Kanazawa, the biggest city in the Hokuriku region has a population of 450,000, and is a castle town that was ruled over by the Maeda family for three centuries after the first lord Toshiie Maeda entered Kanazawa Castle in 1583.

The development of its special products like rice, sake, sweets, etc was due to its temperate and rainy climate with heavy snow in winter.

The city is surrounded by the Japan Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. Two rivers run through the city; the Sai is said to be a lively masculine river and the Asano to be a sweet, feminine river. Such a natural background of great beauty gives the city a relaxed feeling.

Since the Kaga Clan invited many artists and craftsmen to this area, it achieved a high level of craftsmanship that continues to flourish to this day.

Colorful KUTANI POTTERY, earthy OHI POTTERY, elegant KANAZAWA LACQUERWARE, glittering KANAZAWA GOLD LEAF, unique-to-Kanazawa

PAULOWNIA CRAFT, specially hand-painted KAGA-YUZEN SILK, KAGA ZOGAN, KAGA EMBROIDERY, KAGA FISHING FLIES, MIZUHIKI, and KANAZAWA BUDDHIST ALTARS.

The buildings that gave birth to these traditions stand tranquilly and blend in with the modern atmosphere in Kanazawa to create a charming ancient castle town.

History of Kanazawa

The name Kanazawa is derived from the following story: A peasant named Imohori Togoro made his living digging potatoes. He washed gold dust from the potatoes into a well, now called Kinjo Reitaku, so the area was named anazawa, meaning 'marsh of gold.'

About 500 years ago the Ikko sect of Buddhism set up a religious government with its center at the Kanazawa Gobo temple, which later became the site of Kanazawa Castle.

The temple was destroyed by an army led by Oda Nobunaga in 1580.
Maeda Toshiie, one of his retainers, entered into Kanazawa in 1583, built a castle in its stead and ruled the district as the lord possessing the largest fief in Japan. He is known for
producing a million koku of rice annually (one koku equals five bushels). The Maeda lords especially fostered arts and crafts, and Kanazawa became a cultural center like Tokyo (then known as Edo) and Kyoto.
After the Meiji Restoration in 1868 Kanazawa became the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, and has flourished as the hub of political, economic, educational, and cultural activities in the Hokuriku District.

Ishikawa Ongakudo

It is next to the Kanazawa JR Station. Click to view Accesss map of the Ishikawa Ongakudo.

Getting to Kanazawa

Access to the Site, Map of Hotels