Kanazawa City Ashigaru Museum

The Kanazawa City Ashigaru Museum (金沢市足軽資料館) offers a unique glimpse into the lives of ashigaru—foot soldiers who occupied the lowest rank within the samurai class during Japan’s Edo period (1603–1867). The museum preserves two of the oldest surviving ashigaru residences: the Takanishi Family House and the Shimizu Family House. Unlike many regions where ashigaru lived in cramped row houses (nagaya), the Kaga Domain (modern-day Ishikawa Prefecture) provided these soldiers with detached homes and private gardens. This reflects the domain's relative wealth and progressive policies. Both the Takanishi and Shimizu houses were inhabited by descendants of the original families until the 1990s, when they were relocated and restored as part of the museum complex. Visitors can explore the interiors of these modest yet historically rich homes, which include genkan (entryway), zashiki (formal guest room), cha-no-ma (tea room), nagashi (kitchen), and nando (sleeping/work room). Exhibits feature original household tools, furnishings, and architectural details. The museum provides insight into the daily routines, social roles, and living conditions of ashigaru families, offering a more grounded perspective compared to the grander samurai estates nearby. Admission is free.

The house of an average low-ranking samurai foot soldier during the Edo Period. Inside, there are many informative records and artifacts showcasing what it is like to live in such a house during its time. There is no waiting line or admission fee so travelers should take the opportunity to visit and learn Japanese history from it

Authentic Samurai house in walking distance from Station. The man there was lovely and explained the layout of the house and how the family members would live. Such a great experience and well worth a couple of hours exploring the streets around this area.

Very underrated place, really worth the visit, beautiful alley near the river with wooden houses you can get into and it's free!

Small museum of two old houses that have been well preserved. This is a good way to view how samurai in the lower ranks lived. Admission is free and the visit is really short (max ~15 minutes) so there's no reason not to go if you're near !

Completely free and quick to get through. There were two houses we could go in and both required us to take off our shoes. Wonderfully kept grounds and I highly recommend stopping by.

This small museum has two old foot soldier houses that have been preserved. It's a great way to see how the lower ranked samurai lived in the past. The admission is free, so there isn't any excuse not to stop by if you are in the area.

Very cool, worth the visit if you’re into the examples of Edo period living.

The ashigaru, or footsoldiers, were the lowest rank soldiers of the samurai class. This small museum consists of two reconstructed houses, which illustrate the relatively austere lifestyle of these soldiers. It is free to visit and does not take long. They are close to the Nomura samurai house, so I recommend visiting afterwards to see the contrast in lifestyles.