金沢散策 ２ (Strolling in Kanazawa -2-)

　浅野川左岸沿いの道を浅野川大橋から一つ目の橋近くまで下流へ歩く途中、左手に五木寛之の1978年の小説「浅野川暮色」の記念碑（1枚目の写真）、泉鏡花の1890年の小説「化鳥（けちょう）」の記念碑（2枚目の写真）、そして主計町緑水苑という庭園（3枚目の写真）がある。庭園前の看板には、次のような説明がある。

　藩政時代から金沢の代表的な茶屋街のひとつとして賑わったこの辺りは、加賀藩士・冨田主計の屋敷があったことから主計町と呼ばれ、いまも料亭の木格子に当時の面影を色濃く残している。卯辰山、浅野川に隣接するこの一帯は、市の伝統環境保存区域に指定されている。緑水苑は、この歴史的景観保全のため、旧金沢城の内堀であった「西内惣構堀（にしうちそうがまえぼり）」を活かし、「池泉回遊式庭園」になぞらえ、金沢市制百周年記念事業の一環として整備したものである。

While walking along the left bank of the Asano River downstream to the first bridge from Asano-ōhashi Bridge, we find on our left the monument of Hiroyuki Itsuki's 1978 novel "Asano-gawa Boshoku (Dusk on the Asano River)" (the top photo), the monument of Kyoka Izumi's 1890 novel "Kechō" (the middle photo), and a garden named "Kazue-machi Ryokusui-en." The bulletin board in front of the garden had the following description:

This area has been called Kazue Town, popularly known as Chaya, since the Edo Period (1603–1867). This town was named after Kazue Toda, a Kaga Feudal Clan member who lived in the area. Still characteristic of many Japanese restaurants in the area, the wood barred doors and lattice windows are a reminder of this celebrated era. Kazue Town, which is situated near Mt. Utatsu and the Asano River, has been designated the Traditional Environment Preservation Area of Kanazawa. This garden was built to commemorate the 100th Anniversary Celebration of Kanazawa City. In order to preserve the historical sight, the garden, including a part of the inner moat of the former Kanazawa Castle, was designed in the style of "Chisen Kaiyū-shiki Teien (the garden with a walkway surrounding a pond)."

(To be continued)