🗺️ Kakunodate Samurai Residences

Semboku City in Akita Prefecture boasts a well-preserved streetscape that retains the charm of bygone days. Kakunodate was established around 1620 during the early Edo period by the Ahn family, a powerful clan from the Tohoku region during the Warring States period. It later flourished as a castle town for the Satake clan and has been designated by the Japanese government as a "National Important Traditional Building Preservation District." This area is home to six samurai residences known as "Buke Yashiki," which have been well-preserved since the Edo period. The street characterized by black lacquered wooden fences is called "Buke Yashiki-dori," adorned with weeping cherry trees and other foliage, offering beautiful scenery in every season. Strolling through this area allows one to deeply appreciate the aesthetic cultivated by history. Among the many samurai residences, the most famous is the "Kakunodate Historical Village Aoyagi Family," designated as an important cultural property by Akita Prefecture. The Aoyagi family was once the most powerful vassals of the Ahn clan. The estate is expansive and includes the main house, an armory, and a samurai tools museum, showcasing over 30,000 historical artifacts such as armor and crafts that have been carefully preserved and passed down through generations. The main gate features an elegant "Yakuin-mon" structure, which is also the symbol of the Aoyagi family.

A region that retains the appearance of the former samurai residences. There are several samurai houses available for visiting. It has been designated as a preservation area for important national traditional buildings. The scenery of the weeping cherry blossoms in spring contrasting with the blackboard walls is truly enchanting. You can also take a rickshaw tour.