A famous spot 5 minutes walk from Akita Station! Historic Park《Chishu Park》

After leaving the west exit of Akita Station and walking for about 5 minutes, you will notice a large park hidden among the shops and buildings. Lotus flowers bloom in the large moat during the season, and many fish swim in the pond. Senshu Park is a historic site that is close to the station, yet full of nature and perfect for a stroll. We would like to introduce you to the castle ruins park that you should visit at least once when visiting Akita.

What is Senshu Park, the castle ruins of the Satake clan?

Senshu Park is a park built on the ruins of Kubota Castle, the residence of the Satake clan that ruled the Akita domain until the restoration of land ownership in the Meiji era. Kubota Castle is characterized by the fact that it was built using the natural topography without building stone walls or a castle tower. Although it is a castle park, there are no remains of the original castle.

It was developed as a park during the Meiji era, and was designed by Yasuhei Nagaoka, a pioneer of modern park design in Japan. It was named by Yoshichi Kano, a Chinese scholar from Akita Prefecture. The park was named ``Senshuen'' by using the ``thousand'' in the Akita prefecture's ``autumn'' character, which represents a long period of time, and eventually changed to its current name, Senshu Park.

It originally belonged to the Satake clan, but was donated to Akita City in 1982 by the 15th generation of the Satake clan. Nowadays, it is known nationwide as a famous spot for cherry blossom viewing in spring. It has also been selected as one of Japan's Top 100 City Parks, Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots, and Japan's Top 100 Castles.

seasonal flowers and animals

Senshu Park is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, and in late April there are many stalls lined up in the park. The number of cherry blossoms is 758. They are blooming all over the park, so you can enjoy okonomiyaki, yakisoba, takoyaki, and other typical cherry blossom viewing gourmet dishes while the petals are falling.

At night, the area is crowded with people who come to see the cherry blossoms at night and drink together.

The park is a treasure trove of not only cherry blossoms but also flora and fauna. This is a fish from the moat. I'll come right up to you. The photo above shows a bird looking for fish. While walking around the park, you may come across scenes of birds catching fish. It didn't seem surprised when people who liked photography pointed their cameras at it, and it just stood leisurely in the center of the moat.

In this moat, you can enjoy many lotuses with beautiful pink flowers from early July to around Obon. Dreaming of a moat filled with lotuses, a scholar from Akita and a prefectural official transplanted the flowers, and through trial and error, the beautiful lotuses we see today were created.

Lotus is characterized by a faint sweet scent. As you walk along the sidewalk on the side, you can smell the scent of lotuses on the wind. The lotus scent is the summer scent of Akita.

There are also museums and art museums nearby.

There is a museum dedicated to Mr. Satake in the park. The Satake clan is said to be an old family descended from the Minamoto clan. The Satake Museum displays historical materials related to the Satake clan. It's located right after entering the park, so it's a good idea to study history while walking around the park.

Across the road from Senshu Park is the Akita Prefectural Museum of Art. Various exhibitions are held every season, so you can stop by after strolling through the park and enjoy the paintings. There is also a cafe inside the museum with a great view overlooking Senshu Park.

The Akita Prefectural Museum of Art is located on the premises of a commercial and art facility called Area Nakaichi. It's a large facility, so you can easily see it from the park.

lastly

Senshu Park is filled with the history of Akita City. Nowadays, it is maintained as a park, but when you see the magnificent cherry blossom trees, you will no doubt be moved by the way people in the past cherished these trees.

It is in a good location, about 5 minutes walk from Akita Station. The sight of a park suddenly appearing inside a building or store will give you a sense of nostalgia. This is a place you should visit at least once when visiting Akita.

INFORMATION