Toshiie Maeda (1538–1599) was the founding lord of the Kaga Domain, which governed the provinces of Kaga, Noto, and Etchū. The urban layout, culture, and religious foundations of Kanazawa were largely shaped by Toshiie and the Maeda family. This page serves as a comprehensive area-by-area index of sites related to Toshiie and the Maeda clan around Kanazawa, organized for easy exploration. Use it as your starting point for historical walks, site visits, or photography tours.
Overview: Sites Connected to Toshiie Maeda
After entering Kanazawa Castle in 1583, Toshiie organized the city’s guardian shrines and designated temple and residence areas for his retainers. The city’s later urban layout, waterways, and pilgrimage routes stem largely from these early policies. The key heritage areas are grouped into four zones: ① the castle and central gardens, ② the sacred hills of Utatsuyama and Kodatsuno, ③ the samurai and temple districts of Nagamachi and Teramachi, and ④ the guardian shrines and teahouse quarters of Higashiyama and Kazue-machi.
Complete Guide: Exploring “Toshiie’s Legacy” Through Four Key Areas
This guide divides Kanazawa’s “Toshiie heritage” into four walkable zones. Click on each card to view detailed pages.
Kenrokuen & Castle Core (The Heart of Politics, Faith, and Garden Culture)
This central area brings together shrines dedicated to the Maeda clan founder and iconic symbols of the domain. Walking the axis from Kanazawa Castle to Kenrokuen Garden offers a tangible sense of how the “Kaga Hyakumangoku” (the million-koku domain) came to life.
Nagamachi & Teramachi (The Districts of Samurai and Temple Culture)
A dignified neighborhood lined with samurai residences and prayer temples. Founded under Toshiie’s direction, it later flourished as a cultural heart of the castle town under successive Maeda lords.
Utatsuyama, Kodatsuno & Takaramachi (Hills of Prayer and Maeda Mausoleums)
Here lie the graves and memorial temples of the Maeda founder and his descendants. Amid quiet greenery, visitors can reflect on the spiritual heritage of Kanazawa.
Higashiyama & Kazue-machi (Shrines and the Memory of the Teahouse Districts)
These eastern districts feature guardian shrines protecting the city’s spiritual gate and the elegant teahouse quarters that later thrived here. Faith and refined entertainment culture intertwined under the Maeda domain.
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