* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Miharu Castle
三春城
Miharu Castle is a historic castle in Tōhoku dating from the Built by the Tamura clan in the late 15th century; developed by the Akita clan in the Edo period, whose lord was Tamura clan / Gamō Ujisato / Matsushita Shigenao / Akita clan.
Overview
Miharu Castle is a mountain castle located in Miharu, Fukushima Prefecture, built upon the land of Miharu, renowned for the Miharu Takizakura and its numerous cherry blossoms. The place name "Miharu" derives from the simultaneous blooming of three flowers—plum, peach, and cherry—embodying the elegant character of early spring rich in blossoms, a poetic name etched into both the castle and the town.
The castle's origins date to the first year of Eishō (1504), when the Sengoku daimyo Tamura Yoshinobu is recorded to have moved his headquarters from Moriyama Castle and built it here. The Tamura clan, a distinguished family claiming descent from the legendary general Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, wielded considerable influence as powerful regional lords of southern Mutsu throughout the Sengoku period and exercised deep involvement in Ōu politics. Tamura Kiyoaki in particular is remembered in history as the father-in-law of Date Masamune, having given his daughter Megohime in marriage to the great warlord.
Following the Toyotomi pacification of 1590 (Tenshō 18), the Tamura clan was removed from power, and the castle fell under the control of Gamo Ujisato, daimyo of Aizu with 920,000 koku. After the Battle of Sekigahara, rulership of the castle passed in rapid succession through the Uesugi, Katō, and Matsushita clans. In Shōhō 1 (1644), Akita Toshisue became daimyo of Miharu Domain with 55,000 koku transferred from Hitachi, and the Akita family subsequently governed the domain until the end of the Edo period.
Miharu Castle is also known by the alternative name Maihime Castle, a name deriving from the legend that a crane danced on the morning when Yoshinobu entered the castle. Today it exists as Miharu Castle Ruins Park, with the keep platform and curved fortifications preserved. Each spring, the Miharu Takizakura—a weeping cherry designated a National Natural Monument with an estimated age of 1,000 years—blooms with commanding presence, attracting numerous visitors. In the Boshin War of 1868, Miharu Domain notably surrendered early to the imperial forces, achieving a bloodless opening of the castle—a fact deserving of particular mention.
Connection to Swords
The connection between Miharu Castle and swords originates from the military and cultural exchanges between the Tamura and Date clans. Ai-hime, daughter of Tamura Kiyoaki, married Date Masamune, creating deep ties between Miharu and the Sendai domain. Date Masamune was such an ardent sword enthusiast that he personally created oshigata (impression drawings of sword forms), and the Sendai domain employed many smiths known as the "Sendai-han kō," making it a domain celebrated for sword culture. This cultural influence is said to have extended to Miharu through familial connections. The Akita clan of Miharu domain were descendants of the Andō clan of Dewa, originally a family that ruled Akita in Dewa Province. Since ancient times, Ōshū (the provinces of Mutsu and Dewa) had been known as a producer of swords called "Ōshū-mono," and the samurai of Fukushima, including those of Miharu, armed themselves within this sword culture. The swords treasured by the retainers of Miharu domain—a 50,000-koku fief—were cherished as a spiritual pillar of the samurai class until the end of the shogunate. The Boshin War and the clan's early surrender marked a historical moment when the target toward which the samurai's swords were directed changed. Following the Meiji Restoration, the Haitorei (sword abolition edict) separated samurai swords from daily life, yet traces of the samurai culture of that era remain around Miharu Castle today.
Highlights
- Miharu Takizakura — a 1,000-year-old weeping cherry (National Natural Monument) near the castle
- 'Three Springs' place name — coined from the simultaneous bloom of plum, peach, and cherry
- Birthplace of Megohime — mother castle of Date Masamune's principal consort
- Kasumi-ga-jō (Castle in the Mist) — poetic name evoking the misty hilltop silhouette
- Early Boshin War surrender — bloodless capitulation saved the town from Aizu's fate
- Miharu Castle Ruins Park — keep platform and earthworks on the hilltop
* Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.