About Ishikawa Prefecture, the Birthplace of Kutani Ware

What is Ishikawa Prefecture?

Ishikawa Prefecture is located in the center of Japan's Hokuriku region. With an area of approximately 4,186 square kilometers, it protrudes into the Sea of Japan due to its location, and has a varied, diverse, and peculiarly shaped coastline, which is a characteristic of Ishikawa Prefecture. Currently, Ishikawa consists of 19 cities and towns, including Kanazawa City and 11 cities and 8 towns.
Ishikawa is blessed with vast virgin forests and abundant alpine flora, and is rich in nature not only from the sea but also from the mountains. The food culture nurtured in the castle town based on the bounty of the sea and mountains is very popular and has become a tourist destination. Famous Ishikawa gourmet foods include Noto beef, Wajima fugu (blowfish), and Monzen soba (buckwheat noodles), and sushi made with abundant seasonal seafood is also popular.

Origins of Kutani Ware

Kutani ware is said to have existed as early as 1655 under Toshiharu Maeda (1655-1655). It is said that the production of porcelain began when ceramic stone, the raw material for porcelain, was discovered in Kutani Village in the domain during the development of a mine. In Kutani Village, which became a production center of pottery stones, a kiln for firing porcelain was built, and the name "Kutani-yaki" came to be associated with the name of the place.

History of Ishikawa Prefecture

Ishikawa Prefecture was named after the abolition of feudal domains in 1871, which led to a variety of circumstances. It is said that during the Edo period, the prefecture was part of the Kaga domain.
The Kaga clan was founded by Maeda Toshiie. Toshiie Maeda served under Nobunaga Oda and was famous as a "solid feudal lord who loved the abacus" and a "loving wife". Under the command of Oda Nobunaga, Maeda Toshiie took credit for many of his deeds, which resulted in his taking over the territory of part of what is now Ishikawa Prefecture. After the death of Oda Nobunaga, Maeda Toshiie won the trust of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and gained new territory, and became the first lord of Kaga Hyakumangoku, ruling the Hokuriku region.
In the Edo period (1603-1867), the Kaga domain was ruled by the Maeda family for generations. The Kaga clan took measures to promote culture, inviting master craftsmen and cultural figures from Edo and Kyoto, and encouraging Noh drama and tea ceremonies among the samurai and common people. The Kaga Clan also subsidized the production of tea ceremony utensils, crafts, and works of art for use in the tea ceremony. Even today, these artifacts are passed down from generation to generation and continue to enrich our daily lives.

The Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History

The Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History is a facility that preserves and conveys the history and culture of Ishikawa Prefecture, and offers a variety of activities as a place for lifelong learning for the people of the prefecture. If you are traveling to Ishikawa, why not stop by? You can experience firsthand the history and culture of Ishikawa Prefecture.

Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History website

Current Attractions of Ishikawa Prefecture

There are so many places where you can feel the history of Kaga Hyakumangoku, the prosperity of Kaga Hyakumangoku, such as important cultural properties of the country, which are still preserved today. Not only that, but there are also many spots where you can enjoy the natural scenery of the four seasons, and there is much to see and do.
In addition, if you are planning to visit Ishikawa Prefecture, which faces the Sea of Japan, you cannot miss the seafood gourmet cuisine. In between sightseeing, you should also enjoy sweet shops where you can eat sweets made from Noto Dainagon azuki beans.
Ishikawa Prefecture is truly a place full of sights, food, and nature. Why not make it a candidate destination for your trip to Japan?
Let us inform you a little bit about the tourist attractions.

Kenrokuen

Kenrokuen Garden is one of the three most famous gardens in Japan. It is a large garden created over a long period of time by successive lords of the Kaga domain during the Edo period (1603-1868), and is dotted with ponds and artificial mountains. Visitors can enjoy strolling around the many famous spots while appreciating the beauty of nature in each of the four seasons. The natural beauty of the garden changes with the seasons, making it a beautiful place to take commemorative photos. The garden is lit up at night according to the season, creating a magical atmosphere that differs from that of the daytime. In winter, the garden is decorated with "yukisuri (snow hanging)" to protect tree branches from snow.

Kanazawa Castle Park

Kanazawa Castle Park was built on the site of the former castle of the Maeda family, one of Kaga's great patriarchs. Connected to Kenrokuen Garden by the Ishikawa Bridge, visitors can see a wide variety of plants and animals. They are symbolic buildings for Kanazawa Castle, which did not have a castle tower. The park is also famous for its abundance of "stone walls," and a stroll through the park while touching the stone walls, which vary in shape and color from place to place, is a quaint and highly recommended experience.

Naga-machi Buke Yashiki

The Naga-machi Buke Yashiki (Samurai Residence) Ruins is where the residences of Kaga clan warriors once stood side by side. The old earthen walls, irrigation water, and cobblestone pavement remain, and the tasteful alleyways look like something out of a period drama. The "komogake," a traditional winter custom in Kanazawa to protect earthen walls from snow and freezing temperatures, is very popular among tourists. This is a place where visitors can catch a glimpse of the lifestyle of the samurai.

Hakusan-Shirakawa-go White Road

The "Hakusan-Shirakawa-go White Road" is a 33.3 km long forest road that is visited by many tourists from early October to late October for the autumn leaves. The road is also popular as a scenic road where visitors can enjoy the rich natural scenery, such as the sea of primeval beech forests, alpine flora, Fukube no Oodaki Falls, and Ubagataki Falls.