Tatsumi Canal
The "Lifeline" Protecting Kanazawa Castle
The Tatsumi Canal is a 16.5km-long waterway completed in 1632, just one year after a catastrophic fire leveled Kanazawa Castle. Built using the most advanced technology of the era, the project reflects the immense resources and ingenuity of the Kaga Domain.
Beyond its role in fire prevention, the canal is also believed to have served a crucial military purpose. Given the tense relations with the Tokugawa Shogunate at the time, it was designed to secure a steady supply of drinking water in preparation for a potential siege. The construction remains a marvel of engineering even today; most notably, the system transporting water from Ishikawa Gate to the Ni-no-maru (the second bailey) employs the "Inverted Siphon Principle" to push water across a valley and up to a higher elevation. As a historic site filled with the wisdom and passion of the Edo period, the canal continues to function as a vital part of the city's landscape.
Information
- Address
- 金沢市
