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

Just a five-minute walk from the west exit of Akita Station, you'll notice a large park hidden among the shops and buildings. In season, lotus flowers bloom in the large moat, and the pond is filled with fish. Senshu Park is a historic site perfect for a stroll, surrounded by nature despite its location close to the station. We'll introduce you to this castle park, a must-visit when you visit Akita

What is Senshu Park, the site of the Satake clan's castle?

Senshu Park was built on the site of Kubota Castle, the castle of the Satake clan, who ruled the Akita domain until the Meiji Restoration. Kubota Castle is unique in that it was built without stone walls or a castle tower, making use of the natural terrain. Although it is a castle ruins park, the castle from that time does not remain

The park was developed during the Meiji period and was designed by Nagaoka Yasuhei, a pioneer of modern park design in Japan. It was named by Kano Ryochi, a Chinese scholar from Akita Prefecture. The name was created by combining the character for "Akita" (autumn) with the character for "sen" (thousand), which represents a long period of time, to form the name "Senshuen," which eventually became the name we know today as Senshu Park

Originally owned by the Satake clan, it was donated to Akita City by the 15th head of the Satake clan in 1984. Today, it is known nationwide as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in the spring. It has also been selected as one of Japan's 100 best urban parks, 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots, and 100 best castles

Seasonal flowers and animals

Senshu Park is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, and in late April, many stalls are set up within the park. There are 758 cherry trees in bloom throughout the park, so you can enjoy typical cherry blossom viewing foods such as okonomiyaki, yakisoba, and takoyaki while the petals fall

At night, the park is bustling with people who come to see the cherry blossoms and share drinks

The park is not only home to cherry blossoms, but also a treasure trove of flora and fauna. These are fish in the moat. They come right up to you. The photo above shows a bird looking for fish. While strolling through the park, you may come across scenes of birds catching fish. The bird didn't seem surprised when photography enthusiasts pointed their cameras at it, and just stood leisurely in the center of the moat

In this moat, you can enjoy the beautiful pink lotus flowers from early July until around Obon. A scholar from Akita and a prefectural official transplanted the flowers with the dream of filling the moat with lotus flowers, and after much trial and error, they have grown into the beautiful lotus flowers we see today

Lotus flowers are known for their faint, sweet fragrance. When walking along the sidewalk, you can smell the lotus scent on the wind. The scent of lotus is the scent of summer in Akita

There are also museums and art galleries nearby

There is a Satake clan museum within the park. The Satake clan is said to be an ancient clan that originally descended from the Minamoto clan. The Satake clan's historical materials are on display at the Satake museum. It is located right after entering the park, so it's a great place to learn about history while strolling around the park

Across the road from Senshu Park is the Akita Prefectural Museum of Art. It holds various exhibitions for different periods, so you can drop in after a stroll through the park and enjoy the paintings. The museum also has a cafe with a great view of Senshu Park

The Akita Museum of Art is located within the grounds of Area Nakaichi, a commercial and art facility. It is a large facility, so you can easily find it from the park

lastly

Senshu Park is filled with the history of Akita City. Although it is now maintained as a park, when you see the magnificent cherry trees, you will surely feel moved by the fact that these trees must have been cherished by people in the past

It's conveniently located just a five-minute walk from Akita Station. The park suddenly appears among the buildings and shops, evoking a sense of nostalgia. It's a place you'll want to visit at least once if you're in Akita

INFORMATION

ako

Writer living in Akita Prefecture. We will spread the charm of Akita, from minor things to major things!