5 Recommended Sightseeing Spots in Kanazawa

Kenroku-en is a garden that was the origin of the garden constructed on the outer edge of Kanazawa Castle in the mid-17th century. It's a garden with a pond, a representative style of the Edo period, and it's one of Japan's three great gardens along with Okayama's Kouraku-en and Mito's Kairaku-en. It's full of people enjoying nature all year round. Kenroku-en is very large, and there are a few teahouses on the premises, so you can enjoy Kaga's famous wagashi (traditional Japanese confectionery) while gazing out on the beautiful garden. Also, each season has certain areas lit up so you can't miss it. No matter when you go there's plenty to see.

The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art was built in 2004 to stand as the new symbol of Kanazawa, a city full of traditions and culture remaining from the halcyon days. As the name implies, it's an art museum where you can experience 21st century art. The 1st and B1 floors of the round building are made with glass, so it's made so you can enjoy the bright open feeling. There's no separation between front and back, so you can enjoy the art any way you like. The art gallery is broken up into two zones, the exhibition zone and the public zone, and you can enjoy the art in the public zone for free. Parts of the public zone are open until 10:00 pm, so it would be good to take a walk here after dinner.

The world-famous Japanese architecture unit, SANNA, designed the building, so the architecture itself is a must-see.

Swimming pool designed by Leandro Erlich, an Argentine artist.

Kanazawa Castle, one of the symbols of Kanazawa, is a daimyo castle that was built in 1583 by the daimyo of the Kaga fiefdom, Maeda Toshiie and remained in use until 1869 under the 14th daimyo. In 1996, it was opened to the general public as Kanazawa Castle Park. Due to huge fires, all the buildings other than the Ishikawa gate and the Sanjukken Nagaya have burned down, but in 2001 buildings like the the Hishi watchtower, Gojikken Nagaya, and Hashizume-mon watchtower were reconstructed according to ancient maps and documents. It was built using traditional wooden framework construction techniques that don't use a single nail, so the building itself is a must-see. Please properly examine the various techniques showcasing the craftsmen's excellency.