Kenrokuen Garden

Kenrokuen Garden is one of Japan’s most celebrated landscape gardens. Located in Kanazawa, it was originally built by the Maeda Clan, who ruled this region during the Edo period. The name “Kenrokuen” means “Garden of Six Attributes,” referring to six qualities considered ideal in a landscape garden: spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, abundant water, and broad views. You’ll notice how beautifully each element is balanced—stone lanterns, ponds, tea houses, bridges, and seasonal flowers are all placed with harmony. One of the highlights is the Kotoji-tōrō, a stone lantern with two legs, which has become a symbol of the garden. This garden is especially beautiful in all four seasons: cherry blossoms in spring, irises in early summer, maple leaves in autumn, and snow-covered landscapes in winter. In fact, during winter, you’ll see the famous Yukitsuri—ropes tied to trees to protect branches from heavy snow.

Kanazawa Castle

This was the seat of the powerful Maeda Clan, who ruled the Kaga Domain for over 250 years during the Edo period. At its peak, it was one of the largest and wealthiest domains in Japan, second only to the Tokugawa shogunate. The original castle burned down several times, and what you see today are beautiful reconstructions, carefully rebuilt using traditional methods—no nails were used! The Ishikawa Gate is one of the few original structures still standing, and you can also see unique features like the white lead-tiled roofs and diamond-shaped windows. If you look closely at the stone walls, you’ll see different construction styles—this shows how the castle evolved over centuries.