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.

Outline

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
  • 冬の衣裳と調度展

    Rotating Exhibitions
    Winter costumes worn by wives of the Maeda familyNov 28, 2019 - Feb 3, 2020

    To Detail
  • Under Planning
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  • 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.

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  • Past Exhibitions

    侯爵 前田家の夫人 展

    Themed Exhibition
    Marquis Maeda's ladies.Sep 26 - Nov 25, 2019

    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.
    This time, we will introduce the Marquis of Saeko, Namiko, Kikuko and Masako with dresses "manteau de cour", furnishings and photos.

    To Detail
    前田家伝来夏衣裳と調度展

    Rotating Exhibition
    Summer Costumes worn by Wives of the Maeda FamilyJune 27 - Sep 23, 2019

    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.

    To Detail
    前田家伝来 御所人形展

    Rotating Exhibitions
    Gosho Dolls Preserved by the Maeda FamilyApr 18 - June 24, 2019

    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.

    To Detail
    前田家伝来 雛人形展

    Special Exhibitions
    Hina Dolls and Hina Doll Implements Preserved by the Maeda FamilyFeb 7 - Apr 15, 2019

    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.

    To Detail
    前田家伝来冬の衣裳と調度展

    Rotating Exhibitions
    Winter costumes worn by wives of the Maeda familyNov 29, 2018 - Feb 4, 2019

    To Detail
    　

Noteworthy

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

Noteworthy

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.

Representative Collections

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

Visiting Information

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