🗺️ Tsuruoka Park鶴岡公園

Tsuruoka Castle was the residence of the Sakai family, the lords of the Shonai domain, for 250 years. Today, the site of the former castle has been renovated, preserving the moat, stone walls, and ancient cedar trees that are said to be hundreds of years old, making it a park where one can feel the grandeur of the past. This park, selected as one of Japan's "Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots," primarily features Somei Yoshino cherry trees, along with about 710 other cherry trees, including Yaezakura and Shidarezakura. They bloom in full from early to mid-April. During the blooming season, the "Tsuruoka Cherry Blossom Festival" is held, creating a lively festival atmosphere with lanterns and food stalls. In addition to cherry blossoms, the "Iris Garden" is filled with irises, Japanese irises, and giant cedars covered in vines, showcasing beautiful flowers that bloom with the seasons, such as the cascading "Taki Fuji." Within Tsuruoka Park, the "Daihokan" is a Western-style building from the Taisho era, characterized by its red circular roof and white walls. It now serves as a museum to introduce historical figures from Tsuruoka. There is also the "Shuhei Fujisawa Memorial Museum," which collects materials related to the era novelist Shuhei Fujisawa, along with the Shonai Shrine. The park has become a gathering place for various historical and cultural highlights.

The castle site park located on the former grounds of "Tsuruoka Castle." It retains the moat and stone walls, allowing visitors to feel the former splendor of Tsuruoka Castle. Selected as one of Japan's "Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots," it is home to approximately 710 cherry trees and numerous seasonal flowers. Every year, a lively "Tsuruoka Cherry Blossom Festival" is held in conjunction with the cherry blossom season. Within the park, there is the "Daihōkan," which repurposes Western-style architecture from the Taisho era into a museum.