Tsurugajo

Tsurugajo, Symbol of Aizu- Wakamatsu City

Tsurugajo Castle was rebuilt in 1965 in accordance with its original design. It symbolizes the samurai culture in Aizu- Wakamatsu, the oldest town in Fukushima Prefecture.
Ashina Naomori built the Higashi Kurokawa Yakata, the first castle building, in 1384. In 1593, Gamou Ujisato finished building the rest of the castle and changed the name to "Tsurugajo". The stone wall, also completed at that time, still remains to be the foundation of the entire castle area even 400 years later.

Spring Tsurugajyo
illumination Ceremony

During the end of the Edo Period, the Aizu soldiers were involved in the Boshin Civil War, which was continued from the Toba Fushimi War. They were defeated after about one month of fighting to protect the castle. The new government destroyed the castle in 1874, (the 7th year of Meiji).
In 1990, Rinkaku, the tea ceremony house that was used by SennoShoan, was rebuilt in the Honmaru area. In 2000, the Hoshii Yagura and the Minami Hashiri Nagaya were also rebuilt. The Hoshii Yagura was a stock house for food and the Minami Hashiri Nagaya was the bridge house between the castle tower and Hoshii Yagura. Visitors can enjoy viewing inside of both buildings.
The castle stands on a hill 3km. east of Aizu- Wakamatsu Station. It is surrounded by a thousand cherry trees, innumerable evergreens, a stone wall and moat. The white tower rising high in the blue sky provides a splendid view of the entire Aizu valley.
The 5-story castle serves as a local history museum. The first floor contains materials pertaining to the Buddhist culture in the Aizu area and Aizu rulers'. The second floor holds famous antique lacquer ware and pottery. The third floor holds items connected with the Boshin War are located on the next two floors. The forth floor focuses on the famous Byakkotai pictures, the White Tiger Band, a group of loyal youths who met a tragic end during the war. The fifth floor functions as an observation platform. There is an interesting display of antiques in the long one-story wing Hashiri Nagaya, which extends from the southern end of the castle. In the back of the castle tawor ,visitors are welcome to use the rest area and information center.
Although each season has its own special charm, the castle grounds are particularly lovely in the end of April, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and autumn, when the leaves are turning color.

History comes to life in multi-colored splendor during the Aizu Autumn Festival

The highlight of the Aizu Autumn Festival is the samurai parade on September 23rd. The procession, which begins at the castle and a passes through the main streets of the city, suggests a large-scale filming location for an old Japanese movie. Every former owner of the castle (from the Ashina to the Matsudaira lords) is represented in the procession, dressed in their armor and helmets, accompanied by their retainers (more than 500 people), a prince and princess, and members of the Byakkotai. It is like a colorful historical picture scroll unfolding before the viewers' eyes.

Aizu- Wakamatsu (pop.120, 000) lies in the middle of Fukushima-ken, a prefecture at the southern end of the Tohoku region. The town dates back more than a thousand years, and even today many old temples and historical sites remain.

After the construction of Tsurugajo, the city flourished as the center of warrior culture. Although the castle was destroyed soon after the collapse of the Tokugawa Shogun, stories about the castle and many vestiges of the castle town still remain.
In addition to its rich history, Aizu is famous for its spectacular natural scenery. The area around Bandai san (Mt. Bandai), northeast of Aizu- Wakamatsu, has been declared a national park. Viewed from the city, the mountain appears to have a soft and gentle shape. However, various volcanic eruptions have given the northern side a rather rugged appearance, which can be viewed from the Bandai Plateau.
The plateau contains about 300 lakes and marshes, and is popular for year-round sports such as skiing and fishing. It is also an ideal area for taking a scenic drive. Inawashiro ko (Lake Inawashiro), on the south side of the mountain, is the third largest lake in Japan. One of the clearest lakes in the world, it collects melted snow from Bandai san, and is known as the "Heavenly Mirror Lake".Along with lovely scenery, Bandai san is rich in onsen (hot springs).

The Higashiyama and Ashinomaki onsen resorts have many hotels and almost all of them draw hot water directly from the main springs. In addition to having splendid indoor baths, many places offer outdoor facilities known as rotenburo, which enable guests to enjoy the wonderful scenery while relaxing in the great outdoors.
Today, the sake and lacquer ware traditions are two of the main industries in Aizu- Wakamatsu, and they have been handed down from generation to generation over hundreds of years. Among this rich history, Aizu also enjoys being a center for modern education and technology. Aizu University opened in 1993. This unique university specializes in computer science and computer studies. As "The city with both a castle and a university", one of the aims of Aizu Wakamatsu is to form good relationships with people from foreign countries.