This site is an online media that delivers all sorts of trivia about the six Tohoku prefectures, from sightseeing and gourmet spots to local customs, history, and more
Kakunodate, which was founded by the Tozawa clan during the Sengoku period and built by the Ashina clan during the Edo period [Senboku City's highlights ②]
Kakunodate, which was founded by the Tozawa clan during the Sengoku period and built by the Ashina clan during the Edo period [Senboku City's highlights ②]
Kakunodate, attracting visitors from all over Japan. It is known for itssamurai residences,in spring,the Kakunodate Festival's Yama Float Processionis Akita Prefecture's largestblossoms, the Hiburi Kamakura Festival.
Until the Sengoku period, Kakunodate was a small settlement along the road that crossed the Ou Mountains
The name Kakunodate first appears in history in 1423 (or 1424), when Iemori (dates unknown), the 13th lord of the Tozawa clan, who had a castle (Kadoya Castle) in Kadoya (Nishiki Kadoya, Semboku City), attacked and capturedKomatsuyama Castlehis residence from Komatsuyama CastleKakunodate Castle. It is said that he changed
It is not known when or who built Komatsuyama Castle. Furthermore, there are no clues as to why the name was later changed to "Kakunodate." However, originally, this area was a bustling transportation hub, with the Obonai Kaido (later the Kakunodate Kaido) passing through it and crossing the Ou Mountains
The Ihonai Kaido road opened by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro during the Heian period
The Ibonai Kaido is an old road that is said to have been opened up by Sakanoue Tamuramaro and his men during the Heian period when, as Seiitaishogun (Grand Shogun) of the Yamato court, they marched to conquer the Emishi (the people who originally inhabited the Tohoku region, as they were called by the Yamato court)
The Ihonai Kaido Road ends at Omagari-juku (Daisen City) on the Ushu Kaido Road, passing through Kakunodate, then from Ihonai over Kunimi Pass (960m above sea level, near Sengan Pass on present-day National Route 46), passing through Shizukuishi (Shizukuishi Town, Iwate Prefecture) in the Nanbu Domain, and continuing towards Morioka (Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture). As this road is one of the few that cross the Ou Mountains, it saw a lot of traffic of people and goods, and during the Edo period, the Kubota Domain even set up a checkpoint at Ihonai (Ihonai, Tazawako Town, Semboku City) on the border with the Nanbu Domain. It is believed that the Tozawa clan, who came to Semboku from Shizukuishi Tozawa (Shizukuishi, Shizukuishi Town, Iwate Prefecture) in Mutsu Province (Iwate Prefecture and other areas), also walked this road over the pass
Tozawa Iemori, who built the town on the north side of Kakunodate Castle
Tozawa Iemori, who entered Kakunodate in 1423, developed the castle town on the north side of Kakunodate Castle (now Furushiroyama Castle ruins), which was located at the top of a mountain, on the opposite side of the current castle town street. This is said to have been for strategic reasons, but the details are not known
The Tozawa clan ruled the Senboku region from their base at Kakunodate Castle for approximately 180 years, but in 1602, the 21st head of the family, Masamori (1585-1648), was appointed by Tokugawa Ieyasuthe Matsuoka Domain inHitachi Province (present-day Takahagi City, Ibaraki Prefecture), and left Kakunodate.
Ashina Yoshikatsu, who built the foundations of Kakunodate as the de facto lord of the castle even after it was abandoned
After Tozawa Masamori left for Hitachi Province, the Satake clan, who came to Akita from Hitachi Province, established the Kubota Domain, and the Senboku region also came under their control. The Kubota Domain built its main castle in Kubota (Senshu Park, Akita City) with Kakunodate Castle as a secondary castle. As a result, a castle lord was needed, so Ashina Yoshikatsu, the younger brother of the first lord of the Kubota Domain, Satake Yoshinobu (1570-1633), and adopted son of the Ashina clan of Aizuwakamatsu (Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture), was sent to Kakunodate
Initially, Ashina Yoshikatsu used the castle on the summit of Komatsuyama, built by the Tozawa clan, as his residence, and the surrounding castle town remained unchanged. However, in 1615, Kakunodate Castle was abandoned due to the "One Castle Per Province" decree. Even though it was no longer officially a subsidiary castle, the Ashina clan remained the de facto lords of the castle, and the castle town continued to function as before.
After the great flood, the south side of the castle was forced to become the castle town
In 1619, Kakunodate was hit by a major flood. The castle town was submerged, and many vassals and townspeople were killed, resulting in a devastating disaster. The Ashina clan then drew up a large-scale reconstruction plan to move the castle town, which was located on the north side of the castle, to the south, and in 1620 began construction of the new castle town. At the same time, the castle, which had been on the mountaintop, was ordered destroyed by the shogunate and moved to the foot of the mountain on the south side as a mansion (yakata/residence)
Mount Furushiro (formerly Kakunodate Castle) stands at the northern peak, with samurai residences and town houses to the south. 1704 "Map of the Residences of Samurai and People in Kakunodate, Senboku County" Collection: Akita Prefectural Archives
Kakunodate Castle is located at the northernmost point, and the town was built on a long, narrow plain stretching approximately 500m east-west and 2,000m north-south.The Hinokinai Riveralong its southernthe Tamagawa RiverflowsTonoyama(or Hanabayama), where the river served as a natural moat and the hills acted as earthen ramparts (embankments).
