Cherry blossom festival

On April 28th, hubby and I went to cherry blossom festival (hanami) at Senshu Park in Akita city. Hanami is a traditional Japanese custom of viewing and enjoying the beauty of flowers, usually cherry blossoms (sakura) or Japanese plum blossoms (ume). Sakura usually bloom from mid April to early May in Akita prefecture. The cherry blossom season is relatively short and the blossoms last only a week or two. Last year we were not in a mood to go for sakura viewing due to the March 11th earthquake in northern Japan. So this year we went to view sakura after two years.

Senshu Park is the site of Kubota Castle ruins. The park is huge and covers an area of 162900 square meters. There are 830 cherry blossom trees planted in this park. The park is about a ten minutes walk towards the west from Akita railway station. We parked our car near the railway station and walked up to the park. As we neared the park, we saw many blooming sakura trees next to the moat of the castle ruins.

Blooming sakura trees next to the moat as viewed while walking towards the park

Sakura and the moat to our right side as viewed from a bridge above the moat

Sakura on the other side of the bridge

After reaching the park, we saw that all the sakura trees were in full bloom. The weather was bright and sunny, and therefore many people had come to view the sakura at the park that day. Many picnic sheets were spread on the park ground, and people relaxed and enjoyed viewing the sakura blossom. A stage was set up where musical performances were held. Many food stalls were set up that sold various kinds of snacks, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages.

I am standing inside the park. A music performance is going on at the stage in the background.

Sakura blossom and people having picnic

Sakura blossom and people everywhere

Food stalls inside the park

Sakura blossom, food stalls, and people

A huge sakura tree near a food stall

As I mentioned earlier, Senshu Park is the site of Kubota Castle ruins. Kubota Castle used to be a castle of Lord Satake in Akita for 270 years during Edo period. Yoshinobu Satake, the first lord of Akita’s Satake clan of Kubota domain, built the castle in 1603. The castle was destroyed in a fire in 1880. In 1890, the castle site was converted into a public park. The castle ruins are actually located on a small hill inside the park premises. We climbed up a few steps to the hilltop and reached the front of the castle main gate named Omotemon. Right in front of this gate outside the castle grounds we got a beautiful view of blooming sakura trees, and people having picnic at the lower level of the park.

I am standing in front of Omotemon main gate of Kubota Castle

Sakura blossom as viewed from outside the main gate

After entering inside the main gate of the castle, we were at the site of the front yard called Oshirasu. Beyond that was the site of the castle proper, although unfortunately no trace of the castle remains now. However, presently there are many sakura trees planted at this site, which were in full bloom and it was a wonderful sight to behold. Also, from an observation point on the hill located just inside the main gate, we got a fantastic view of Akita city and many more blooming sakura trees.

The front yard of the castle and sakura blossom

I am standing next to a sakura tree

Sakura blossom and Akita city as viewed from the observation point inside the main gate

Another view of sakura blossom and Akita city

Sakura blossom as viewed from the hill

Next, we started walking towards a castle turret building named Osumi-yagura located in the northern end of Senshu Park. We walked through a pathway that was surrounded by many fully bloomed sakura trees on both sides of the path. It felt as if we were walking through a sakura tunnel. It was a wonderful and memorable experience. While walking, we saw many more people having picnic and enjoying the sakura blossom in the castle grounds. A few tents were put up and people reserved some isolated favorite spots for a couple days to enjoy the sakura blossom while it lasted.

Hubby walking through a sakura tunnel

People having picnic under sakura blossom inside the castle grounds

Blooming sakura trees inside the castle grounds

Walking pathway, another sakura tunnel, and a few tents

Hubby walking through the second sakura tunnel

I am standing next to a blooming sakura tree

After about 15 minutes of leisurely walking on the pathway surrounded by sakura tunnel at two places, we reached the northern end of the park where Osumi-yagura turret building of the castle is located. There used to be eight turrets in Kubota Castle during the rule of feudal lord Satake. All were lost, but in 1989 this one turret was reconstructed. The turret along with the sakura blossom in front of it looked stunning.

