Kanazawa City Ashigaru Museum: A Glimpse into Samurai Foot Soldiers' Lives

Nestled in the heart of Kanazawa's Nagamachi district, the Kanazawa City Ashigaru Museum provides a fascinating look into the lives of the ashigaru, the foot soldiers of the samurai class, during the Edo period (1603-1867). Unlike many other regions where ashigaru lived in cramped row houses, in the Kaga domain (present-day Ishikawa) they were given detached houses with gardens, reflecting the domain's wealth. The museum consists of two carefully preserved houses: the Takanishi Family House and the Shimizu Family House. These houses were inhabited until the 1990s by descendants of the original ashigaru families. Visitors can walk through the homes and experience the living conditions of these lower-ranked samurai. The Shimizu Family House showcases the daily life of an ashigaru family, with a kitchen, living room, and sleeping/work area. The Takanishi Family House displays information about ashigaru organizations, residential areas and housing. Though the houses are humble, they offer insight into the lives of these foot soldiers and their role in the Kaga domain. The museum provides information in English, making it accessible to international visitors. A visit to the Ashigaru Museum complements the experience of touring the more stately samurai residences in the Nagamachi district.