Kanazawa Castle

Kanazawa Castle is best recognized by the white lead tiles covering its roofs and the expansive, whitewashed walls that define its profile. Once the stronghold of the powerful Maeda clan, this castle served as the seat of the Kaga Domain for fourteen generations. While many Japanese castles feature imposing central keeps, Kanazawa lost its original six-story tower to a lightning strike in sixteen hundred and two and never rebuilt it. Instead, the site evolved into a sprawling complex of halls and turrets, relying on heavy fortifications and a sophisticated layout to maintain its authority.