Osumi-yagura turret and sakura blossom

Hubby standing in front of Osumi-yagura turret

While walking back towards the exit of the castle grounds we had to walk down many steps. These steps are different from the steps leading up to the castle entrance. From the exit steps we got a wonderful close up view of the blooming sakura trees that surrounded us. It was simply superb. From these exit steps we could also see many sakura trees standing proudly adjacent to Omotemon main gate inside the castle grounds on the hill above.

Close up view of a few fully bloomed sakura trees

Hubby standing next to a blooming sakura tree

I am standing next to a sakura tree

Blooming sakura trees adjacent to the main gate inside the castle grounds

Another view of the sakura trees next to the main gate

Afterwards we had some snacks and then left the park. We loved viewing the sakura blossom at Senshu Park.

Senshu park

On 11th of February, hubby and me went to Senshu park in Akita city. The park is about a ten minutes walk towards the west from Akita railway station. The park is a site of Kubota castle ruins. We took a slow leisurely walk through the historic treasures of the Kubota castle ruins. Kubota castle (Kubotajo) used to be a castle of Lord Satake and family in Akita for 270 years. Yoshinobu Satake, the first lord of Akita clan, who was transferred from the province of Hitachi to Akita in 1602, built the castle in the following year. The castle did not include the typical tower and stone wall. Honmaru (the center of the castle) was destroyed in a fire in 1880. In 1890, Akita city rented the site of the castle for the use as a public park. Later in 1984, it was donated to the city in accordance with the wishes of Yoshinaga Satake, the 15th generation of the Satake family, to be the citizen’s park both in name and reality. The park area covers 162900 square meters.

Hubby posing in front of a notice board indicating the sites of Kubota castle ruins

The Kubota domain (Kubota han) was a Japanese domain of the Edo period, which was located in Dewa province (modern-day Akita prefecture). Its main castle was in modern-day Akita city. The Kubota domain was also known as the Akita domain (Akita han). It was ruled for the whole of its history by the Satake clan. The Satake clan was originally from Hitachi province. In 1600, the Satake sided with the Western Army at the Battle of Sekigahara. After the Western Army's defeat by the Eastern forces of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Satake clan was allowed to continue, but was punished. The clan's income level was severely reduced, and in 1602, its territories were moved to a much smaller fief in Kubota. The Satake clan ruled for 270 years. In the Boshin war of 1868-69, it joined the Ouetsu Reppan Domei, the alliance of northern domains, but then pulled out. Kubota then came under attack by forces still loyal to the alliance. As with all other domains, it was disbanded in 1871 during Meiji enlightenment.
Although 11th February was a very cold day, it was not snowing which made it an ideal day to walk through the park in winter season. We had to climb a few steps to reach the main gate of the Kubota castle, which is located on a hill. From the top of the hill we had a very nice appealing panoramic view of the city.

View of Akita city from outside the Kubota castle main gate

View of Akita city from inside the Kubota castle main gate

The omonogashira-gobansho is the only remaining building which was built in the Kubota castle in Edo period. It was probably built during 1758 to 1778. It was used as the headquarters for guards and was situated on the left side of the main gate of the castle. It provided the first line of defense against attacks on the castle. Along with defending the castle, the guards had additional duties of preventing fire in the castle, and management of opening and closing of Nagasaka gate (another gate in the castle). Repaired by the city in 1988, we can now see it in its original condition. The building has been designated as a national important cultural asset.

Omonogashira-gobansho seen from below the hill

Close up view of omonogashira-gobansho

The Kubota castle was built in 1603. The main gate of the castle called Kubota-jo omotemon (also called ichinomon) was an important strategic location for the protection of the castle. The main gate of the castle was remodeled in 1622, and later required additional repair several times probably after incurring fire damage. The present two-storey wooden structure with tiled roof was built using historical records and archeological finds. Today it stands as a tangible architectural reminder of the Satake family of the Edo period.

