This site is a web media that delivers all kinds of trivia, from sightseeing and gourmet spots in the six Tohoku prefectures to local, customs, and history.
More than 800 years have passed since the Sengoku period feudal lord Soma clan was given Namekata District, Mutsu Province (Minamisoma City and Iitate Village) in northern Fukushima Prefecture by Minamoto no Yoritomo, and even in the Reiwa era, the culture created by the Soma clan still remains strong in the Soma region of Fukushima Prefecture
The era of the Soma clan lasted for about 680 years until the Meiji era, when it came to an end with the abolition of feudal domains and the establishment of prefectures, and gave birth to folk culture such as the "Soma Nomaoi" (Soma Wild Horse Chase), "Soma Bon Song" and "Soma Nagareyama"
The Soma clan, a warrior clan from Bando who received the land of Oshu from Minamoto no Yoritomo
The Soma clan is said to have originated from the Chiba clan, a clan of Bando warriors who ruled Shimousa Province, which straddles present-day Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures, at the end of the Eian period
The clan began when Morotsune, the second son of the feudal lord Chiba Tsunetane, inherited the area known as Soma Mikuriya in the northern part of Shimousa Province (present-day Toride City, Ibaraki Prefecture, to Kashiwa City, Nagareyama City, and Abiko City, Chiba Prefecture), and took the name of the Soma clan
Soma Shigetsune participated in the battle in which Minamoto no Yoritomo annihilated the Oshu Fujiwara clan (Oshu War, 1189) and distinguished himself, for which he was awarded Namegata County as a reward. For a time, the Soma clan held territories in Shimousa Province (the Shimousa Soma clan) and Oshu (the Oshu Soma clan), but for about 130 years they did not have a castle in their Oshu territory and instead managed it from Shimousa Province
Later, in 1323, the sixth head of the Oshu Soma clan, Soma Shigetane, led 83 vassals (some say around 30) into Namegata County, Mutsu Province, and began to rule the Oshu region directly
The first castle of the Oshu Soma clan was "Besshokan"
The first land bestowed upon the Soma clan was Namegata County, Mutsu Province, which corresponds to present-day Minamisoma City and Iitate Village, and Shigetane first made Bessho-no-tate, located in Ota Village (present-day Haramachi Ward, Minamisoma City), his castle
Besshokan was the residence of the Miura clan, who held important positions in the Kamakura shogunate, and is said to have been surrendered when Shigetane entered the castle. No buildings remain today, but remnants can be found within the grounds of Soma Ota Shrine
Soma Ota Shrine is one of three shrines dedicated to Myoken Bodhisattva, the guardian deity of the Oshu Soma clan, and is known as the starting shrine for the heroic festival Soma Nomaoi, which is now designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan
Shigetane stayed at Bessho-kan for about three years, and in 1326 he moved to a mansion in Odaka (present-day Odaka Ward, Minamisoma City), about 5km away, and in 1336 it was renovated to look like a castle. This Odaka Castle was the castle of the Oshu Soma clan, except for a short period, until 1611 when they moved their base to Nakamura Castle
No buildings remain from Odaka Castle, and only the remains can be found on a small hill within the grounds of Soma Odaka Shrine. Soma Odaka Shrine is one of the three Soma Myoken shrines and is the departure shrine for the Soma Nomaoi festival
Odaka Castle Ruins <Information>
Name: Odaka Castle Ruins
Address: Odaka Castle, Odaka Ward, Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture, 979-2102
The northernmost region seized in battle against Date Masamune
The Oshu Soma clan greatly expanded its power from the Kamakura period through the Sengoku period, expanding its territory from Namegata County to neighboring Shireha County (present-day Okuma Town, Namie Town, Futaba Town, and Katsurao Village) to the south and Uda County (Soma City and Shinchi Town) to the north
However, the northernmost part of Uta County, the area where Shinchi Town is now located, was taken away after a battle with the Date clan, who held great influence north of the Oshu Soma clan
