Drum Gate and Hospitality Dome (Kanazawa Station)

Kanazawa Station, the gateway to Kanazawa, is bustling with visitors as the Hokuriku Shinkansen arrives and departs, making it a hub for Hokuriku tourism. The eye-catching Drum Gate and Hospitality Dome, completed in 2005, are located at the Kenrokuen Gate (East Exit) facing the city center.

The Drum Gate, supported by two thick pillars, stands at an impressive height of 13.7 meters. Its design, inspired by the drums used in Noh, a traditional Kanazawa performing art, is striking, making it a popular photo spot for tourists visiting Kanazawa. After sunset, the gate is lit up for 2 minutes every hour on the hour until midnight. The lights change daily to represent the traditional Kanazawa colors, Kaga Gosa, which are used in Kaga Yuzen and other crafts, vividly illuminating the gate.

The modern Hospitality Dome is designed with the concept of "extending an umbrella to people who have just left the station" in mind. The roof and walls are covered with more than 3,000 geometrically patterned glass panels, designed to keep visitors dry in Kanazawa's rainy and snowy weather. These two stylish spots have become new landmarks in Kanazawa, and Kanazawa Station was selected as one of the "most beautiful stations in the world" in 2011.