Kanazawa — Maeda's Lost Treasure
Uncover the hidden treasure of the Maeda clan, lost amid betrayals and secret codes in Kanazawa's samurai quarter. Decipher clues at castles, gardens, and residences to claim the fortune before it's gone forever.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the opulent shadows of Edo-period Kanazawa, the mighty Maeda clan ruled the Kaga Domain with unmatched wealth and cunning
Kanazawa — Maeda's Lost Treasure
You are Maeda Toshimasa, second son of Maeda Toshiie, in 17th-century Kanazawa, on a quest for a lost family treasure.
Your mission takes you through
Dive into Japan's golden feudal age in Kanazawa, following the footsteps of Maeda Toshiie and the powerful Kaga Domain.
The story that haunts this land
Your journey in Kanazawa begins at the Katsura-zaka Gate of Kenroku-en Garden, designated a National Site of Scenic Beauty in 1922. This 11.7-hectare garden, created in 1676 by Maeda Toshitsune, the 5th lord of the Kaga Domain, is one of Japan's three most beautiful gardens. It features 183 plant species and 42 artificial water features, designed according to Edo landscaping principles. As you walk its paths, you'll discover the first clues leading to the heritage of the Maeda clan, founders of the city and its cultural legacy.
A short distance away, about 300-400 meters, Kanazawa Castle Park awaits. Built in 1583 by Maeda Toshiie, founder of the Kaga Domain (1539-1599), this castle survived two major fires in 1631 and 1881. The Ishikawa Gate, rebuilt in 1788, is an Important Cultural Property of Japan, as is the Sanjikken Nagaya, a 21-bay barracks rebuilt in 1858. Exploring these fortifications will reveal secret passages and coded messages, essential to your quest for the lost Maeda treasure.
Your route then takes you to the Nagamachi Samurai District, a historic residential area from the Edo period (1603-1868). Approximately 20 traditional samurai houses, built between the 17th and 19th centuries, still stand. The Maeda Tosanokami-ke Shiryokan Museum, located at 2-10-17 Kata-machi, exhibits armor and calligraphy from the Tosanokami branch, founded by Maeda Toshimasa. Here, in the heart of Kanazawa's samurai culture, you will decipher riddles related to the clan's warrior traditions, jealously guarded by the descendants of Maeda Toshiie.
The journey continues to Oyama Shrine, a sanctuary dedicated to Maeda Toshiie, the founder of the Kaga Domain. Built in 1599, it is famous for its Meiji Gate from 1875, a unique structure blending traditional and Western styles, and its 6.7-meter stone lantern, one of Japan's largest. This shrine is included in the official 'Kaga Domain MAEDA Clan Historic Sites Tour'. Nearby, the Higashi Chaya District, established in 1820, offers a striking contrast with its 140 traditional tea houses. These places, witnesses to religious life and entertainment in Kanazawa, hide clues beneath their kumiko facades, revealing unsuspected facets of Kansai's heritage.
Finally, your quest leads you to Omicho Market, a traditional market established in 1721 and nicknamed 'Nippon no Daishokudo' (Japan's Great Dining Hall). With its 170 shops, this market, located about 800 meters from Kenroku-en Garden, is the historic commercial center of the Kaga Domain and a major element of Kanazawa's intangible cultural heritage. By wandering through its bustling aisles, you will assemble the final pieces of the puzzle, discovering that the true Maeda treasure is not an object, but the richness and persistence of their cultural and historical legacy that permeates the entire city of Kanazawa.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Samurai Heritage
Dive into the history of the powerful Maeda clan, strategist and protector of Kanazawa.
Cultural Treasures
Discover the refined arts and exceptional craftsmanship that flourished under Maeda patronage.
Tokugawa Strategy
Unravel how the Maeda clan preserved its domain by cultivating art rather than war.
Art Hides Power.
In the shadow of the Shoguns, the splendor of Kanazawa.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
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Your turn to play
Dive into Japan's golden feudal age in Kanazawa, following the footsteps of Maeda Toshiie and the powerful Kaga Domain.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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