Villa for the wife of one of the Maeda lordsThe Maeda Family and the History of Seisonkaku

The Seisonkaku is a samurai villa replete with Edo Period (1603-1868) arts and crafts that the Maeda family commissioned to have made.
In the Sengoku Warring States Period (1467-1603), the samurai Toshiie Maeda was rewarded the Kaga domain (present-day Ishikawa prefecture) for his service to Nobunaga Oda in Owari domain.
However, after the Honnō-ji Incident of 1582, when Nobunaga was forced to commit suicide, many powerful daimyō (feudal lords) lost their long-standing influence and disappeared.

From this group of daimyō, the Maeda family managed to retain their exceptional standing and wealth (1.2 million koku of rice per year).
The third Maeda lord, Toshitsune, devoted much of his family’s wealth to the development of arts and crafts in Kaga domain. In the Maeda family castle, craftsmen’s workshops were built and maintained until the end of the Edo period.

The 12th Maeda daimyo, Narinaga, had Takezawa Goten, a retirement villa, built in Kenrokuen Garden. In 1863, the 13th Maeda lord, Nariyasu, had Tatsumi Goten villa built for his mother, Takako, so she could enjoy views of Kenrokuen. He also demolished his father's retirement villa, Takezawa Goten, in his effort to improve Kenrokuen, which he developed into a strolling garden with a central pond.

Open9:00 - 17:00(last admission at 16:30)
Closed on Wednesdays, Thursdays when Wednesday falls on a national holiday

1-2 Kenrokumachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture 920-0936


Tel. 076-221-0580

  • Current Show
  • Upcoming
  • Special Opening
  • Past
  • 王朝文化と前田家展

    Special Exhibitions
    Dynasty Culture and the Maeda Family Exhibition Oct 3 - Dec 9, 2024

    The designs from classical literature, such as The Tale of Genji and The Tale of the Heike, have been used in various decorations throughout history.
    During the Kan'ei era, which saw a revival of classical culture centered around Emperor Go-Mizunoo, the Maeda family became deeply involved with the Kyoto Imperial Palace under the leadership of Maeda Toshitsune and Maeda Tsunanori.
    This exhibition features items related to court culture from the Maeda family's collection, including Emperor Go-Mizunoo's calligraphy of the character "Shin" (忍), the fifty-four chapters of The Tale of Genji, "Hundred Poems of Tadayoshi" from The Tale of the Heike, the "Battle of the Maikyo Gate" screen from The Tale of Heiji, and garments influenced by The Tale of Genji.
    (This sentence was written using a translator.)

  • Under Planning
  • Seiko Shoin, Seiko-ken & Hikaku-tei
    Special Openings to the Public

    Seison-kaku, a national important cultural property, presents the elegant culture of the wives of the Maeda lords , which features colorful, artistic designs of flowers and birds. Seiko-shoin, Seiko-ken and Hikaku-tei garden, which are not normally open in the public, are open only during the limited period.

  • Past Exhibitions

    夏衣裳と調度展

    Rotating Exhibitions
    Summer Costumes worn by Wives of the Maeda Family July 4 - Sep 29, 2024

    Takako, a daughter of the Takatsukasa family, married into the Maeda family as the wife of the 12th lord. Yohime, the wife the 13th lord, married into the Maeda family from the dominant Tokugawa family. The other wives came from other parts of Japan such as Kishu, Aizu and Owari.
    The exhibition features unlined summer kimono that are embroidered and dyed, summer costumes made of thin silk, some unique furniture with the family crest and high-quality stationery used for calligraphy.

    御所人形展

    Rotating Exhibitions
    Gosho Dolls Preserved by the Maeda Family Apr 25 - June 30, 2024

    A display of 200 gosho dolls, including dolls wearing costumes with the Maeda family crest, the Tokugawa family crest and the Nabeshima family crest.
    Various dolls such as dolls wearing Chinese costumes and crawling dolls, which have been cherished by members of the Maeda family who wished for their children to grow up in peace.
    Gosho dolls are considered to be the most well finished traditional Japanese dolls. Those that have been preserved by the Maeda family have a long and distinguished history that goes back many generations.

    雛人形雛道具特別展

    Special Exhibitions
    Hina Dolls and Hina Doll Implements Preserved by the Maeda FamilyFeb 8 - Apr 21, 2024

    Display of "Jirozaemon bina" and "Yusoku bina" dolls as well as hina doll implements such as gorgeous lacquerware with the Maeda Family crests and Nabeshima family crests.
    The "Jirozaemon bina" (round-faced hina dolls), the oldest in the Seison-kaku collection, have been preserved over many generations from the time of the fifth lord's wife. "Yusoku bina" are dolls dressed in costumes that perfectly reflect the elegant yet simple style of special clothing worn by courtiers.

    冬の衣装と調度展

    Rotating Exhibition
    Winter costumes worn by wives of the Maeda familyNov 30, 2023 - Feb 4, 2024

    侯爵前田家展

    Themed Exhibition
    Maeda lords who as the marquis, and their familySep 28 - Nov 27, 2023

    In 1869 the old shogunate government return the land and people from the feudal lords to the emperor. By that, principals had been changed job position.
    In addition, Toshitsugu Maeda was appointed as a marquis in the enactment of 1884.
    The generations of Marquis Maeda's appearances, We will introduce in portraits, photographs, formalwears, and so on.

    古典の意匠展

    Rotating Exhibitions
    Costumes of the wives, Designed Based on Classical LiteratureSep 29 - Nov 28, 2022

    それぞれの旅展

    Themed Exhibition
    The Travels of the Maeda familySep 30 - Nov 29, 2021

     

Noteworthy

The 13th Maeda lord, Nariyasu, had this modest and elegant space built to show his affection for his mother.

Representative Collections

In 1863 Nariyasu, the 13th Maeda lord, had Seisonkaku built in Kenrokuen and dedicated it as a palace to his mother.
Numerous "Hina dolls" and gold "Hina tools" of the wives and daughters of noblemen were kept in storehouses at Kanazawa Castle. Despite repeated disasters and social upheavals, which caused many of these items to be lost, a number of cherished articles passed down from mother to daughter have been carefully protected.

Visiting Information

Rotating Exhibitions
Ages 19 & over ¥700
Age 13 up to 18¥300
Age 6 up to 12¥250円
Special Exhibitions
Ages 19 & over ¥1,000
Age 13 up to 18¥400
Age 6 up to 12 ¥300円

Open9:00~17:00 (last admission at 16:30)

Closed on Wednesdays, Thursdays when Wednesday falls on a national holiday and Dec 29 to Jan 2

1-2 Kenrokumachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture 920-0936