The house features a two-story wooden structure, a rarity in the Nagamachi district where strict architectural codes once limited height.
The garden contains a man-made waterfall that flows into a pond stocked with large koi.
Some fusuma-e paintings within the house were commissioned specifically for the residence by the Kaga daimyo.
The family history is documented through various surviving artifacts, including personal letters and military equipment.
The residence features a private tea room that overlooks the garden, reflecting the samurai class's dedication to Zen-influenced arts.
It is one of the few sites in Kanazawa where original Edo-period architecture has been preserved without extensive relocation or modification.
The Nomura-ke Samurai Heritage Residence is a restored Edo-period home located in the Nagamachi samurai district of Kanazawa. The residence belonged to the Nomura clan, who served the Maeda daimyo of the Kaga Domain for eleven generations. The site is best known for its small, highly intricate courtyard garden, which features a 400-year-old bayberry tree and a winding stream. Visitors pass through a traditional gate to view authentic samurai armor, sliding screen doors (fusuma-e) painted by artists of the Kano school, and a tea ceremony room. The structure incorporates high-quality materials including cypress wood, water-chestnut wood, and gold-leaf accents. It remains one of the few samurai houses in the district open to the public, offering insight into the lifestyle of the upper-middle-class warrior caste. The garden has been ranked highly by international publications for its aesthetic composition and historical design.
From the elevated wooden veranda facing the main garden pond.
Take your time at the second-floor tea room; it offers a vantage point that frames the garden differently than the ground level.
Look for the smaller details, such as the intricate carvings on the woodwork and the historical calligraphic scrolls on display.
Visit the gift shop for high-quality, locally sourced crafts that reflect the Kaga region's artisanal traditions.
Attempting to rush through the tour; the residence is designed for slow viewing, particularly of the garden vistas.
Closed for a few days at the end of each calendar year.
Visitors must remove their shoes at the entrance and wear provided slippers; touching the antique artifacts or interior walls is strictly prohibited.
