The inner bailey was 200 meters square and located at the middle part of western edge, surrounded by moats, with smaller enclosures to the north, east and south.

The design was influenced by the Jurakudai palace of Toyotomi Hideyoshi in Kyoto, as the small secondary enclosures were poorly designed for defence, but were instead intended to enhance the prestige of the inner bailey as well as to provide beautiful views along the moats.

The reason for his early retirement is uncertain, but one reason could have been that he wanted to ensure the succession of the Maeda clan by turning the position of daimyō to his younger brother Maeda Toshitsune, who was married to the daughter of shōgun Tokugawa Hidetada.

The design of the castle was done by Takayama Ukon, who had been exiled to Kaga Province by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Within the castle grounds were also a sake brewery, salt warehouses, a gunpowder factory, and the offices of the local governor, the Takaoka Machi-bugyō.

[4] The castle ruins are located about ten minutes on foot from Takaoka Station on the JR West Hokuriku Main Line, or a five minute walk from Etchū-Nakagawa Station on the Himi Line.