Kanazawa Teramachi-dai Traditional Buildings Preservation District

Overview

The Kanazawa Teramachi-dai Traditional Buildings Preservation District is a precious cultural heritage site that embodies the history of Kanazawa's castle town. From the late Edo period to the Meiji period, this area flourished with temples and machiya townhouses, vividly preserving the townscape of a temple district from that era. Fifty-two temples stand within the preservation district, each with unique architectural styles and rich histories. For example, Myoryuji Temple, built to ward off evil spirits from Kanazawa Castle's 'hidden gate' (kimon), is known as the 'Ninja Temple' due to its unique architecture and legends of its past as a ninja house. Along the old Noda-michi road leading to Nodayama, where the Maeda family's mausoleum is located, temple earthen walls line the road, creating a characteristic townscape of a temple district. Meanwhile, along the old Tsuruga-michi road, intersecting the old Noda-michi road from the Saigawa Bridge, machiya townhouses, formed in the temple/shrine precinct, line the street, evoking the lively atmosphere of the past. Beyond the buildings, the harmonious landscape of street trees and stone walls adds to its charm. The Kanazawa Teramachi-dai Traditional Buildings Preservation District offers a tranquil space where history, culture, and nature blend seamlessly.