🗺️ Tsuruno Castle (Wakamatsu Castle)

Tsuruga Castle is famous as a cherry blossom viewing spot and is a symbol of Aizuwakamatsu City in Fukushima Prefecture. Its official name is Wakamatsu Castle, and it is also known as Aizu Castle or Aizuwakamatsu Castle. It is the only castle in Japan with a red-tiled roof on its tenshu (main keep), preserving the beautiful architecture from the feudal era nearly 500 years ago to the present day. In the late 16th century, Gamō Ujisato, who was instructed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to relocate, built a modern castle here complete with stone walls and a tenshu, while changing the original name of the area from Kurokawa to Wakamatsu. The name Tsuruga Castle is said to come from Ujisato's childhood name "Tsuruchiyo" (though there are various theories). From 1643, it became the residence of the Aizu Matsudaira family. During the Boshin War, which began in January 1868 at the end of the Edo period, the battlefield extended to Aizu in August, and on August 22, a siege began. The new government forces bombarded the castle for a month without being able to capture it, earning it the title of "the impregnable famous castle." However, the fierce battles caused severe damage to the castle, leading to its demolition in 1874, leaving only the stone walls. After World War II, restoration work truly began, and the tenshu we see today was rebuilt in 1965 using reinforced concrete. Inside the tenshu is the "Wakamatsu Castle Tenshu Local Museum," which displays historical materials related to the area. From the tenshu, one can overlook the city of Aizu and the site where the Byakkotai (White Tiger Brigade) committed seppuku on Iimoriyama. The ruins of Wakamatsu Castle have also been designated as a national historic site, and every spring, about 1,000 cherry blossom trees bloom within the castle grounds. There is also a tea room called "Rinkaku," established by Sen no Rikyū's son, Shōan, located within the castle.

In addition to the castle tower, don't miss the "Kanbai Yagura and Nansō Nagaya," which have been restored using Edo period construction methods. The nighttime illumination during the blooming of 1,000 cherry blossom trees is incredibly beautiful (nighttime illumination is implemented year-round). You can enjoy matcha at the exquisite tea room Rinkaku (for a fee). Nighttime illumination is available from sunset until 10 PM (Aizu Shakyōtei).