Tsuruga-jo Castle is the symbol of Aizu Wakamatsu This castle is known to have been established by Ashina Naomori in 1384. After being occupied by prominent samurai warriors, the castle became home for 9 generations of the Matsudaira clan in the Yedo period (1603 - 1867). Tsuruga-jo was besieged for one month during the Boshin Civil War (1868 - 1869) and was taken apart in 1874. The current donjon, which houses a folk museum, is the reconstructed version built in 1966. The castle grounds are lit up at night, and visitors enjoy beautiful scenery of the donjon among cherry blossoms in the spring and greenery in the summer. Tsuruga-jo Castle Folk Museum: admission 400 yen / Open 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. (entrance closes at 4:30 p.m.), closed first Monday - Thursday in July, first Tuesday - Thursday in December / 0242-27-4005 10-min. bus ride from Aizu Wakamatsu Station. Get off at Tsuruga-jo Kitaguchi.

Rinkaku Tea Ceremony Room After Sen Rikyu was forced to commit harakiri (suicide by cutting apart one's own stomach), his son Shoan was sheltered by Gamo Ujisato who was the Tsuruga-jo Castle occupant at the time. Rinkaku, which was a dedication from Shoan to tea master Ujisato, was rebuilt on castle grounds and features architecture that is rare in western Japan. Admission: 200 yen, free for children up to junior high / Open 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. (entrance closes at 4:30 p.m.), closed first Monday - Thursday in July, first Tuesday - Thursday in December / 0242-27-4005 10-min. bus ride from Aizu Wakamatsu Station. Get off at Tsuruga-jo Kitaguchi.

Oyaku-en features a beautiful garden and 400 types of medicinal plants A landscaped garden historically used for a retreat for generations of Aizu's feudal lords. A pond in the shape of the Japanese character of "kokoro" (meaning heart) is at the center of the garden which also features a cottage-style tea ceremony room. The Matsudaira family's second generation feudal lord planted herbs in this garden, and thus the garden's title which can be literally translated as "Medicine Garden" was given. Up to 400 types of oriental herbs including ginseng can be found at Oyaku-en's botanical garden. Admission: 310 yen / Open 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., closed first Monday - Thursday in July, first Tuesday - Thursday in December / 0242-27-2472 15-min. bus ride from Aizu Wakamatsu Station. Get off at Oyaku-en.

Iimori-yama Hill, where 19 young souls rest in peace During the Boshin Civil War (1868 - 1869), all of the members of the Byakko-tai Troop (consisted of 16 and 17 year-old boys) committed suicide when the sight of their beloved Tsuruga-jo Castle wrapped in smoke came into view from Iimori-yama. Since then, incense has continued to burn at the grave site located halfway up the hill. Today, the courage of the young men are still remembered through a memorial service during which local high school boys perform the troop's Kenbu dance.(see photograph) Iimori-yama features Tonokuchi-seki Cavern where the troop is known to have passed through. The Sazae-do Hall, a designated important cultural asset, is known for its unique double spiral slopes. At the foot of the hill are the Byakko-tai Memorial Museum and Archives. Admission for Sazae-do Hall: 300 yen / Open everyday 8:15 a.m. - sunset (winter hours: 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.) / 0242-22-3163 Admission for Byakko-tai Memorial Museum: 400 yen / Open everyday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. / 0242-24-9170 Admission for Byakko-tai Archives: 300 yen / Open everyday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. / 0242-26-1022 13-min. bus ride from Aizu Wakamatsu Station. Get off at Iimori-yama.

Takizawa Go-honjin served as the local headquarters during the Boshin Civil War

Located south of Iimori-yama hill, this station originally served as a rest stop for territorial patrol and traveling feudal lords. During the Boshin Civil War (1868 - 1869), Lord Matsudaira Katamori conducted his operations here and gave orders to the Byakko-tai Troop. Holes and scars on the pillars marked by bullets and swords conjure vivid images of the past.
Admission: 300 yen / Open everyday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. (April - November), 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (December - March) / 0242-22-8525

13-min. bus ride from Aizu Wakamatsu Station. Get off at Iimori-yama.

Aizu Buke-yashiki (Residence of a Samurai) displays the essence of Japanese architecture This estate is a replica of a home that once belonged to Saigo Tanomo, the chief retainer of the Aizu clan. The luxurious manor is built with Japanese cypress and zelkova (a Japanese tree that resembles the American elm). The dolls and furniture display the life of the former residents. The estate which includes the clan's rice mill and other historic buildings encompasses a massive 23,000 square meters of land. Admission: 850 yen / Open everyday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. (April - November), 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (December - March) / 0242-28-2525 15-min. bus ride from Aizu Wakamatsu Station. Get off at Aizu Buke-yashiki-mae.

Nisshin-kan: a school that educated the children of the feudal clan

The Aizu clan youths were taught a wide variety of subjects such as Chinese literature, medicine, astronomy, and Dutch studies. This building is a replica of the Aizu clan school, Nisshin-kan, which was known as the nation's best institution during the Yedo era (1603 - 1867).
Admission: 850 yen / Open everyday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. (April - November), 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (December - March) / 0242-75-2525

15-min. taxi ride from Aizu Wakamatsu Station.