[Miyagi] A famous spot for cherry blossoms in Japan's first gold-producing area! Wakudani Castle Ruins (Shiroyama Park)

Source: Wikipedia-Wakui Castle

Wakuya Town, known as Japan's first gold-producing region, is a small town with a population of 16,000 located in Toda County in northern Miyagi Prefecture.
Mount Kōdake is located in the center of the town, and rice fields line the surrounding plains.
The ruins of Wakuya Castle are located about a five-minute drive from the station.

Just past the busy shopping street in front of the station, you'll see a magnificent castle tower-style building.
What kind of history does it have?
And how is it loved today?

Wakuya Castle and its history

Wakui Castle, the former residence of the Wakui clan, vassals of the Osaki clan, became the residence of the Watari clan, vassals of the Date clan, in 1580. After
the Osaki clan was destroyed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Wakui Castle became the residence of the Kimura clan, a vassal of the Toyotomi clan, but due to an uprising by the Osaki and Kasai clans, it was eventually ruled by the Watari clan, vassals of the Date clan.
From then on, under the third head of the Watari clan, Sadamune, the clan was allowed to use the name Date, and continued to rule Wakui Castle as the Wakui-Date clan until the Meiji Restoration.
In the Sendai domain, castle-style residences were called fortifications, so Wakui Castle remained as the Wakui Fortress throughout the Edo period, and was demolished when the Meiji government built the prefectural office, leaving only the stone walls and corner turrets.
The current Wakui Castle tower was later built as a historical museum, and displays historical documents from the Wakui Date clan and artifacts excavated from the Nagane Kaizuka Oido Yokoana Kofun group.

Shiroyama Park Cherry Blossom Festival

Wakuya Castle, which currently serves as a historical museum, is located within Shiroyama Park, which was developed by Wakuya Town.
Shiroyama Park is known as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot.
From mid-April, when the cherry blossom season arrives, the park, along with the Eai River bank, becomes the venue for the Cherry Blossom Festival, attracting a lot of attention from the local area.

Wakuya also hosts the Tohoku Draft Horse Competition on the third Sunday of April.
This competition pits the strength of horses, which have played a role in farming and transport. Competing horses pull a loaded sled and work together with humans to race down a 120m course with two obstacles.
Many people visit Wakuya every year to see the horses overcome the obstacles as one.

If you want to warm your heart with the bond between people and horses amidst the cherry blossoms in full bloom, why not visit Shiroyama Park?

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