- After our walk through Kenrokuen, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, we cross a wide pedestrian bridge spanning a deep crevice with barely enough space for a road. Ahead of us, we see white towers that belong to Kanazawa Castle. The typical eaves of the roofs make them look unequivocally Japanese. For centuries, the Maeda clan ruled the region from here. They established the castle in the late 16th century, using insights gained from other castles. The location was obvious: high on a natural rocky hill between the Asano and Sai rivers. Thus, it commanded the city and its surroundings. An inner and outer moat were also dug for added protection. When reading the history of the castle, however, it is clear that the danger came from somewhere else.
- Kanazawa Castle was destroyed several times by fires. Sometimes only partially, after which the damaged parts were restored. But it also suffered complete destruction during the Great Kanazawa Fire of 1759. And that was not the last fire to consume the castle. What we see now, therefore, are reconstructions of the original buildings. The castle grounds are enormous, and the entrance is not straight ahead of us. We walk through a first, massive gate, with wooden door. We stop to look at the thick wooden gate, reinforced by metal details. Indeed, not easy to enter for invaders. Then, there are several paths. We make a left, and see part of the inner moat, with a wall on the other side. We walk around the grounds, and reach the western part of Kanazawa Castle, where we find another gate. It looks similar in strength to the first one.
- Standing under the watchtowers, we realise how high they really are. The views from the top must be great, and allow defenders to keep an eye on the surrounding area. We continue our walk through the extensive Kanazawa Castle grounds. We end up taking a left turn on a path leading down. We walk past rock formations, and small waterfalls, and then the Gyokusen-inmaru Garden comes into sight. For centuries, Kenrokuen garden was part of Kanazawa Castle, until it was opened for the public. These were also for exclusive use of feudal lords. Again, the skills of Japanese garden construction are evident. These gardens are supposed to look good from all angles, and indeed, they look great from above, too. They have small islets, curved bridges, ponds, and small trees. We walk some of the bridges to the islets. As soon as we step out of this man-made landscape, we are back to the city and its sounds and people.
