Gyokusen'inmaru Garden, Gyokusen-an Rest Area

Gyokusen'inmaru Garden — A Garden Cherished by Generations of Maeda Lords, Recreated as It Once Appeared

Characteristics of the Garden and Overview of the Restoration

Gyokusen'inmaru Garden originated with the garden-making carried out by Maeda Toshitsune, the third lord of the Maeda family, in 1634 (Kan’ei 11). It continued to exist until the end of the feudal domain, being modified over time by successive lords such as the fifth lord Tsunanori and the thirteenth lord Nariyasu. Compared with Kenrokuen Garden—which served as a venue for formal entertainment—Gyokusen'inmaru Garden is thought to have functioned primarily as a private garden for the lords. The garden is a daimyo stroll garden (chisen kaiyū-shiki) that drew water from the Tatsumi Waterway flowing through the castle grounds. It featured a dynamic, three-dimensional design with a 22‑meter height difference from the pond bottom to the highest tier of the surrounding stone walls. The garden included highly artistic stone features, such as the Shikishitanzaku-zumi Stone Wall, which incorporates a waterfall into the upper part of the wall. This created a uniquely innovative composition unlike any other known garden. Although the garden was abandoned in the Meiji period and lost its original appearance, it was redesigned and restored based on archaeological findings, old drawings, historical records, and comparable examples. In March 2015 (Heisei 27), the garden was recreated to reflect the scenery once appreciated by generations of Maeda lords. For preservation of the archaeological remains, the area was covered with protective soil before constructing the restored garden above it. Additional improvements were made throughout the Gyokusen'inmaru area, including repairs to the surrounding stone walls, enhancements to the entrance area, and the construction of the Gyokusen-an Rest Area, which offers a panoramic view of the garden.

Overall Site Development Plan of Gyokuseninmaru Garden

A pathway encircles the pond, allowing visitors to enjoy various perspectives of the landscape. The Gyokusen-an Rest Area houses an information counter and resting space, and its Japanese-style room offers traditional tea service.

Highlights Within the Garden

Shikishitanzaku-zumi Stone Wall

This special stone wall incorporates a waterfall into its upper section.
At the waterfall’s mouth, a V-shaped stone spout made of dark Tsubono stone is installed, and square (shikishi) stones and long rectangular (tanzaku) Tomuro stones are arranged in staggered patterns.
This is considered a masterpiece unique to Kanazawa Castle, skillfully integrating castle stonewall engineering with refined garden aesthetics.

Stepped Waterfall

Archaeological investigations confirmed the remains of a waterfall flowing down a slope in four stages.
To preserve the remains, the area was covered with protective soil, and the waterfall was reconstructed above it using stone arrangements based on those found in the excavation.

Excavated waterfall remains / the reconstructed waterfall

Plantings and Landscape Stones

Based on old paintings, plantings are centered around pine trees cultivated within Ishikawa Prefecture.
Landscape stones sourced from within the prefecture were placed throughout the garden according to the drawings and findings from archaeological investigations.

Stone Wall Groups

The stone walls facing the garden retain their Edo-period form and were designed as “display stone walls,” featuring distinctive shapes, colors, and refined visual details.
They serve as a defining element of the garden’s character.

Garden Pond

The basic landform of the garden—such as the peninsula, pond, and islands south of Momiji Bridge—was restored based on archaeological findings, old paintings, and other materials.
Three islands of varying sizes were arranged to create shifting perspectives and a sense of depth depending on the viewing point.
During the Edo period, water for the pond was supplied by the Tatsumi Waterway drawn up to the Ninomaru, but in the restoration, water is pumped from the Imori Moat Tatsumi Waterway.
Stone materials for the bank protection, as well as the wooden, stone, and earth bridges, were sourced from within Ishikawa Prefecture.

Construction Outline

Area	Approx. 1 ha (main garden area: 0.7 ha)
Pond works	3 islets, bottom graveling (Surface area: approx. 1,400 m2, average depth: 0.6 m)
Waterfall works	Reconstruction of four-step waterfall based on excavation surveys (Height difference: approx. 7 m)
Water source	Pumped into the pond from Imori Moat (up to 1 ton/min)
Shore reinforcement	Stone arrangement (Tomuro stone; andesite from Noto), wooden pile, stone masonry, sand
Wooden bridge	Length: 9.3 m, width: 2.4 m (Noto-hiba cypress lumber)
Stone bridges	Length: 5.0 m, width: 1.15 m; a flat bridge and an arched bridge (Tomuro stone)
Earthen bridges	Lengths: 5.0 & 5.5 m, width: 1.2 m (structural material: cedar, paved with earth)
Garden rocks	Nineteen rocks (Fukura stones, Tomuro stones, etc.) are placed based on old drawings
Planting	Japanese red pines and Japanese black pines grown in the prefecture (29 pine trees in total); drooping cherry trees, maple trees, etc.
Karakasa(“Umbrella”)	Height: 2.4 m, diameter: 2.7 m (wooden structure; roofed with shingles)
Boathouse	Height: 2.5 m (structural material: Noto-hiba cypress; roofed with cedar bark)