Komine Castle

Komine Castle

Shirakawa Castle (Komine Castle) was heavily damaged during the Boshin War (also known as the Meiji Restoration), and was restored in the 1990s.

Komine Castle's restoration marked the first time in over 120 years that a restoration had been attempted on a triple turret (yagura) structure. Blueprints from the late Edo Period were used as references for the repair of this structure.

As a result of using these blueprints, it was possible to restore the castle almost exclusively using wood construction techniques. This amazing architecture, along with the extraordinary techniques used to make the stone wall around the castle, make this castle extremely special. There is also an exhibition hall on site.

Venue Details

Venue Details
Websitehttps://shirakawa315.com/kominejyo/
Contact

Shirakawa Tourism and Local Products Association

Best SeasonAll Year
Opening Hours

Entry into the castle is possible during the hours below. Apr. to Oct.: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM | Nov. to Mar.: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Closed between Dec. 29 and Jan. 3

ParkingAvailable
Entrance FeeFree
Access Details
AccessKakunai, Shirakawa, Fukushima 961-0074
View directions
Getting there

By Car: 10 min from Shirakawa Chuo Smart Exit (ETC only), or 15 min from Shirakawa I.C. exit on the Tohoku Expressway.

By Train: 5 min walk from Shirakawa Station on the JR Tohoku Main Line; 10 min by taxi from Shin-Shirakawa Station (JR Tohoku Shinkansen)

Useful Links

1 Day in Shirakawa

Daruma Paradise In Shirakawa City

Nanko Park

Related trips

  1. Nature

    One-Day Sakura Hunting in Central Fukushima on the Tohoku JR Pass

    This one-day cherry blossom hunting route will take you to two beautiful cherry blossom spots in the central area of Fukushima.  We recommend following this route around mid-April to see the blossoms at their fullest. You will start your trip from Fukushima Station, from where you’ll visit Hanamiyama park first thing in the morning. The great variety of flowers at the park (plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, magnolias, azaleas, etc.) means that the park can be enjoyed throughout the year, although it sees most of its visitors between end of March to early April, when the landscape of the delicate blossoms against the snow capped Mt. Azuma signals the beginning of the spring. This is a wide park and will possibly entail an hour-long hike, if not longer. Bearing this in mind, be sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothes. You’ll then go south to Shirakawa City, where you’ll be able to enjoy seeing delicate flowers against the elegant black-and-white Komine Castle. This itinerary is designed for holders of the Tohoku JR Pass, who will travel between destinations on ‘shinkansen’ bullet trains and local buses (the bullet train fare is covered by the Tohoku JR Pass; the fare for the local buses amounts to an additional fee of approx. 500 yen per person).

    One-Day Sakura Hunting in Central Fukushima on the Tohoku JR Pass

Nearby

The World Glassware Hall
Hot Springs

Iizaka Onsen

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.

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Nature & Scenery

Jorakuen

Jorakuen (浄楽園) is a traditional Japanese garden located in Fukushima City. It was completed by an expert gardener who worked on the famous Kinkaku-ji Temple in Kyoto, and it has a total area of about 25,000 square meters (over 269,000 square feet).The garden can be enjoyed in spring, summer and autumn. Spring brings about delicate cherry blossoms, irises, and rhododendrons; water lilies and lotus flowers adorn the ponds during the summer; and brightly colored trees decorate the park in autumn.  No matter the season, the backdrop of the Azuma mountains makes for a spectacular sight at Jorakuen.There is a souvenir shop and traditional teahouse at the garden where visitors can enjoy matcha and Japanese sweets (‘wagashi’). The park remains closed during the winter season, from December 1st to March 31st.
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There are 1,000 Yoshino cherry blossom trees planted along both sides of the Natsui River, giving the area the name of 'Natsui Senbon-Zakura', which translates as 'Natsui's 1000 cherry trees'. The view of the river stretching out in the distance is calming. The cherry blossoms actually line the river for a distance of 5 km. Natsui Senbon-Zakura offers good spots for taking pictures. Take a walk along the promenade near the banks of the Natsui River for some beautiful shots of the contrast between the glistening river and the cherry blossoms.

Discover Central Area

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