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秋
Currently in season
AutumnOct–Nov
Now in Kanazawa · light-ups 7–29 Nov
Light-up nights on 7, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29 November 2026, 18:00–21:00, free. From 16 October the park opens 8:00–17:00.
春 夏 秋 冬
Maeda clan seat since 1583
Kanazawa · Castle Park

Kanazawa Castle Park金沢城公園

The grounds of the Maeda lords' castle are free to walk, with white turrets, a restored garden and stone walls. It faces Kenrokuen across a road, so the two make one visit.

Park free Turret interiors ¥320 Light-ups 7–29 Nov
Checked 27 Oct 2026 5 min read
In brief

Kanazawa Castle Park (金沢城公園) is free to enter: 7:00–18:00 from 1 March to 15 October and 8:00–17:00 from 16 October to the end of February. Only the turret interiors (Hishi-yagura, Gojukken Nagaya and Hashizume-mon Tsuzuki-yagura) charge, ¥320, 9:00–16:30. The Gyokusen-inmaru garden is inside the free grounds. The autumn light-ups run on seven November nights, 18:00–21:00, also free.

At a glance

Castle Park in numbers

QuestionAnswer
Park entryFree. Walk in through the Ishikawa-mon gate from the Kenrokuen side or the other gates.
Park hours1 Mar–15 Oct 7:00–18:00; 16 Oct–end Feb 8:00–17:00.
Turrets and warehouseHishi-yagura, Gojukken Nagaya and Hashizume-mon Tsuzuki-yagura, 9:00–16:30 (last entry 16:00). Adults ¥320, children aged 6–17 ¥100. Cash only. Groups of 30 or more ¥250 and ¥80.
Combined ticketKenrokuen+1 ticket ¥500: Kenrokuen and one other facility, such as the turrets.
Gyokusen-inmaruThe restored garden is in the free grounds. The Gyokusen-an tea house inside it is open 9:00–16:30 (last entry 16:00) and closed 29 Dec–3 Jan.
Light-upsSaturday 7, Saturday 14, Sunday 15, Saturday 21, Sunday 22, Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November 2026, 18:00–21:00, last entry 20:45, free. Winter light-up nights follow in February 2027.
RepairsAfter the January 2024 Noto earthquake some areas are closed for repair of the stone walls, which continues. Check at the gate which routes are open.
Time neededAbout 1 hour; 2 hours with Kenrokuen.
From the stationCastle Town Loop Bus about 20 min from the East Exit to Kenrokuen-shita / Kanazawa-jō (¥220), then a 3-minute walk.
ContactKanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden Management Office, 076-234-3800.

Hours, prices and light-up dates checked 27 Oct 2026 against the Ishikawa Prefecture castle-and-garden site and the 2026 light-up announcement. Repair closures change, so ask at the gate.

What to see

Gates, garden and walls

The free half of the park is the better half.

01

Ishikawa-mon gate and the stone walls石川門

Back gate, across the road from Kenrokuen

Ishikawa-mon is the gate that faces Kenrokuen, rebuilt in 1788 and the part of the castle that survived the fires. It is an Important Cultural Property, and white-plastered with lead-tile roofs.

The park's stone walls use 30+ fitting styles; after the January 2024 earthquake the damaged stretches are being surveyed and rebuilt, and a viewing route at Imori-bori shows the numbered stones.

Cost
Free
Built
1788
Status
Important Cultural Property
02

Gyokusen-inmaru garden玉泉院丸庭園

Free grounds · Gyokusen-an tea house 9:00–16:30

A restored lord's garden with a pond, bridges and a tea house, rebuilt in 2015 to the Edo-period plan. It is quieter than Kenrokuen and does not charge.

The tea house, Gyokusen-an, serves matcha overlooking the pond, 9:00–16:30 (last entry 16:00), and is closed 29 December–3 January.

Cost
Free
Rebuilt
2015
Tea house
9:00–16:30
Getting there

From Kanazawa Station

The park sits above Hyakken-bori road, opposite Kenrokuen.

