* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Aizu Wakamatsu Castle (Tsuru-ga-jo)
会津若松城（鶴ヶ城）
Aizu Wakamatsu Castle (Tsuru-ga-jo) is a historic castle in Tōhoku dating from the Built in 1384 (Shitoku 1), whose lord was Gamō Ujisato / Matsudaira Katamori.
Overview
About the Castle
Aizu Wakamatsu Castle is a renowned fortress built at a strategic military and political crossroads in northeastern Japan, eternally remembered as the stage of the Boshin War, one of the most tragic battles in Japanese history. Its history begins with Ashina Naomori founding Kurokawa Castle in Shitoku 1 (1384). During the Sengoku period, the Ashina clan ruled Aizu, but in Tenshō 17 (1589) Date Masamune destroyed the Ashina clan at the Battle of Suriagahara and briefly held Aizu. Subsequently, following Toyotomi Hideyoshi's pacification of Ōshū, Gamō Ujisato was appointed to the domain. He undertook extensive renovations of the castle and constructed a magnificent seven-story tenshu.
Culture and Crafts
Ujisato was a cultured warrior who served Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He worked to develop the castle town and laid the foundation for Aizu's craft culture, including Aizu lacquerware. After Uesugi Kagekatsu and Katō Yoshiaki, Hoshina Masatsugu was appointed to the domain in Kan'ei 20 (1643), and thereafter the Matsudaira (Hoshina) family ruled Aizu domain. Hoshina Masatsugu was the half-brother of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shogun. Renowned as a wise daimyo, he established the Aizu Family Code in Fifteen Articles and instilled in his retainers the spirit of loyalty and martial valor. The first article of this code—"Aizu domain exists to protect the shogun's house; if the lord should betray it, retainers must not follow"—became the foundation for Matsudaira Katamori's decision to accept the position of Kyoto Protector at the end of the Edo period.
Battles and Combat
In the Boshin War of Keio 4 (1868), Aizu domain mounted a fierce month-long siege against the total assault of the Imperial Army. The Byakkotai, composed of youths aged sixteen to seventeen, mistakenly believed the castle was burning when observing from Iimori Mountain and committed mass suicide. This tragedy continues to move people's hearts as the epitome of Japanese bushidō spirit. The red-tiled tenshu was restored to its Bakumatsu-era appearance in Heisei 23 (2011), vividly reviving its former grandeur. Aizu, known as the "Land of Warriors," has long valued the martial arts and provided education in both military and scholarly disciplines at the domain school, the Nisshinkan.
The Spirit of Bushidō
This spirituality is deeply rooted in sword culture, and Aizu blades are known for their straightforward and solid craftsmanship. Aizu's bushidō, following the Meiji Restoration, has been transmitted through the spirit of the "Jū no Okite" (Ten Precepts) and "That which must not be done, must not be done," continuing to exert a profound influence on Japanese moral values. Tsuruga Castle is both a castle of tragedy and a castle of unyielding pride. Aizu is blessed with renowned hot springs such as Higashiyama and Ashinomaki, and is also a treasure trove of traditional crafts including Aizu lacquerware, Aizu cotton, and picture candles. Castle, history, hot springs, and crafts—Aizu Wakamatsu is a city where the culture of warriors and the skill of artisans are concentrated, an ideal destination for travelers seeking to deeply experience Japan's traditional culture.
Connection to Swords
The Aizu domain prized martial arts, and its official swordsmith Miyoshi Nagamichi was known as the 'Masamune of Aizu' for the exceptional cutting ability of his blades. During the Boshin War, Aizu samurai including the Byakkotai fought with swords in hand, and wearing a sword was a symbol of samurai pride. The Shinsengumi leaders Kondō Isami and Hijikata Toshizō had deep ties to Aizu, making the domain essential to understanding Bakumatsu sword culture. The castle tower exhibition displays swords associated with the Aizu domain and relics of the Byakkotai.
Highlights
- Red-tiled castle tower (museum inside)
- Iimoriyama Hill (site of the Byakkotai tragedy)
- Rinkaku tea house (associated with Sen no Rikyū's son Shōan)
- Exhibition of Aizu domain swords and armor
- Beautiful stone walls and moats
* Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.