag: Kanazawa history of the castle

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Kanazawa – Kenrokuen garden and Castle

Kanazawa – history of the castle

Kanazawa was one of Japan’s most potent feudal cities in the seventeenth century. In terms of its riches, art and population, it could compete with the largest cities in Europe at that time. It is the same as in Kyoto – the city avoided bombing during World War II. Thanks to that, the original samurai and geisha districts, cobbled streets and wooden houses have survived. Worth visiting: the remaining building of the Kanazawa Castle, Kenrokuen Garden, Oyama Jinja Shrine and districts formerly inhabited by shoguns and geishas.

The train station and Tsuzumimon Gate

You can get there quickly from Nagano to Kanazawa by Shinkansen train (about 66 min). The train station in Kanazawa was expanded in 2014 to accommodate the requirements of Shinkansen trains. Above the station, there is a glass dome that resembles the shape of an umbrella. Visitors outside the station are greeted by the massive wooden “Tsuzumimon” gate. Its architecture combines advanced technology and Japanese tradition. Its shape resembles a traditional musical instrument called “tsuzumi“, a Japanese hand drum. Tsuzumi is still used in the noh culture, a classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century. Kanazawa is one of a few places in Japan where noh culture was firmly rooted.

The history of Kanazawa Castle dates back to 1546. Kanazawa Mido Monastery was erected under the auspices of the Honganji Temple. Construction of the castle started in 1580, under the command of the great leader of the Oda Nobunaga.

Oda Nobunaga was a powerful feudal lord of Japan in the late 16th century. He is regarded as one of three of the biggest unifiers of Japan, along with his retainers, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu. During his later life, he controlled almost half of all provinces. Nobunaga was widely known as a perfect tactician, a great commander and a brave reformer.

In 1583, one of Oda Nobunaga’s leading generals, Maeda Toshiie, moved to the castle. The Maeda clan stayed there for another 14 generations until 1869, when Meiji Restaurant began. During the reign of the Maeda clan, arts and crafts developed in Kanazawa, as the lords fully supported them. This makes Kanazawa famous today for its Kutani-coloured pottery, lacquerware decorated with gold, hand-painted silk, and household Buddhist altars.

The castle burned down several times over the centuries, but the last fire, in 1888, destroyed most of the buildings. Only a few have survived, including the Ishikawa gate and defensive towers. After the fire, part of the castle was still being used as a military base during World War II. The remains of the castle were also used as a campus of Kanazawa University for several decades until 1995. In 2001, part of the castle was rebuilt according to the original plan, which is now available to visitors.

Kenrokuen Garden

Kenrokuen Garden is considered “one of Japan’s three most beautiful landscape gardens“. It was said it was created in the 5th century and served as a private garden for Lord Tsunanoria. He built a Renchiochin tea house at this place, so the park was named Renchitei. Between 1620 and 1840, the park was expanded by lord Maeda’s clan, when the 12th lord Narinaga and 13th lord Nariyasu gave him a shape we can still see today. The Kenrokuen name was given to this place in 1822 and means “one that has six attributes of a perfect landscape”. Criteria were as follows: spaciousness, seclusion, artifice, antiquity, watercourses and panoramas. The name derives from a gardening book by Li Gefei, a famous Chinese poet.

The Kenrokuen Garden extends over 11 hectares and was opened to the public in 1871. There are more than 2 million visitors a year in this place. Kenrokuen is open all year round, and each season shows different beauties of nature. There are plum, cherry, and rhododendrons, which are in full bloom in the springtime. In the summertime, it is possible to see blooming irises, and autumn attracts blooming chrysanthemums and maple trees with purple boughs. In winter, pine trees must be supported with special “yukitsuri” ropes so they do not break under the heavy snow. Numerous ponds, streams, bridges, waterfalls, groves, rocks and walking paths exist. There are about 160 species of plants and over 8,200 trees, so it is worth spending at least a few hours visiting this place.

In 1922, Kenrokuen Garden was designated a National Site of Scenic Beauty, and in 1985, it was designated a National Site of Special Scenic Beauty.

The most important symbols of the park

The garden, which is also a landscaped park, offers beautiful nature and architecture.

  • Kotojitoro lantern: a stone lantern, the valid symbol of Kenrokuen. This lantern has two legs, which are said to resemble Kotoji, the bridge under the strings of a koto instrument. It is 2.67 meters high. The lantern is the park’s most impressive emblem and is famous outside Japan.
  • Karasakinomatsu Pine. This majestic pine tree is one of the best-known trees in the garden. The 13th lord Noriyasu, from the Maeda clan, planted the seeds, and since then, the pine trees have grown to their present size.
  • Funsui Fountain is the oldest fountain in Japan. Its water comes from Kasamigaike Pond, and it works by natural pressure caused by the difference in the ponds’ levels. The fountain is normally 3,5m high, but its height changes depending on the surface level.
  • Hanamibashi bridge is also known as a “flower-viewing bridge ” because many beautiful flowers and cherry blossoms can be seen from this place.
  • Shiguretei Tea House—originally, it was built as a rest house called Renchiochin in 1676, when the 5th lord Tsunanori started construction of the garden. The 6th lord Yoshinori relocated it in front of the present fountain and named it Shiguretei. The house was fully renovated in 2000 and reopened as a tea house. It is now a place where many cultural events take place.
  • Yugaotei Tea House – the oldest building in the garden, built in 1774 for performing the tea ceremony.
  • Gankobashi bridge (Flying Wild Geese). This bridge is made of 11 red tomato stones laid out to look like wild geese flying in formation. Due to the specific shape of each stone, it is also called the Kikkobashi (tortoise shell) Bridge.

Kanazawa – Oyama Jinja Shrine

The Oyama Jinja Shrine is dedicated to General Toshiie. It was built in 1599 by his successors on the hillside of Utatsu Mountain. The temple served as Lord Maeda’s burial place. In 1873, it was moved to its present location.

The Oyama Shrine is famous for its unusual gate, which was designed by a Dutch architect in 1875. During construction, he used a mix of traditional Japanese, Chinese, and European religious architectural elements. The first level of the gate depicts a mixture of Japanese and Chinese religious influences, while its upper part serves as a lighthouse and was built under the influence of the Dutch style. Here, special attention should be paid to the colourful stained-glass windows.

In the sanctuary is a statue of lord Maeda Toshiie seated on a horse. Furthermore, a charming garden has a pond, a stone lantern, and numerous statues.

Higashi Chaya District – Geisha district

Geishas continue to perform their profession in this place. They entertain their guests by singing, reciting poems, dancing, playing traditional musical instruments, and holding a tea ceremony.

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