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

Source: Wikipedia-Wakuya Castle

Wakuya Town, known as Japan's first gold producing area, is a small town with a population of 16,000 located in Toda District, northern Miyagi Prefecture.
Wakuya Town has Mt. Mitake in the center of the town, and the surrounding plains are lined with rice paddies.
The Wakudani Castle ruins are about 5 minutes by car from the station.

A splendid castle tower-like building that can be seen immediately after passing through the downtown area in front of the station.
What kind of history has it had in the past?
And how is it loved now?

Wakudani Castle, its history

Wakudani Castle, which was the residence of the Osaki clan's vassals, the Wakutani clan, became the residence of the Date clan's vassals, the Watari clan, in 1983.
After the Osaki clan was destroyed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Wakuya Castle became the residence of the Toyotomi family's vassals, the Kimura clan, and was eventually ruled by the Date family's vassals, the Watari clan, due to the Osaki-Kasai clan uprising. .
From then on, the Watari clan was allowed to call itself Date during the era of the third generation, Sadamune, and continued to rule Wakuya Castle as the Wakuya Date clan until the Meiji Restoration.
In the Sendai domain, castle-style residences were called strongholds, so Wakudani Castle ran through the Edo period as Wakudani strongholds, and when the new Meiji government built the prefectural office, it was demolished, leaving only the stone wall and corner turret.
The current Wakuya Castle tower was built as a historical museum in later generations, and exhibits historical materials related to the Wakuya Date clan and items excavated from the Nagane Kaizuka Oido Yokoana Tumulus Group.

Shiroyama Park Cherry Blossom Festival

Wakuya Castle, which is active as a historical museum, is located within Shiroyama Park, which is maintained by Wakuya Town.
Shiroyama Park is known as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot.
From mid-April, when cherry blossoms bloom, this area, along with the Eai River Embankment, becomes the venue for the Cherry Blossom Festival, making the area lively.

Additionally, the ``Tohoku Horse Racing Tournament'' is held on the third Sunday of April.
This is a competition to test the strength of horses, which have played the role of farming and transport.The horses pull a loaded sled and work together with a human to run a 120m course with two obstacles.
Many people visit Wakudani every year to see people and horses working together to overcome obstacles.

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

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