View of omotemon main gate from outside the castle

Hubby and me standing in front of the omotemon main gate

View of omotemon main gate from inside the castle

Hubby posing inside the omotemon main gate

Inside the main gate of the Kubota castle is the site of the historic front yard called oshirasu. Beyond that is the site of the castle proper, although unfortunately, no trace of the castle remains now. Kubota castle was built in the eight year of the Keicho era (1603) on the hill named Shinmei-yama, which was forty meters high. The area was also called Mitsumori-yama because it has three hills. The honmaru (headquarters of the castle) was built after preparing the ground on the top of Shinmei-yama. The width of the honmaru was 117 meters east to west, and 215 meters north to south, not including earthworks surrounding the Honmaru. The lord lived with his government in the Honmaru.

Site of the castle proper

Next, we enjoyed viewing the Satake Yoshitaka dozo. It is a bronze statue of Yoshitaka Satake, the twelfth and the last feudal lord of Akita han. He was born in the year 1825 and died in 1884. He lived towards the end of the Edo period and supported the new Meiji government, which was anti-Tokugawa.

Bronze statue of Yoshitaka Satake

Hubby posing in front of the Satake Yoshitaka dozo

After that we visited the Kubotajo osumi-yagura, which is located in the northern end of the Senshu park. There used to be eight turrets in the Kubota castle during the rule of feudal lord Satake. The turret building served as both a lookout and weapon storage depot at the time of Kubota castle. All was lost, but in 1989 this one turret was reconstructed by the city as a historical symbol in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the inauguration of Akita municipal system. Unfortunately, we could not enter the building as it was closed for the winter season.

Osumi-yagura

Close up view of the osumi-yagura

Front view of the osumi-yagura

While returning back towards the main gate of the castle, we visited the Hachiman Akita jinja shrine which is also located inside the Senshu park. In 1867, the first feudal lord Yoshinobu Satake was enshrined in the Hachiman (also pronounced as Yahata) shrine. The ninth and twelfth feudal lords were also enshrined here. Satake clan was the follower of kami Hachiman, the shinto god of war. In 1899, a shrine called Akita jinja was shifted from Hirokoji street into the premises of the park. In 1907, these two shrines were combined together and called as Hachiman Akita jinja shrine. In 2005, the shrine was destroyed by arson fire. The present shrine is newly built and reopened on 9th December 2008. We prayed to the god from outside the shrine itself. We came to know that gohei (two zigzag paper streamers used in shinto rituals) that is attached to the top of kanto (lanterns on bamboo pole) are blessed and offered by the priest of this shrine to the kanto festival organizers every year.

Hachiman Akita jinja shrine

Close up view of the Hachiman Akita jinja shrine

Located in the backyard of the Hachiman Akita jinja shrine is the small main Hachiman shrine that was built in the third year of Tenpo era (1832). Later it was shifted to this place. It had a very precise structure and a unique architecture because it had combined designs of buddhist temples and shinto shrines. This main shrine was also burnt down in 2005, and is newly reconstructed.

The main Hachiman shrine

We also liked the torii gate of Yojiro Inari shrine that is located adjacent to the Hachiman Akita jinja shrine. Torii is a traditional Japanese gate usually found at the entrance of a shinto shrine. Yojiro Inari shrine was dedicated and made to commemorate the messenger of the first feudal lord Yoshinobu Satake. The messenger died on his trip while delivering the lord’s message in Yamagata prefecture. Several red colored torii gates look very beautiful and pleasing to the eyes.

Torii gates of the Yojiro Inari shrine

We also wanted to visit the Satake historical museum located in the southeast corner of the Senshu park. The museum houses materials related to the Satake family. The museum closes at 4.30 pm. But by the time we reached the museum it was already 4.25 pm. So, unfortunately, we could not enter the museum this time. We saw two cats playing merrily in front of the museum. Hubby enjoyed playing with the two cats for almost twenty minutes.

Entrance of the Satake historical museum


Hubby enjoyed playing with these two cats

We enjoyed viewing the Kubota castle ruins and the two shrines in the Senshu park. It was a cold and lazy afternoon outing for us.