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Nagamachi Samurai District

A stunningly preserved samurai district in the center of Kanazawa

Kanazawa was once the economic and administrative center of the Kaga Domain (feudal-era Ishikawa Prefecture). Over the course of the Edo period, it grew rapidly – its population growing to over 100,000 – transforming it into one of the largest castle towns in feudal Japan. Its population rivaled that of Rome and Madrid at the time.

With the castle at its center, the town was designed with both its defensive and economic aspects in mind. Members of the upper classes were often given allotments of land for their residences close to that of the feudal lord (daimyo) in the castle, while commoners lived near the town’s edges.

Nagamachi Samurai District, located near the center of town, was where the middle to high-ranking samurais lived – which is why it’s sometimes described as the city’s samurai district. Nagamachi literally means “Long Town,” though it’s more likely that it actually takes its name from the surname of a local family, the Cho, which means “long” which can also be pronounced “naga.”

Nagamachi Samurai District’s historical value lies in its unusual state of preservation. It has escaped large-scale fires, including the firebombing that damaged other large cities such as Tokyo and Osaka during World War II. Accordingly, it retains many features from the Edo period: narrow streets, a drainage and water supply system that remains in use, and restored samurai houses.

Many of these residences maintain their original earthen walls (tsuchi-kabe), which are still covered in the winter with straw mats to protect them from frost and subsequent cracking. A walk through Nagamachi, where an Edo-period atmosphere still lingers, offers a glimpse into the heritage of Kanazawa and Japan.

Information

Address
Nagamachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0865
Duration
About 60 minutes
By Car
Approx. 10 minutes from Kanazawa Station
Approx. 15 minutes from Kanazawa Nishi IC, approx. 20 minutes from Kanazawa Higashi IC or Kanazawa Morimoto IC
By Public Transportation
5 minutes' walk from "Korinbo" bus stop by Hokutetsu Local-Line bus and West JR bus.
Short walk from "Nagamachi Bukeyashiki Ato" bus st
Parking
None
Parking: Large Vehicle
None
Parking: Notes
Municipal tourist parking available nearby.
Website
The Lifestyle of the Samurai and their Lords
Website
The City of Samurai, KANAZAWA ~The Culture Nurtured by Bushido~
Website
In pursuit of samurai culture

Map

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