KAGA-HONDA MUSEUM

About the Honda Family

The feudal domain of Kaga, which was known as "Hyakumangoku" (the land of a million rice bushels) had eight Chief Retainers who enjoyed a status similar to that of a feudal lord and had fiefs worth 10,000 koku(rice bushels); these eight clans, called "Hakka" had the highest status within Kaga domain. They oversaw government affairs during peacetime and acted as military commanders during times of war.
The founder of Honda Clan, named Masashige was the second son of Masanobu, who himself was a chief retainer of Ieyasu Tokugawa and he served several lords before he fought at the Battle of Sekigahara under Hideie Ukita, on the side of western forces. In 1604, he became an adopted son of Kanetsugu Naoe who was the chief advisor to Kagekatsu Uesugi and came to live in Yonezawa, assuming the name of Katsuyoshi Naoe. He became a retainer of Kaga Clan in 16ll and played an important role in the political affairs of the fief. The succeeding generations of the Honda Clan continued to assume important responsibilities until the end of Tokugawa Shogunate when the 11th head, Masachika, acted as a consul for the domain.

Passing on the Samurai Culture of Hyakumangoku to the present times: "The Grandeur of 50,000 koku fief of Kaga's Honda Clan” (one of the big eight clans)”

The exhibition items at Kaga-Honda Museum mainly consist of battle formation gear such as complete horse harness and horse trial equipment and it is considered as one of Japan's rare ‘samurai artifacts’ museums.
Apart from these artifacts, the Museum also displays precious items such as furniture, old texts, illustrations, etc. which are highly valued as artistic objects; one can gain a glimpse of an extraordinary culture and the history of feudal Japan through these items.

Collection Items

The Museum displays a collection of military hardware such as armour, helmet, sword, spears and other arms which were used by the founder of Honda Clan, Masashige. Apart from this there are other objects that are worth seeing such as a sword with Masashige's name in gold inlay as well as a spear with a long blade that could be handled only by the very strongest of men.
The horse harness is also among the best of the collections in Japan. This collection includes a saddle with Japanese lacquer work, stirrups with elaborate gold inlay, horse armor for the use in a battle, horseshoes and other rare and informative material.
Apart from this, a number of other items are also on display such as fire-fighting attire, trousseau items belonging to Maeda Clan's daughters who married into Honda Clan and paintings of Honda residence.

Entry & Access

■Opening times
　9am - 5pm. Last admission to the museum is 4:30pm.
■Closed
　Every Thursday in December, January and February
　29 December - 3 January
　Exhibition renewal period
■Admission
　General ￥400(￥350)　University students ￥300(￥250)
　　(Prices marked in brackets are price per person for groups of 20 or more.)
　High school students and younger FREE
　Combined ticket for the Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of History / General ￥500　University students ￥400
■Directions
　・On foot　5 minutes from Kenrokuen Garden / 15 minutes from Korinbo
　・By bus　Hokutetsu Bus
　　　Alight at Dewamachi bus stop - 5 minutes walk
　　　Alight at Hirosaka / 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art - 8 minutes walk
　・By taxi　Approximately 10-15 minutes from Kanazawa Station
　・By car　Approximately 7km from either Kanazawa West or East IC on Hokuriku Highway