What is the Kenrokuen Cultural Zone?
The Kenrokuen Cultural Zone refers to the lush green area in a 1km radius around Kenrokuen garden which houses a variety of cultural sites with histories that stretch from the era of the Shogunate to the modern day, as well as a number of forested parks.
In this area—the historical center of government, education, and culture in Kanazawa, which houses such historical sites as Kanazawa castle and Kenrokuen garden—you can experience traditional samurai culture passed down since the Edo period. You can also enjoy the nostalgic feel of the more modern buildings from the Meiji and Taisho eras, such as the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History and the Fourth High School Memorial Museum of Cultural Exchange, Ishikawa.
Various initiatives have been undertaken to make the Kenrokuen Cultural Zone a bustling center of cultural exchange, such as the restoration of Kanazawa Castle Park, the renovation of the Prefectural Museum of Art, Museum of History, and Conservation of Cultural Properties Studio, and the creation of footpaths that allow visitors to walk from each cultural institution with ease.
Furthermore, various events, including exhibitions held at various cultural institutions and the Kenrokuen Cultural Zone Museum Week (an event held in cooperation between the museums in the area) are held in order to promote the area’s unique charm and energy, and to encourage its use as a space for cultural and interpersonal exchange.