Kanazawa

Kanazawa (金沢市, Kanazawa-shi) is a Japanese city in Ishikawa Prefecture on the island of Honshu.^[1] It is the capital city of the prefecture.^[2]

Kanazawa 金沢
Core city
金沢市 · Kanazawa
From top left: Gate of Kanazawa Castle, Kenroku-en, Ōmichō Market, Higashi Geisha District, Kanazawa seen from Mt. Kigo, Oyama Shrine
Flag Emblem
Location of Kanazawa in Ishikawa
Kanazawa Location in Japan
Coordinates: 36°34′N 136°39′E
Country	Japan
Region	Chūbu
Prefecture	Ishikawa
Government
• Mayor	Yukiyoshi Yamano (since December 2010)
Area
• Total	467.77 km2 (180.61 sq mi)
Population  (2010)
• Total	462,478
• Density	988.69/km2 (2,560.7/sq mi)
Symbols
• Tree	Ume
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
Website	www.city.kanazawa.ishikawa.jp/index_e.html

It has been recognized as a core city since 1996.^[3]

History

During the Edo period, Kanazawa was the center of the Maeda clan.^[1]

Kanazawa has a big Japanese garden called Kenroku-en. Kenroku-en was made as a garden of the Kanazawa castle at the Edo period. It is regarded as one of the most famous gardens in Japan.^[4]

Geography

Kanazawa is on the western coast of Honshu.^[1] It faces the Sea of Japan.