Senshu Park, the best cherry blossom viewing spot in Akita City

A park where the ruins of Kubota Castle, the residence of the Satake clan, are maintained.

Senshu Park in Akita City, Akita Prefecture is the ruins of Kubota Castle, the residence of the Satake clan, the lord of the Akita domain. It has been loved by the citizens of Akita ever since it was developed as a park in 1890, designed by Yasuhei Nagaoka. The origin of the name is said to be a combination of Akita's ``autumn'' and the kanji ``thousand'', which symbolizes a long prayer for prosperity.

Photo by Takeshi KOUNO – Kubota Castle Osumi Yagura (2016) / Size-adapted.

Many historic buildings remain, such as the Kubota Castle Osumi Yagura and the Kubota Castle front gate. From Osumi Yagura you can see a panoramic view of Akita City, and beyond that the Sea of ​​Japan stretches out. Admission to Osumi Yagura is 100 yen for the general public and free for high school students and younger. Please note that the museum is closed from December 1st to March 31st of the following year.

Although Senshu Park is located in the center of Akita City, it is full of greenery, and you can enjoy the beautiful nature of each season as you stroll through it. It is also one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in Akita City, and many people from inside and outside the prefecture visit during the cherry blossom festival before the long holidays. There are 761 cherry blossoms of 6 different types, including Yoshino cherry, weeping cherry, and double cherry blossom, which create a truly luxurious atmosphere. Shortly after the cherry blossom season ends, the azaleas bloom profusely, and in the summer, the lotus flowers blooming in the moat are a sight to behold.

In autumn, when the flower season ends, different colors entertain us. It's autumn leaves. In a normal year, the leaves start to change color in late October, and the best time to see them is in early November. The area around the Honmaru Omote Gate is particularly famous for its beauty. The Honmaru main gate with fiery deep red leaves is so beautiful that it will take your breath away. Akita's bright natural beauty before the long, cold winter attracts many people.

In addition to plants, you can also see many wild birds. In addition to ducks, you can also see herons, mandarin ducks, and kingfishers in the moat. If you're lucky, you might be able to witness the moment a kingfisher catches a fish. Also, as you go deeper into the park, you can see woodpeckers such as the Japanese woodpecker, red-headed woodpecker, and green woodpecker, as well as woodpeckers, great tits, and cute long-tailed tits. Although it is very difficult to find them, some people have even seen owls and flycatchers. For this reason, many bird enthusiasts visit with binoculars and cameras.

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