Tsuzumi-mon Gate

Kanazawa Station, the gateway to the historic samurai city of the same name, was once nominated by the Travel + Leisure magazine as one of the 14 most beautiful train stations in the world. What most contributed to this honor was, undoubtedly, the massive red gate that stands in front of it.

Named Tsuzumi-mon, literally “drum gate,” the 13.7-meter-tall (45-foot) gate was designed by ecological architect Rhyuzou Shirae after the traditional hand drum used in the regional Kaga-Hosho style noh theater. Painted in a striking red and supported by a pair of spiral pillars, the gate is simply spectacular, and especially so under a blue sky or at night.

Adjoining the gate is the Motenashi (“hospitality”) Dome of a more modern design, which is made up of 3,019 glass panes and representing an umbrella that comfortably offers a shelter to those visiting Kanazawa.

The structure is not only an icon of the city, but also of practical purposes: the gate helps the underground levels ventilate and serves as a sort of snow guard during the winter season.