Kanazawa Castle Park

ajleeblog 2 weeks ago

Kanazawa Castle Park, or 金沢城公園, offers a captivating blend of history and natural beauty in the heart of Kanazawa. The sprawling park surrounds the castle ruins, creating a serene oasis within the city. Strolling through meticulously maintained gardens, visitors are treated to seasonal delights, from cherry blossoms in spring to vibrant foliage in autumn. The integration of historical structures, like Ishikawa-mon Gate and Kahoku-mon Gate, adds a layer of cultural richness. The park's expansiveness allows for leisurely exploration, providing panoramic views of Kanazawa and a sense of tranquility that beautifully complements the castle's rugged remnants. It's a must-visit destination for history enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.

Moh 3 weeks ago

Real beauty of a castle grounds, I could totally see myself ruling a kingdom from this place. An absolute fortress, I did not notice until my second visit a day later, but upon exiting from beneath the bridge that leads to the Kenroku-en Garden, if you walk alongside that stone road beneath the bridge to the other side of the castle grounds, there is a moat, sort of, ha ha. The castle grounds from every angle really puts into perspective how massive this place was. Throughout the park there is also several outdoor exhibits that highlight the architecture and building techniques used to build the walls and parts of the castle. Even some neat cross sections of how they were built. Custodians tending to the property do an outstanding job, I am not too familiar with standards a caretaker takes in other castles or temples, but watching one custodian gently brush the moss with a broom and remove all the fallen pine needles and debris from the moss, a section of ground so remote I don’t think anyone would have appreciated, really says something about the care this site receives. I can not comment on how the staff feel about it of course, but judging from the smile on the one custodians face, I can’t help but feel he was happy to be doing what he does. Overall, awesome place to walk around and explore with several nice vantage points for viewing the surrounding city and mountains of Kanazawa. Also, I went during 20°C day in Feb which was nice, but brutally warm. And a second time during cloudy day with light rain. If I had to choose, easily cloudy day with rain, place and surrounding area look so much richer in colour and atmosphere. Nature just bursts into action when it’s raining here and as a bonus, no crowds! :)

Wilson Yeung 2 months ago

Nice place to take a relaxing stroll while in Kanazawa. The park is very spacious with a lot of open areas. Rest rooms are scattered across the park which is convenient. The track around the park also make it ideal for running. No bicycles allowed within the park grounds.

Veena Shahane 3 months ago

Beautiful way to spend a morning or an afternoon here. We got a tour guide who spoke English from the information booth and it was good. Informative. Go to the garden area behind the armoury house near the rest house. You can get gorgeous views from the top.

Adrian M 4 months ago

If you're in Kanazawa, after you consider Kenroku-en, the Kanazawa castle park is a nice place to stroll around to admire the castle exterior, gates and the gardens and park itself. There's quite a few areas to explore, and some of the buildings are free to enter. There's also a nice garden at one end of the park that's also free. However, the main castle has a fee to enter. There's a tourist information centre at the park if you need more information. The grounds are quite extensive and there'll be different events held here at various times of the year. However, as a free park, this park is worth the visit when you're in the area, especially to walk around Kanazawa castle.