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Posts tagged Castles
A Trip To Wakuya Castle
Mar 21st, 2009
Friday was a national holiday in Japan, Shunbun no hi (春分の日), also known as Spring Equinox. I needed to buy some duct tape, and tools to dismantle my home gym as the packing slowly rounds into form. I figured I’d also make it out to Wakuya and check out the remains of its castle since the weather was so nice.
From the JNTO Website:
Watari Shigemune, a military commander, became the governor of Wakuya Castle (Wakuya-jo) in 1591, and for 277 years from that time the castle remained in the possession of the Sendai Clan, which governed this region. Backed by a hill and guarded at the front by the river, Wakuya Castle was a natural fortress. It had no castle tower but instead a row of buildings resembling manors. It was completely destroyed by accidental fire in 1689, then rebuilt over a period of several years. When political power shifted from the Edo Shogunate to the Meiji Government in the mid-19th century, many castles, symbols of the samurai’s political power, were destroyed, including most of the buildings of Wakuya Castle. Only the stone walls and the taikodo turret now remain. A three-storied tower-like building stands adjacent to the castle, exhibiting related materials.
The small park where the castle resides looks like it would be really nice in the spring when the cherry blossoms bloom. I will be somewhere else during Hanami however. Shiroishi or Kakunodate are on the short list this year.
Riding the Loople Bus
Feb 22nd, 2009
Still digging through photos from last year, this time stumbling across a set from March. Kyoko’s best friend came up from Saitama to visit, so we spent the day in Sendai doing some sightseeing. To be honest there isn’t much historical sightseeing to be done in Sendai proper, but we hopped on the Sendai Loop Bus which takes you around to see the sights.
First stop was the site of Aoba Castle. A giant fire destroyed a lot of the castle in 1882, then the Americans obliterated what was left back in 1945, so there actually isn’t anything to see. I guess the only thing you can see is the view that you would’ve seen if you were looking from the castle out towards what is now downtown Sendai.
All I had was my cellphone camera =/
After that we hopped back on the bus and headed to Zuihoden Mausoleum, where the famous feudal lord Masamune Date rests. Lined with tall cedar trees, it’s a nice peaceful place for a stroll.
We’ll definitely head back up to the Aoba Castle grounds after we move to Sendai next month. I think it would be a cool place to go in the evening to relax, drink a beverage, and enjoy the view.