Kanazawa is a city formed with the construction of the Kanazawa Gobo Temple by the Ikko Buddhist sect over 500 years ago. It is one of the central cities of Japan. Translated, the name Kanazawa means “golden swamp”, this is associated with the legend of the discovery of a peasant who accidentally stumbled upon gold in the mud.
In the morning you will go to Kenrokuen, the “garden of six virtues”, one of the Three Famous Parks of Japan. Kenrokuen Garden truly deserves your attention; it is an excellent example of Japanese park art. Each tree, branch, and pebble in the pond was carefully thought out and artistically verified according to the creator’s idea. It’s amazing how harmoniously and unobtrusively man-made bridges, stone lanterns, and pagodas fit into the natural landscape.
In the park, in addition to the oldest fountain in Japan, you will also see the Seisonkaku Villa, built by one of the lords of the Kaga clan for his mother at the end of the Edo period. The elegance of the architecture, the gates with graceful ceilings, the wooden panels glittering with gilding, precious kimonos, engravings, artistic scrolls - you will be amazed at the grace of this samurai villa, which has survived to this day.
Kenrokuen was originally a garden at Kanazawa-jo Castle, of which only ruins now remain. Built in the 16th century, the castle was destroyed in a fire; all that remained of the fortress was the Ishikawamon Gate and the Sanjukken-nagai Arsenal building. You will be able to see a restored historical reconstruction of the castle, which was one of the largest feudal fortresses in Japan.
Top