For around 300 years, Kanazawa Castle (金沢城, Kanazawajō) served as the seat of the Maeda family - one of the most powerful and wealthy clans in feudal Japan.

If you’re not fully familiar with the term “feudal,” it refers to the system of rule that existed in historical Japan:

At the top was the shogun, the military ruler.
Below him were the daimyo - regional lords who governed lands (like the Maeda family).
Under them were the samurai, responsible for maintaining order, collecting taxes, and fighting when needed.
And below the samurai were the common people - farmers, merchants, and artisans.

Back to Kanazawa Castle:

Over the years, the castle suffered multiple fires. In the great fire of 1881, most of the complex was destroyed, leaving only two storehouses and a gate intact.
In the years that followed, the site was used by Kanazawa University, until the campus was relocated outside the city in the 1990s, when restoration efforts began.

The first major reconstruction included two watchtowers (Hishi and Tsuzuki Yagura) and the long connecting structure between them (Gojukken Nagaya). These were rebuilt using traditional techniques and opened to the public in 2001, featuring exhibitions on traditional Japanese carpentry.
In 2015, the Hashizumemon Gate was also restored and opened to visitors (this is the only area within the castle grounds that requires an admission fee).

Additional gates have also been reconstructed over the years, including Kahokumon (the former main entrance) and Nezumitamon, near Oyama Shrine. The upper floors of these gates feature small exhibitions that are open to the public free of charge.

Within the grounds, you’ll also find Gyokuseninmaru Garden - a peaceful Japanese garden with a pond and a circular walking path, restored in 2015 and well worth a relaxing stroll.