Recommended
巴

Loop Bus

about 20 min · ¥220

Castle Town Loop Bus from the East Exit to Kenrokuen-shita / Kanazawa-jō (兼六園下・金沢城), then a 3-minute walk to Ishikawa-mon. Day pass ¥800.

歩

On foot

15 min from Ōmichō

From Ōmichō Market it is about 15 minutes to Kenrokuen-shita, the same walk as to Kenrokuen. From the 21st Century Museum it is about 5 minutes.

駐

Parking

3 lots near Kenrokuen

Kenroku Parking (480 spaces), Honda-no-Mori Parking (403) and Kenrokuen Ue Parking (36), listed on the Kenrokuen guide.

The park and Kenrokuen are separate entries: you cross the road at Ishikawa-mon and buy a Kenrokuen ticket at the garden gate.

Practical tips

Before you go

Five things that save time in the park.

  1. 01
    Combine it with Kenrokuen. Do the garden first, then cross at Ishikawa-mon. A ¥500 combined ticket covers Kenrokuen plus the castle turrets.
  2. 02
    Go in for one building, not all three. The ¥320 ticket opens the turret, the long warehouse and the third turret; most people want 20–30 minutes for the first two.
  3. 03
    Time the light-up. On the November nights the park is free until 21:00 (last entry 20:45), and the gates are lit. Come at 17:30 for the dusk walk.
  4. 04
    Bring cash for the turrets. The ticket office takes cash only, and coupons are not accepted.
  5. 05
    Check the stone-wall detours. Parts of the walls are closed for repair after the 2024 earthquake; staff at the gate know what is open.
Where to stay

Stay by the castle

Three places on the edge of the park, from a hot spring to a small inn.

Adjacent to the park

Kanazawa Hakuchoro Hotel Sanraku

Beside Kanazawa Castle Park · 5 min to Kenrokuen

A premium hotel with a rare in-city natural hot spring, at the edge of the cultural quarter. Walk into the park for the light-up and bathe afterwards.

from ¥35,000 per roomOur notes →
Check rates ↗
Small inn

Camellia Inn Yukitsubaki

3 min walk to Kenrokuen · Higashi Chaya side

A tiny boutique inn three minutes from Kenrokuen, with a Japanese garden and a Western breakfast reviewers keep praising.

from ¥17,000 per roomOur notes →
Check rates ↗
Next to the museum

First Hotel Kanazawa

3 min walk to Kenrokuen and Castle Park

Beside the 21st Century Museum, three minutes from the Kenrokuen gates and a few steps from the park.

from ¥14,000 per roomOur notes →
Check rates ↗
See full Kanazawa hotels guide →
FAQ

Kanazawa Castle Park questions, answered

Is Kanazawa Castle Park free?

The park grounds are free, including the Gyokusen-inmaru garden. You pay only to go inside the Hishi-yagura turret, the Gojukken Nagaya warehouse and the Hashizume-mon Tsuzuki-yagura: ¥320 for adults and ¥100 for children aged 6 to 17, cash only.

What are the opening hours of Kanazawa Castle Park?

The park is open 7:00–18:00 from 1 March to 15 October and 8:00–17:00 from 16 October to the end of February. The turrets and warehouse open 9:00–16:30, with last entry at 16:00.

When is the Kanazawa Castle light-up in autumn 2026?

On 7, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29 November 2026, from 18:00 to 21:00 with last entry at 20:45. Entry is free on those nights.

How is Kanazawa Castle connected to Kenrokuen?

They face each other across Hyakken-bori road, joined by the Ishikawa-mon gate, and were once one estate. They are separate entries, so you buy a Kenrokuen ticket at its gate, or the ¥500 Kenrokuen+1 ticket that includes the turrets.

How do I get to Kanazawa Castle from Kanazawa Station?

Take the Castle Town Loop Bus from the East Exit to Kenrokuen-shita / Kanazawa-jō, about 20 minutes and ¥220, then walk 3 minutes to Ishikawa-mon.

Continue exploring

More in Kanazawa

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