Seisonkaku is a large residential villa built adjacent to Kenroku-en in 1863 for the retirement of the mother of the Maeda clan's daimyo. It is one of the best examples of upper-class residential architecture from the end of the Edo period — ornate, detailed, and quite different from the martial architecture of the castle.
The interior has exceptional painted sliding doors, carved transoms, and lacquerware. The building contains important examples of Kanazawa's traditional crafts — Kutani ware pottery, Kaga lacquer, and Kaga embroidery. The villa is now a museum; the entry fee includes a guided tour (in Japanese, with English pamphlets available).