Kanazawa Castle in Japan
Japan - Fukuoka - Kobe - Nagoya - Tokyo - Osaka - Hiroshima - Kyoto - Yokohama -
Kanazawa Castle was constructed following the orders of the Maeda clan, who were at one point of time one the most powerful samurai families in Japan. The moats, which surround the castle, were added to the castle in 1592. In 1620-21 Kanazawa Castle was razed by fire and subsequently reconstructed. It met the same fate again and was reconstructed in 1631-32. Again the great Kanazawa Fire of 1759 nearly reduced the castle to mere rubbles; the castle was restored in 1762 and 1788. Again in 1881, Kanazawa Castle was completely destroyed by fire.
It was in 2001 that the restoration work, which had been in motion for a long time, reached its conclusion. The entire enterprise was undertaken with the principal motive of being faithful to the traditional style of architecture.
One of the most unique features about the palace is the white roof tiles made of lead. This way the castle not only remains impervious to fire but also at the time of attack the lead from the tiles can be melted and made into bullets. Some of the other features of the castle are:
- Hishi Yagura - is a three storied watchtower. It stands 17.3 mts above the stone wall.
- Gojukken Nagaya - is long two-storied turret. Spacious enough to be a hall, it served the purpose of a warehouse.
- Hashizume-mon Tsuzuki Yagura - also a watchtower. It also serves as a command post.
- Tsuru-no-maru Dobei - is a double earthen wall standing 2.91 mts above the stone wall.
- Hashizume-ichi-no-mon Gate- is the main entrance to the Kanazawa Castle.
- Ishikawa-mon gate- an elegant entrance to the castle. It is embellished with beautiful stonework. Ishikawa-mon gate has been recognized as Important National Cultural Asset.
How to Reach Kanazawa Castle in Japan
By Air
The nearest airport to Kanazawa is in Komatsu. From Tokyo, there are regular flights to Komatsu. From Komatsu airport there are regular buses, which go to Kanazawa. The journey by bus takes not more than 50 mins.
By Train
Kanazawa's rail station can be accessed from Tokyo station by boarding Joetsu Shinkansen till Echigo-Yuzawa. On reaching Echigo-Yuzawa the travelers should take Hakutaka which goes directly to Kanazawa.
By Bus
There is a direct bus service from Tokyo to Kanazawa. Visitors have the option of choosing between daytime or night ('time' not required) buses. The journey is covered in seven hours.
Where to Stay:
Some of the hotels in which the visitors can put up during their visit Kanazawa Castle in Japan are:
- Nikko hotel - is located within a walking distance from the Kanazawa Castle. The building of the hotels stands 130 m tall. Suitable for the higher budget tourists.
- Kanazawa Kokusai Hotel - lies fewer than 20 min by car drive from the Kanazawa Castle. A warm hospitality awaits the travelers in the hotel.
- The Castle Inn Hotel Kanazawa - situated few minutes away from Kanazawa Castle, the hotel comes as a cheaper lodging option for the travelers.
- The Excel Tokyu Hotel Kanazawa - the hotel accords a wide range of facilities to the visitors, without charging a fortune. The castle lies only 10 min walk away.
A visit to Kanazawa Castle in Japan may be fruitfully concluded if supplemented by a visit to Kenrokuen Gardens, which is listed amongst the top three gardens in Japan.
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