Fukushima Kasumigajo Park is the former residence of Niwa 100,000 goku of the Nihonmatsu clan. This castle fell during the Boshin War, and its tragic story is preserved in the Nihonmatsu Boys’ Club.
In 1982, the Minowamon gate and the second floor turret were rebuilt, and the area is now maintained as a prefectural natural park.
In the park, visitors can enjoy beautiful seasonal scenery such as cherry blossoms, azaleas, autumn leaves, and even chrysanthemum doll exhibitions. In addition, the Chieko Sho Poetic Monument is located on a hill on the south side of the park.
The park is especially well-known for its cherry blossoms, which are grown on the ruins of Nihonmatsu Castle. 5,000 cherry trees, mostly Someiyoshino cherry trees, are at their best in mid-April.
During the Cherry Blossom Festival, the area is illuminated with lights.
In mid-May, beautiful wisteria along Kasumi Pond is at its best. And in the fall, the park is known as the site of the “Nihonmatsu Chrysanthemum Dolls” exhibition.
Visitors to the park can enjoy the charm of the four seasons while experiencing the beauty of nature and history.
Nihonmatsu Castle, also known as Kasumigajo or Shirohata Castle, is one of the 100 most famous castles in Japan. It is also designated as a national historic site, and Kasumigajo Park has been selected as one of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan.
Nihonmatsu Castle is located north of Nihonmatsu city center and is a ladder-style flat mountain castle built on a 345-meter-high mountain called “Shirahata-ga-mine. During the Edo period, the castle served as the residence of the Niwa clan, lords of the Nihonmatsu domain.
Nihonmatsu Castle (also known as Kasumigajo) was built by Mitsushige Niwa, the first lord of Nihonmatsu, and was completed in 1643. At that time, Nihonmatsu was a large domain with a population of 100,000 koku, and the Boshin War saw fierce battles and sad events such as the death of Nihonmatsu boys in battle. Today, a part of the ruins of the castle remains as a stone wall and is maintained as a prefectural natural park, attracting many visitors.
In spring, approximately 2,500 Someiyoshino and Yamazakura cherry trees bloom throughout the park, and the sight of the castle ruins enveloped in a haze of cherry blossoms captivates the hearts of visitors. In the fall, the park becomes the site of the “Nihonmatsu Chrysanthemum Dolls” exhibition, which attracts many tourists. The autumn foliage is also beautiful, and the Kasumigaike Pond, Ruri-ike Pond, and the area around the umbrella pine trees are lit up, creating an atmospheric scene where the surface of the water is colored azure and deep red.
Nihonmatsu Castle Ruins is known as a place of scenic beauty that changes with the seasons. Cherry blossoms in spring, azaleas and wisteria in May, hydrangeas in July, and autumnal leaves in early November, offer a variety of scenery as the seasons change.
Open 24 hours
No holidays
Free admission
20 minutes on foot from Nihonmatsu Station on the JR Tohoku Main Line
5 minutes drive from Nihonmatsu IC on Tohoku Expressway