FUKUSHIMA

Tsurugajo Castle

Bask in Wakamatsu’s splendor atop Japan’s only red-and-white castle

A time capsule of Feudal Japan, Tsuruga Castle offers a peek into the age of the samurai.

Culture & Arts Nature & Views

With over six hundred years of history, this iconic, red-tiled monument is surrounded by both beauty and centuries of warring history.

Having weathered the storms of war over a 600-year period, the origins of Tsuruga Castle, also known as Wakamatsu Castle, date back to the 14th-century. First built by Ashina Naomori as the Higashi-Kurokawa Hall in 1384, it became Tsuruga Castle in 1593, having been renovated as eastern Japan’s first full-scale castle keep. This impenetrable fortress went on to withstand a month-long siege during the post-Meiji Restoration Boshin War (1868-69), only being dismantled during the subsequent Meiji era.

Fully reconstructed in 1965 with a restored tea house and corner turret, the roof was retiled in 2011, and now showcases its distinctive red tiles from the Edo period. Tsuruga Castle now serves as a memorial to these feudal times, and a museum about samurai in Japan.

Officially referred to as the Wakamatsu Castle Tower Local History Museum, the exhibits within this castle-turned-museum are plentiful. With each floor of the keep showcasing a different theme of the fortress’s impressive past. From its succession of Feudal lords, its integral ties to Aizu, and its role in war, this truly is a journey through (bloody) history. From atop the keep, guests are treated to a perfectly panoramic view of the stunning nature that envelops the castle, with the Aizu Basin stretching far across the horizon.

The unusual color combination of the red roof tiles and white walls is not only a signifier of the Edo period, a time of great importance for the castle’s history, but it also alludes to the color palette of the crane (Tsuru) from which it gets its name. Surrounding the castle is a luscious park, blooming with sakura in the spring, and hosting guests at the Rinkaku Teahouse all year round. Guests are encouraged to stop here for a moment to enjoy a cup of green tea and take in the calming sights and sounds of the teahouse garden.

Address

1-1 Otemachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan

Phone number

+81-242-27-4005

Contact

Tsurugajo Management Office

Business hours

8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Last entry at 4:30 p.m.)

Holiday

Open year-round

WEB site

https://fukushima.travel/destination/tsurugajo-castle/9