The Oshu Soma clan resisted the attacks of the Date clan by building forts such as Shinchi Castle and Komagamine Castle, but they were unable to withstand the power of the Date clan led by Date Masamune. From 1589 until the Meiji period, this area was under the control of the Date Sendai Domain
Currently, 30,000 tulips of about 40 varieties are planted at the site of Shinchi Castle, and it is crowded with tourists in the spring. A stone monument has been erected at the site of Komagamine Castle, which was also known as Gagyu Castle, but no remains remain
The arch-rival Date clan saves the territory from confiscation
During the period of great change from the Sengoku period to the Edo period, the Oshu Soma clan sided with Toyotomi and their territory was protected, but the 16th head of the family, Soma Yoshitane, decided to build a castle stronger than Odaka Castle
In 1595, they began building Murakami Castle along the coast about 3km east of Odaka Castle (Odaka Ward, Minamisoma City), but abandoned the construction due to a fire. Soon after, they renovated Ushigoe Castle, which was originally the castle of the Ushigoe clan, who had been destroyed by the Oshu Soma clan, and moved there from Odaka Castle in 1597
Soon after, the Battle of Sekigahara broke out. Because the Oshu Soma clan had maintained a neutral stance, they were reprimanded by Tokugawa Ieyasu after the war and had their territory confiscated for a time
This was the biggest crisis for the Oshu Soma clan, but for some reason, their arch-rival, the Date clan, is said to have intervened with Ieyasu, and they were able to regain power. Due to this incident, Yoshitane decided that Ushigoe Castle was bad luck, so he moved his castle back to his original castle, Odaka Castle, and abandoned Ushigoe Castle
Murakami Castle Ruins <Information>
Name: Murakami Castle Ruins
Address: Murakami-tatekoshi-tateuchi, Odaka-ku, Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture, 979-2141
Address: Ushigoe Castle Town, Haramachi Ward, Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture, 975-0017 *Entry prohibited as it is within the water source area
telephone number:-
Official URL:-
Google Map
Nakamura Castle, the base of the Soma Nakamura Domain
"Oshu Nakamura Castle" in "Illustrated Map of Old Japanese Castles" Collection: National Diet Library
Having overcome the crisis, the Oshu Soma clan was granted the same territory as before (Namegata, Shireha, and Uta counties, excluding Shinchi) as well as 60,000 koku by the shogunate, and thus officially became daimyo
The first lord of the domain was Yoshitane's eldest son, Toshitane Soma. Toshitane built a castle in Nakamura (Nakamura, Soma City) in 1611 and moved there from Odaka Castle. From then on, the Oshu Soma clan ruled the domain from Nakamura Castle for about 260 years until the end of the Edo period
Nakamura Castle, the castle of the Oshu Soma Domain, is also known as Baryojo Castle. Although the actual building no longer exists, the remains show that it was quite large and solidly built
The Nakamura Castle ruins have been renovated into a public park called "Mashiro Park"
Nakamura Castle has now been developed as Mare Ridge Park, and is open to the public as a place of relaxation. It is particularly famous as a spot to view cherry blossoms and autumn leaves. Within the castle ruins is Soma Nakamura Shrine, one of the three major Myoken shrines in Soma, where the departure ceremony for Uta-go (Soma City) is held during the Soma Nomaoi festival
My love of travel grew, and I used to write a travel magazine, and now I'm a travel writer for the web. During my research, I visited all 47 prefectures in Japan, mainly in the Tohoku region, but my fun part is soaking in hot springs and experiencing traditional Japanese culture such as old townscapes, lifestyles, and performing arts and crafts.
![Cream cheese pickled in miso](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/92937720588608639b30761c2d56c4c3-150x150.jpg.webp "A taste review of "Miso-pickled Cream Cheese," a delicious snack to enjoy with local sake [Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture]")
