Matsumae is an ancient fortified town just west of Cape Shirakami, the southernmost point of Hokkaido. Only 20 kilometers through Tsugaru Strait fromAomoriMatsumae was the northern limit of Japan during the Edo period and the only feudal fiefdom on the otherwise wild and indomited border of Hokkaido. The prosperous city attracted the merchants involved in the maritime trade and was protected by a garrison of the castle of Matsumae, the only Japanese-style castle to have been built in Hokkaido.
Castle of Matsumae
Built on the hillside, the castle of Matsumae (also known as Fukushima Castle) is ideally placed to exploit the abundant natural resources of the island. Towards the end of the Edo period, the castle was equipped with guns to counter the threat of foreign ships. As with many Japanese castles, the original dungeon of the castle of Matsumae has been destroyed several times over the centuries. The current three-storey structure is a modern concrete reconstruction of the early 1960s that houses a local history museum featuring a selection of artifacts from the local Matsumae clan, and some objects related to the Ainu.
Matsumae Park
More than ten thousand cherry trees of more than 250 different varieties can be seen around the park and have earned the park the distinction of being ranked among the top 100 cherry flower sites in Japan. In addition, the park has a small Sakura museum just north of the castle dungeon with information on flower development, photos and preserved specimens of cherry types that you can see on the site.
Due to the large variety of cherry trees, Matsumae has an unusually long flowering season that lasts from late April to late May. A sakura festival takes place during much of this period with food stands, festival stands and frequent events. The dungeon of the castle is also illuminated in the evening between April and November.
Ryuunin Temple
The Matsumae temple district is adjacent to the castle park, northwest of the dungeon. Many temples predate the construction of the castle of Matsumae and include some of the oldest and most culturally valuable structures of Hokkaido. Other remarkable sites in the temple district include the cemetery of the local Matsumae lords and the 200-year-old Kechimyaku Sakura (Cherry of the line).
Matsumehan Yashiki
Along the western edge of Matsumae Park is Matsumaehan Yashiki, a small historical theme park that recreates the city of Matsumae of the Edo period. A theme park that recreates Matsumae at the time of Edo. There are 14 buildings such as the seafront barrier “Okinoguchi Magistrateates Office”, the “Samurai Residence” where the feudal lord lived, the herring fishery “Banya”, “Hatago”, and “Hairui”, which tells the story of the time. On site, it is possible to try a armor or rent period costumes to wear while exploring the city. Entry costs 360 yen.
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