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The [[jokamachi|castle town]] of Kanazawa which grew up around the castle remains today one of the most intact Edo period castle towns in Japan, and an oft-cited example of a provincial castle town. The famous (and practical) [[Kenrokuen]] garden, one of the three top famous gardens in Japan, lies adjacent to the castle. The streams feeding the garden also served the purpose of supplying the castle town with water, and the terminus of these streams was shaped into a replica of Lake Biwa near [[Kyoto]]. The castle town spawned the [[Kaga-Hosho school|Kaga Hôshô school]] of [[Noh]]. [[Kutani pottery]] was first made here, and the Maeda lords sent missions to China and Korea for technical advice on ceramics. The area was also famous for its wrought-iron tea kettles used for [[tea ceremony]].

The [[jokamachi|castle town]] of Kanazawa which grew up around the castle remains today one of the most intact Edo period castle towns in Japan, and an oft-cited example of a provincial castle town. The famous (and practical) [[Kenrokuen]] garden, one of the three top famous gardens in Japan, lies adjacent to the castle. The streams feeding the garden also served the purpose of supplying the castle town with water, and the terminus of these streams was shaped into a replica of Lake Biwa near [[Kyoto]]. The castle town spawned the [[Kaga-Hosho school|Kaga Hôshô school]] of [[Noh]]. [[Kutani pottery]] was first made here, and the Maeda lords sent missions to China and Korea for technical advice on ceramics. The area was also famous for its wrought-iron tea kettles used for [[tea ceremony]].

The temple of [[Myoryu-ji|Myôryû-ji]], located across town from the castle, is another famous site in the city. It looks like any other temple, but actually was a seven-story fortress. Because the Maeda were the wealthiest clan in Japan after the Tokugawa, they were under intense surveillance by Ieyasu’s spies. To avoid this scrutiny, the Maeda conducted much of their important business at Myôryû-ji. Myôryû-ji is loaded with secret doors and passages and a number of defensive features, such as hidden spiked pits.

The temple of [[Myoryu-ji|Myôryû-ji]] (‘trick temple’, also known as the ‘[[ninja]] house’), located across town from the castle, is another famous site in the city. It looks like any other temple, but actually was a seven-story fortress designed to resemble a Buddhist temple. Because the Maeda were the wealthiest clan in Japan after the Tokugawa, they were under intense surveillance by Ieyasu’s spies. To avoid this scrutiny, the Maeda conducted much of their important business at Myôryû-ji. They were able to reach the ‘temple’ unobserved via the central well, which in addition to supplying water featured a tunnel straight to Kanazawa Castle. Myoryu-ji is loaded with other secret doors and passages and all the interior windows face the well. Perhaps the most ingenious aspect of Myoryu-ji is the coin collection chest inside the front room. It looks like any other contribution box in any temple, but actually disguises a trap door designed to drop an enemy to his death.

==Links==

==Links==