Daishoji is the old castle town and administrative heart of Kaga, set inland from the coast and the onsen towns. The Maeda clan ruled here as a branch of the Kanazawa domain, and the legacy is a quiet grid of streets with stone walls, surviving samurai gates, and several temples worth seeking out. There is no castle keep left — only the moat and stone foundations remain — but the layout of the town centre is essentially unchanged from the 17th century.
The standout sight is Jissoin, a Zen temple with a small but exquisite stroll garden centred on a pond. A short walk away, the Kaga City Museum of Art (Kaga Bijutsukan) holds a collection of local crafts including Kutani porcelain and lacquerware. Daishoji Station is the main rail stop for the city and the natural starting point for a day on foot through the old town.