Kakunodate Castle

The samurai quarter is a must see any time of the year if you are in Akita, but it is most famous for its cherry blossoms. Hundreds of cherry blossom trees line the streets of the samurai district and the nearby river. The weeping shidarazakura cherry trees from Kyoto add an especially historic feel

History

When Lord Satake of Ibaraki was reassigned to Akita, the Ashina followed him deciding to settle in Kakunodate. The ruins of the original castle are on top of Mt. Furushiroyama North of the samurai quarter, but there is nothing left to see today.

The town of Kakunodate was originally located to the North of Mt. Furushiroyama. When Ashina Yoshikatsu became lord of Kakunodate he relocated the town to a more suitable location for developing a castle town. It's new location is surrounded by mountains on three sides and open to the Senboku plains to the South by the Tamagawa River. Kakunodate was once the largest castle town in the Akita region. The famous weeping cherry blossom trees were also brought to Kakunodate by the Ashina, descendents of Kyoto aristocrats.

Field Notes

The samurai quarter is a must see any time of the year if you are in Akita, but it is most famous for its cherry blossoms. Hundreds of cherry blossom trees line the streets of the samurai district and the nearby river. The weeping shidarazakura cherry trees from Kyoto add an especially historic feel to the samurai homes. It is worth making the trip here from far away for the cherry blossom season. I visited during that time in 1998, but have no pictures available.

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Gallery

The castle is atop this mountain
Side Bailey off the main bailey
View of the town from a side bailey
View from a side Bailey off the main bailey
Entrance to the hiking trail
Hiking trail
Small bailey
Main Bailey
Main Bailey
Small bailey
Trail
Main Bailey
Main Bailey
Main Bailey
Memorial in the middle of the main bailey
Baileys leading to the Otemon
Baileys leading to the Otemon
series of stepped baileys
Original gate repurposed at the Ten'eiji Temple
Original gate repurposed at the Ten'eiji Temple
Map of the castle
Castle town
Dogleg road in the castle town
Dogleg street junction
Castle town
Wall of the castle town
Samurai quarter
Wall of the samurai quarter
Samurai quarter
Wall of the samurai quarter
Map of the castle town
Map of the samurai quarter

Castle Profile
English Name	Kakunodate Castle
Japanese Name	角館城
Alternate Names	Asakura-jo, Ryugasaki-jo
Founder	Ashina Yoshikatsu
Year Founded	1620
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	samurai homes, castle town
Visitor Information
Access	Kakunodate Station (Akita Shinkansen); 15 minute walk
Hours
Time Required
URL	Castle Website
Location	Semboku, Akita Prefecture
Coordinates	39.60653, 140.56273
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	1999
Admin Year Visited	1998, 2004
Admin Visits	April, 1998; Aug 8, 2004

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