Fukushima
FUKUSHIMAAizuwakamatsu, a castle town where the history of the last days of the samurai is still alive.
Tsurugajo Castle, the Byakkotai, and a samurai residence.
Here is Aizu as I actually walked it.
01What is Fukushima like?ABOUT
Fukushima Prefecture lies in the south of the Tohoku region and is the third largest prefecture in Japan by area, after Hokkaido and Iwate. It is divided into three regions, Hamadori, Nakadori and Aizu, each with its own climate and culture.
Aizuwakamatsu City, the center of the western Aizu region, is a historic town that prospered as the castle town of the Aizu domain. Along with Tsurugajo Castle, it has sites tied to the Byakkotai who fought in the Boshin War, and the Aizu Samurai Residence, a reconstruction of the home of chief retainer Saigo Tanomo.
02Area GuideAREA GUIDE
Aizuwakamatsu City
Aizuwakamatsu City prospered as the castle town of the Aizu domain. You can visit sites tied to the Boshin War: Tsurugajo Castle, once called impregnable; the Former Takizawa Honjin, where the Byakkotai received their order to march; and the Aizu Samurai Residence, a reconstruction of chief retainer Saigo Tanomo’s home.
Tsurugajo Castle (Aizuwakamatsu Castle) Guide｜History, the Boshin War & Top Sights
The History of Tsurugajo Castle: From the Ashina Clan to the Boshin War
Former Takizawa Honjin, Aizuwakamatsu: Where the Byakkotai Marched to War
Aizu Samurai Residence, Fukushima: A Visitor’s Guide to the Saigo Tanomo House
(Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima) A Trip to Aizuwakamatsu to Learn the History of the Byakkotai (Japanese)
03Travel TipsTRAVEL TIPS
The heart of sightseeing in Aizu. Learning the castle’s history first makes the other sites more enjoyable.
Highlights of Tsurugajo CastleThis article follows the story from the Ashina clan era to the founding of the Aizu domain.
History of Tsurugajo CastleBullet holes and sword cuts left by the Boshin War remain at the Former Takizawa Honjin.
Former Takizawa Honjin articleAt the Aizu Samurai Residence, you can see life in a chief retainer’s home and learn the story of the Saigo Tanomo family.
Aizu Samurai Residence article
