Kaga Honda Museum

Overview

The Kaga Honda Museum displays approximately 1,000 items from the collection of the Honda clan, who served as senior retainers of the Kaga Domain. The Kaga Honda family lineage began with Honda Masashige, the second son of Honda Masanobu, a senior retainer of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Their collection spans a wide range of items, including samurai armor, helmets, swords, spears, and other weaponry and furnishings passed down through generations, along with items received from the Maeda family and ancient documents. Among the most notable items is the "Murasame no Tsubo" (Murasame jar), famously known as the "Go-mankoku no Tsubo" (50,000-koku jar). It was received by the first Honda Masashige in lieu of a 50,000-koku increase in his stipend, which he refused from the lord Maeda Toshinaga. This jar is said to have been named by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, making it historically invaluable. The Kaga Honda Museum is a precious repository preserving Edo-period samurai culture, offering a glimpse into the atmosphere of Kanazawa's castle town. Those interested in the history and culture of the Kaga Domain should definitely visit. The museum is also conveniently located near many other sightseeing spots, including the National Crafts Museum, Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, Ishikawa Prefectural Noh Theater, Honda no Mori Hokuden Hall, Kenrokuen Garden, Nakamura Memorial Museum, Soetsu Yanagi Museum, Kanazawa Shrine, and Joson-kaku. Why not explore these spots and delve deeper into Kanazawa's rich culture and history?