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[Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture] Nihonmatsu Castle, Chrysanthemum Dolls, and Namie Yakisoba! Autumn is the best time to visit the castle town of Nihonmatsu!

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The castle town of Nihonmatsu is home to Mount Adatara, known for the poem "The Real Sky" that appears in Kotaro Takamura's poetry collection "Chieko Sho," and Dake Onsen.The Abukuma River flows through the center of the city, and the city is surrounded by beautiful natural scenery

In the past, the area flourished as a castle town of the Niwa clan of the Nihonmatsu domain, with a fief of 100,000 koku, and many valuable historical sites and cultural assets remain

If you're planning on visiting Nihonmatsu, autumn is the best time to do so! This time, we'll be introducing some sightseeing spots perfect for the coming season. You can also enjoy the local gourmet dish "Namie Yakisoba" in Nihonmatsu. Please take a look

History of Nihonmatsu

The origin of "Nihonmatsu" dates back to 1341, during the early Muromachi period.
It began when Hatakeyama Takakuni, the governor of Oshu Province, built his residence there and changed the place name to Nihonmatsu. It is said to derive from the fact that there were once two sacred pine trees in this area.

During the Edo period, Niwa Nagahide's grandson, Mitsushige, entered the castle. He carried out extensive renovations to the castle, and established the castle town and legal system. The Niwa family continued for 11 generations until the Meiji Restoration, and is still affectionately known as "Niwa-sama."

On Setsubun, there is a custom of throwing beans while shouting "Demons out" (Oni wa soto), which would translate to "Oniwa soto" (Oni wa uchi, Oni soto), to avoid the implication of driving out the feudal lord

Learn at Nihonmatsu Castle News Center

When you come to Nihonmatsu, the first place you shouldthe "Nihonmatsu Castle Information Center," which is the source of information on Nihonmatsu's history and tourism.
It is located right in front of the Prefectural Kasumigajo Park, making it the perfect place to stop by before or after exploring the park.

The first thing you see when you enter the building is the taiko drum float used in the lantern festival. You can get a close-up look at the lantern tower that stretches up to the second floor. With the push of a button, you can hear the music from each region and learn about the differences between each area

Nihonmatsu, a large domain with a stipend of 100,000 koku, saw fierce battles during the Boshin War and fell to its former glory, leaving behind tragic stories such as the deaths of the Nihonmatsu Youth Corps. At the Nihonmatsu History Museum on the first floor, you can learn about the history of Nihonmatsu Castle (Kasumi Castle) and the Nihonmatsu Youth Corps

Learn about the Nihonmatsu Youth Corps

Additionally, the large multi-screen video in the guidance room provides powerful visuals explaining the characteristics of Nihonmatsu Castle's stone walls

Impressive large multi-screen images

Nihonmatsu Castle News Center <Information>

  • Name: Nihonmatsu Castle News Center
  • Address: 303-5 Gurouchi 3-chome, Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0243-22-6630
  • Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
  • Closed: Every Monday (open the following day if Monday is a public holiday), New Year's holiday (December 29th to January 3rd)　
  • Admission: Free (Nihonmatsu History Museum only: 200 yen for adults, 100 yen for high school students and younger)
  • Access: About 5 minutes from Nihonmatsu IC
  • Parking: 44 spaces

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A stroll around Kasumigajo Castle, the site of the Chrysanthemum Doll Festival

After learning about the history and tourist information of Nihonmatsu at the Nihonmatsu Castle News Center, take a stroll around nearby Nihonmatsu Castle (Kasumigajo)

Nihonmatsu Castle is one of Japan's Top 100 Castles.
The name "Kasumigajo" (meaning "castle of mist") comes from the fact that in spring, cherry blossoms bloom throughout the park, making the entire castle appear as if it's shrouded in mist. Locals affectionately call it Kasumigajo.

You can stroll through Kasumigajo Park from Minowa Gate, taking in the sights of Senshintei gardens, Niwa Shrine, the remains of the main citadel, the monument to Doi Bansui's poem, and the monument to the suicide of the Nihonmatsu clan

Minowa Gate

"Nihonmatsu Chrysanthemum Dolls" is a chrysanthemum festival that colors the autumn of Nihonmatsu City

In autumn, the Nihonmatsu Chrysanthemum Doll Festival, one of Japan's three major chrysanthemum doll festivals, is held, and Kasumigajo Park becomes bustling with tourists.In 2023,it has been decided that the chrysanthemum doll display will be themed around Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Nihonmatsu Cityis known as the "Castle Town of Chrysanthemums," and it has had many chrysanthemum enthusiasts since the Edo period. Chrysanthemum dolls have been displayed throughout the city since the early Showa era. The chrysanthemums and chrysanthemum dolls, lovingly cultivated by many enthusiasts, are magnificent! You can also enjoy the autumn foliage in the park at the same time.

