Nihonmatsu Castle was built in 1643 by Mitsushige Niwa, the first feudal lord of the Nihonmatsu Domain. This domain had command over a territory producing 100,000 koku of rice (one koku being the amount of rice needed to feed one man for a year) and Nihonmatsu Castle was one of the strategic points used by the Tokugawa Shogunate forces. The castle fell in Boshin War after a fierce battle, precipitating the tragedy of the Nihonmatsu Youth Corps.
Today, the castle ruins have been turned into a prefectural natural park, with the stone walls being the only structures remaining from the old days. The seasonal beauty of the landscape with the restored castle and the surrounding natural environment is a soothing experience for visitors, particularly in the spring when the 1,700 cherry trees in the park are in full bloom, making it seem as if the castle is surrounded by haze of blossoms. This is why Nihonmatsu Castle is also referred to as "Kasumigajo" (meaning "castle in the mist").
In autumn, the park is crowded with visitors to Japan's largest chrysanthemum doll festival.
| Website | https://www.city.nihonmatsu.lg.jp/page/page002702.html |
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| Contact | Nihonmatsu Tourism Federation (+81) 243-55-5122 info@nihonmatsu-kanko.jp |
| Best Season | All Year |
| Opening Hours | Open all year round. |
| Parking | Available (Space for 500 vehicles) |
| Accommodation details | Pets: Allowed |
| Related info | Best time to see cherry blossoms: Mid April It is free to enter the Castle Park for most of the year, but there is an entrance fee during the Chrysanthemum Doll Festival every autumn. |
| Access | 232 3-Choume, Kakunai, Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Pref. 964-0904 View directions |
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| Getting there | By Car: 5 min from Nihonmatsu I.C. exit off the Tohoku Expressway By Train: 20 min walk from Nihonmatsu Station on the JR Tohoku Main Line |
Spend a day in Nihonmatsu City in Northern Fukushima, an area known for rich cultural traditions and specialities in sake and lacquerware. We recommend that you explore the city through our itinerary on foot or by taking short taxi rides. Access JR Nihonmatsu Station via the Tohoku Main Line.
A massive forest park of 167,000 square kilometers, featuring hiking courses, camping sites and BBQ locations that can be enjoyed as a day out or as an overnight trip. It is known for its 150,000 Shiba-zakura plants, and a Shiba-zakura Festival is held every year during their blooming season.
Fukushima City's Iizaka Onsen has been used as an onsen town for over 1,000 years, and has been visited by legendary figures in Japanese literature such as Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), the master of haiku poems. Locals in Iizaka Onsen pride themselves on the well-known Japanese phrase “Beppu in the West; Iizaka in the East”, which refers to the best onsen towns in Japan. The Surikami River that passes through the town is lined on either side by 9 high-rise ryokan (Japanese-style inns). More ryokan can be found scattered about Iizaka Onsen. The town is also dotted with a number of communal baths and public foot baths. Some of Iizaka Onsen’s most well-loved local foods include include Enban Gyoza and soft-boiled eggs known as Onsen Tamago. Iizaka Onsen is also close to sightseeing spots such as Hanamomo no Sato, the Fruit Line, and Nakano Fudoson Temple.
Newly opened in 2022, Michi-no-Eki Fukushima (道の駅ふくしま）is a great place to buy local produce, souvenirs, and eat delicious Fukushima foods! Or even just to pause for a break along your road trip.It is located near the Fukushima Fruit line, so you’ll find a good assortment of delicious fresh fruit on display. You can also go fruit-picking to the nearby orchards using the rental bicycles available.Click here for more information on fruit picking in Fukushima!There is a dog park and an indoor play area for children called Momo Rabi Kids Park, which has many cute wooden toys and structures for children to play at as well as an indoor sandpit.We recommend trying the unusual ice-cream flavors at ‘yukiusagi’, a sweets shop that sells delicious parfaits and desserts using local produce. They sell rice-flavored ice-cream, as well as a special flavor called “Fukushima’s Sky Milk”（ふくしまの空ミルク）, which has a salty milk flavor!
BRITOMART is a stylish and rural shopping and restaurant complex in Miharu Town, Tamura district. It makes for the perfect place for a pit stop, or to take a coffee or lunch break if you’re visiting nearby tourist attractions, such as the Miharu Takizakura or the Koriyama Museum of Art. Its many wooden storefronts blend wonderfully with the surroundings.BRITOMART includes a bakery, a coffee shop, an interior shop, a restaurant, a home and garden shop, and more. Relax and enjoy the natural environment in the heart of Miharu, a beautiful rural town in central Fukushima prefecture, known for having splendid displays of flowers in the spring, and thousands of sakura trees.
A traditional craftsmen's village bestowing an air of the olde-worlde. The papier-mâché crafts of the town, made lovingly by hand for generations, will bring a smile to your face. Takashiba Dekoyashiki is an historical craftsmen's village, and was at one time under the protection of the Miharu feudal domain. Dating back 300 years to the Edo Period, this community is said to have been born when a traveller from Kyoto taught the people how to craft papier-mâché dolls using a special paint called 'nikawa'. Take a walk through the nikawa-scented streets of Takashiba Dekoyashiki and step into the Japan of old. Visitors can try their hand at painting various traditional crafts, including the Miharu-koma horse wooden doll.
Licca Castle houses a production studio and museum both dedicated to Licca dolls (Japanese fashion dolls). In this building designed in the image of a European castle, you can find out everything there is to know about the five generations of Licca dolls.
Experience traditional Japanese life & culture at Adachigahara Furusato Village. From exploring samurai residences to learning about the lifestyles of local farmers, there is a lot to see and do in this incredibly scenic open-air museum.
The Hashimoto Butsugu-Chokoku Ten (Hashimoto Buddhist Sculpture Shop) has a long history of over 160 years. Here visitors can try the truly unique experience of customizing their own lacquered chopsticks. Under careful instruction, you’ll be able to go home with your very own pair of one-of-a-kind chopsticks. The establishment sells many fine lacquerware products, from kitchen utensils and crockery to masks for use as decoration or at festivals. The chopstick-customizing workshop is available for 2,500 yen per person and is very popular for groups and couples. Even children (ages 12 and up) are able to do it with the supervision of adults and the instruction of the teacher. There are also pamphlets available in English for non-Japanese speakers. The workshop is easy to understand as the instructor guides you through the various steps until you are finally able to see the revealed layers of lacquer color on your own chopsticks. The chopstick experience workshop requires a reservation made at least five days in advance. While you are at the Hashimoto Buddhist Sculpture Shop, you will be guided through the six steps of making your own lacquered chopsticks. It will be an exciting experience as you begin with red or black chopsticks and slowly file down the layers of lacquer until the patterns are revealed. Traditionally, red chopsticks are for women and black are for men. Whichever color you choose though, these are certain to be your favorite set of chopsticks full of memories.