On this long, narrow strip of land,Kakunodate's 21 districts, whichtoday, was created. The northern half was home to samurai residences (uchimachi), while the southern half (tomachi) contained commercial areas and townhouses.FurushiroyamaIt seems that the site of the abandoned Kakunodate Castle came to be called
A detailed map of the outer town (townspeople's town) from 1727. "Kakunodate Somachi (Outer Town) Map from 21st Year of the Kyoho Period" Collection: Akita Prefectural Library
List of 21 towns in Kakunodate
Higashikatsurakucho
Tamachikamicho
Tamachi Shimocho
Takehara Town
Kobitomachi
Pedestrian Town
Kawaramachi
Omotemachi Kamicho
Omotemachi Shimocho
Yamane Town
Hosogoe Town
Backstreets
Iwase Town
Shimoiwase Town
Shimoshinmachi
Kamishinmachi
Nishikatsuraku Town
Nakamachi
Nanokamachi
Shimonakamachi
Yokomachi
*Current place names include "Kakunodate-cho" before the town name
Summer samurai residence street. The wide road remains unchanged from the past
Samurai Residences Street Information
Facility name: Samurai Residence Street
Cultural property designation: Kakunodate, Kakunodate Town, designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings
Public transportation: Akita Shinkansen, JR Tazawako Line, Akita Nairiku Jukan Railway, approximately 40 minutes on foot from Kakunodate Station
By car: Approximately 35 minutes from Kyowa IC on the Akita Expressway
Google Map
The Satake Kita family, who succeeded the Ashina clan, inherited the Ashina clan's town division
After Yoshikatsu, the Ashina clan was not blessed with an heir, and the family line died out after three generations. Therefore, in 1656,Satake Hokke, andSatake Yoshichika(Yoshichika/1619-1702) entered Kakunodate as the Tokoro Azukari (an official position overseeing the assigned territory).
The Satake Northern Family is a clan descended from the Seiwa Genji, who were the leaders of the Yamato Imperial Court during the Heian period, and is said to be of the same bloodline as Minamoto no Yoritomo. The Satake clan was originally a powerful clan in Hitachi Province (Ibaraki Prefecture), and the family entrusted with Kakunodate settled north of Ota Castle (Hitachi Oda City, Ibaraki Prefecture), the seat of the main Satake clan, and so came to be known as the "Northern Family."
The story is set in the mid-Edo period, in the bustling town of Kakunodate. "Dialect Training: Kanakusa Pass" 21 volumes Author: Jippensha Ikku Collection: National Diet Library
Kakunodatethe Shobunai Roadwas a post town onthe Ani Copper Mine, a source of revenue for the Kubota Domain. As a result, it was a center for the collection of goods. Therefore, the town flourished greatly under the rule of the Satake Kita family. From Yoshichika onward, the Satake Kita family ruled Kakunodate for 11 generations until Yoshinao (1848-1909).
The "Satake Kitake Diary" was written daily by successive heads of the Satake family
"Satake Kitake Diary" (partial text) written daily by successive heads of the family. Property of Akita Prefectural Archives
The Satake Kita family continued the tradition of each head of the family keeping a daily diary until 1894 (Meiji 27). This diary, known as the "Satake Kita Family Diary" or "Kita Family Official Diary," spans 220 years, from 1674 when it was started by Yoshiaki, the second head of the Satake Kita family in Kakunodate (not to be confused with Yoshiaki, the seventh head of the Kubota domain), until 1894 (Meiji 27), when it was completed by Yoshinao, the eleventh head of the family, totaling 765 volumes. While some parts appear to have been written by retainers, most are in the handwriting of the successive heads of the family.
The contents cover everything from the life of the Kita family and their official duties in the domain, their retainers, festivals, annual events, customs, and even the typical diary entry about the day's weather. The Satake Kita Family Diary (Kita Family Diary) is a unique historical document that gives insight into everyday life in the Edo period and has been designated an intangible folk cultural asset by Akita Prefecture
Kakunodate, where many cultures flourished during the time of the Satake clan
During the time of the Satake Kita family, events such as the "Kakunodate Festival's Yama Float Procession," which is registered as a nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the winter tradition of "Hifuri Kamakura" (a Semboku City designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property) began in Kakunodate, and Akita Prefecture's proudest and first Western-style painting school in Japan, "Akita Rangaku," also flourished there. It is said that the "Cherry Blossom Avenue," one of the nation's finest, which dyes the entire town pink in spring, was first created by three weeping cherry trees brought from Kyoto by the wife of Yoshiaki, the second head of the Satake Kita family of Kakunodate, when she married into the family.
We will introduce the events, performing arts, and culture that are said to have originated in Kakunodate during the time of the Satake clan in "Sights of Senboku City ③."
My love of travel led me to work for a travel magazine some time ago, and now I work as a travel writer for an online publication. I have visited all 47 prefectures in Japan, focusing on the Tohoku region, and I enjoy soaking in hot springs and experiencing traditional Japanese culture, including old townscapes, lifestyles, and performing arts and crafts
![Kudzukuro Fire Festival 1_Kitaakita City](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/6b98b156e5d30be32e1a2d8ae1190034-150x150.jpg.webp "This is also a Kamakura. "Hey, Gongoro of the Kamakura!" is a mysterious spell chanted at the "Kuzukuro Fire Festival Kamakura."")
![04 Hanawa Bayashi_Akita Fan](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/8da5ec76b8f0d6f68e9914c41df6fda7-150x150.jpg.webp "Three UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites: "Dainichido Bugaku," "Hanawa Bayashi," and "Kemonai Bon Odori" - Kazuno City's Must-See Traditional Events ①")