Kasumigajo Park <Information>

  • Name: Kasumigajo Park
  • Event: 67th Nihonmatsu Chrysanthemum Dolls
  • Period: October 10th (Tuesday) to November 19th (Sunday), 2020
  • Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (open every day during the period)
  • Venue: Fukushima Prefectural Kasumigajo Park (Nationally designated historic site, Nihonmatsu Castle ruins)
  • Admission fee: Adults 800 yen, disabled people 600 yen, junior high school students and younger free

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Nihonmatsu's hottest event is the Lantern Festival

October is the month when the residents of Nihonmatsu get most excited about the "Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival." Seven floats called taikodai are adorned with approximately 300 bell-shaped lanterns and parade through the city.

The dates for 2023 are scheduled for Saturday, October 7th, Sunday, October 8th, and Monday, October 9th

The highlight of the Lantern Festival is the eve of the festival on the first day. This is the only day when all the neighborhoods gather for a nighttime procession. Seven taiko drum floats, each adorned with countless lanterns, emerge from each neighborhood, transferring the light from the bonfire of Nihonmatsu Shrine to the red lanterns. With the energetic shouts of the young men's association and the accompanying music, the floats parade majestically through the city, and the 3,000 lanterns create a vibrant atmosphere that even the spectators find exciting.
On the second day, the "Mikoshi Togyo," the most important event of the annual festival, takes place.
On the final day of the festival, the floats are paraded through each neighborhood during the day, and then at night, the four neighborhoods and three neighborhoods split into two groups for a joint parade.

(For information on traffic restrictions, temporary parking, etc.,the Nihonmatsu City Tourism Association websiteplease check

Red Spider Lily Festival & Portulaca Festival

at Adachigahara Furusato VillageThe 8th Annual Red Spider Lily Festival & Portulaca Festival is being held. The festival is scheduled to run until early October.

Countless portulaca flowers in red, pink, orange, yellow, and white, as well as white and red spider lilies, are in full bloom. The flowering season is expected to be later than usual, with approximately 2.5 million white and red spider lilies expected to bloom one after another from around September

When you think of spider lilies, you probably imagine bright red flowers, but here you can also see the rare white spider lilies

Adachigahara Furusato Village <Information>

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Enjoy the local gourmet dish "Namie Yakisoba" in Nihonmatsu!

When you visit Nihonmatsu, why not try Namie Yakisoba?

"Namie Yakisoba," which won the Gold Grand Prix at the 8th B-1 Grand Prix in Toyokawa,is characterized by its thick noodles that could easily be mistaken for udon noodles.

Namie Town was forced to evacuate due to the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear accident in 2011. Amidst this situation,"Suginoya,"that had been operating in Namie Town before the relocation, was one of the first to reopen in Nihonmatsu City, where the residents had evacuated.

Served on Ohori Soma ware, Suginoya's yakisoba features thick noodles and simple ingredients of pork and bean sprouts.
Once you've eaten about half, sprinkle on some shichimi garlic. The moderate spiciness and garlic flavor are a perfect match for the yakisoba and will whet your appetite!
Nine horses appear on the plate after you've finished eating. These horses are considered auspicious since ancient times, as the saying goes, "Everything will go well,"and are only awarded to restaurants certified by the "Namie Yakisoba Taikoku," an organization of restaurants that serve "Namie Yakisoba."

There are also many other hearty and original menu items, making this a restaurant you'll want to visit again and again

Suginoya ＜Information＞

  • Name: Suginoya
  • Address: 2-3-1 Honmachi, Nihonmatsu City (1st floor of the Civic Exchange Center)
  • Phone: 0243-24-1215
  • Business hours: 11:00-15:00, 17:00-20:00
  • Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays
  • Parking: Civic Exchange Center Parking

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Autumn is the charm! Nihonmatsu Tourism

The castle town of Nihonmatsu comes alive in autumn with the Lantern Festival and the Chrysanthemum Doll Festival. In addition to these two major events, there are plenty of other festivals and events in each region. We also recommend taking a short stroll around Mount Adatara, where the autumn leaves are at their peak! Please use this as a reference when visiting Nihonmatsu

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