What You’ll Find in Nagamachi Samurai District

If you want to experience what Kanazawa was like in the Edo period, Nagamachi Samurai District is one of the best places to visit. 

The quiet streets, the mud walls, the old irrigation canals running alongside them. Just walking around here gives you a sense of the atmosphere of old Kanazawa. And if you look carefully, you may find some little surprises along the way.

A neighborhood where samurai used to live

Nagamachi was once a residential area for samurai serving the Maeda family, who ruled the Kaga Domain. The samurai who lived in this area were mostly middle- or high-ranking samurai, so their houses were extremely large.

Unfortunately, we can’t see those huge houses today. After the Edo period ended, the large properties were divided and sold as smaller plots. So, almost all of the original samurai houses disappeared. Only one house still exists in Nagamachi, but it is not open to the public.

So what you see today is not exactly the same neighborhood that existed during the Edo period. But the street layout, mud walls, and waterways still give you a strong feeling of the old samurai district. And that’s what makes Nagamachi interesting.

Just walk around and enjoy the narrow streets

Unlike some of Kanazawa’s major tourist attractions, Nagamachi doesn’t have one big landmark that you have to see. Instead, I recommend simply walking. The streets are narrow, and the tall mud walls on both sides make you feel as if you have stepped into another time.

There are small shops along the streets. I think it is fun to peek into these little shops. You never know what you might find. Maybe you’ll discover a small plate, cup, or piece of pottery that you really like. It might become one of those souvenirs that reminds you of your trip long after you return home.

I often buy a Kutani-yaki mug when I go to visit friends who live in different parts of Japan. It is a great opportunity to introduce Kanazawa’s traditional crafts.

Nomura Samurai House

Nomura Samurai House is the most famous spot in Nagamachi District. The highlight here is the garden. This garden is beautifully designed, with water, stones, moss, and plants. It creates a very peaceful space. The garden was awarded two stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan.

So, take a seat for a while and just look. You don’t need to understand every detail of Japanese garden design. Just enjoy the view. That’s the way we do it.

The building you see today is not the original one that stood on this site during the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration, the original Nomura residence was divided and sold, and parts of the building were moved and reconstructed. The current building is therefore a reconstructed residence made from relocated parts of the original house.

The garden, however, is the real star here.

So don’t go expecting a perfectly preserved samurai residence from 300 years ago. Instead, think of it as a place where pieces of the old Nomura residence have been preserved and brought together.

Look for the old canals

One of the things I particularly like about Nagamachi is the irrigation canals. You’ll notice small canals running along the streets. These waterways were part of the old infrastructure of Kanazawa and were used for various purposes, including supplying water to the neighborhood. These were even used for transporting timber to the castle. So, the canals were quite important at that time.

Today they quietly flow alongside the streets, adding to the atmosphere of the district. You might not even notice them at first. But once you do, you’ll start seeing them everywhere.

What about the foot soldiers?

If you’re interested in how ordinary samurai lived, there’s another interesting place nearby: Ashigaru Shiryokan.

The word ashigaru refers to foot soldiers, who were lower-ranking samurai than the samurai families who lived in Nagamachi. There are two restored ashigaru residences, and the houses are much smaller and simpler.

So if you visit both the Nomura Samurai House and the ashigaru houses, you can get a better sense of the differences in lifestyle between samurai of different ranks.

Kanazawa Shinise Memorial Hall

Another small museum worth visiting is the Kanazawa Shinise Memorial Hall.

The word shinise refers to a business with a long history. In this house, you can feel the history and lifestyle of old merchant families in Kanazawa. It is not a must-see attraction for everyone, but if you enjoy learning about the different lifestyles of people in old Kanazawa, it is worth a quick look.

How long do you need?

You can walk through the main part of Nagamachi in about 30 minutes. But if you want to visit Nomura Samurai House, look around the small shops, and stop at some of the other historical buildings, I would say you need 1–2 hours.

I would recommend that you walk slowly, look at the walls, notice the waterways, and peek into the little shops. You might find something you didn’t expect. That’s part of the fun.

I want you to be curious about who might have walked here hundreds of years ago.

Visitor Information

Location	Nagamachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Hours
Closed	None
Admission	Free
Website	–
Good For	– Travelers interested in samurai history – People who enjoy traditional Japanese architecture – Photography lovers – People interested in Japanese gardens – Kutani-yaki and craft lovers