Preserved Intact for 350 Years: Ishikawa Prefecture Where History and Modernity Coexist

Reporter: You T-Ru / Special Feature

In Ishikawa Prefecture, which escaped war damage and destruction, historical and modern buildings coexist within the same cities. Particularly in Kanazawa City, the “tradition and culture of the castle town” was designated as an “Important Cultural Landscape” in 2012. The main reason is that the streets that largely took shape during the Edo period to encircle the castle town, as well as the everyday waterways, have remained largely unchanged even after more than 350 years and are still in use today. When visiting Ishikawa Prefecture, why not explore a space filled with the harmony of long-standing historical ambiance and modern culture—an incredibly unique atmosphere.

% Ji Jian Jing De Mu Di Ao? A. (Japan, from the official website)


Yokoyama Shrine
A shrine primarily dedicated to Maeda Toshiie, the founder of the Kaga Domain. Its unique gate, which blends Japanese, Western, and Chinese architectural styles, is made of glass, resembling stained glass, which is one of its features, and it has the earliest lightning rod in Japan installed at its top.

% Jia Cai Jiao Dun Fang. (Japan, from the official website)


Kahoku Bridge Stand, Kahoku City
Originally a settlement where people lived a life of half farming and half fishing, it gradually prospered in the mid-18th century when some locals became shipowners of the Kitamaebune merchant ships. However, with the development of steamships and railways, the Kitamaebune lost its central role in transportation and declined. Today, in the Hashidate area, several mansions built by former shipowners of the Kitamaebune still remain. Inside these mansions, you can see luxurious interiors adorned with beautiful wood carvings and colored plasterwork, as well as beautiful Japanese gardens. While strolling through these areas, you can sense the prosperity of those times, and at the same time, also feel a certain nostalgia for the lives of the merchants back then. Kanazawa Station & Drum Gate
A uniquely shaped gate formed by placing two drums upright side by side. It was ranked 10th in the “World’s Most Beautiful Stations” list by the American travel magazine Travel+Leisure on its website in 2011.

% Ji Chu Dao Di Zui Wai Men. (Japan, from the official website)


21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa
Located in the center of Kanazawa City, it blends seamlessly with the surroundings without any sense of disharmony. The contemporary art museum features a circular design that allows visitors to view it from all angles.

▲ 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. (Photo / Courtesy of Kanazawa City Official Website)


【Basic Information About Ishikawa Prefecture】
Population: 1.157 million (as of March 31, 2012)
Land Area: 4,185 square kilometers
Language: Japanese