Shiroishi Castle: A Wooden Castle Rebuilt the Old Way

After a whole morning with the foxes at Zao Fox Village, we came back down into Shiroishi town for a late lunch. Since we were already here, and we can never say no to a castle, Shiroishi Castle was next.

Shiroishi Castle was the home of the Katakura family, the chief retainers of the Date clan, who held it for more than 260 years until the Meiji era. Like most castles in Japan, it was taken down after that.

What stands there today was rebuilt in 1995. But unlike the many concrete rebuilds around Japan, this one was done in wood, the traditional way. It’s one of the largest wooden castle rebuilds since the war. You walk in through a gate between tall stone walls, then up to the keep.

And of course, the obligatory poses in front of the castle.

Inside, it’s all wood: the floors, the beams, the pillars. The lower floor has suits of samurai armour on display under a huge painted banner.

From the top floor, you look out over the whole of Shiroishi, with the castle grounds right below and mountains all around. It was about 3:15pm and the light was just starting to go gold. Lovely.

Yes, if you’re already in Shiroishi for the foxes. It takes under an hour, it’s close to the station, and it’s a nice change from all the concrete castle rebuilds.

Afterwards, we walked back down to Shiroishi Station and caught the local train up to Sendai, just as the sun was setting.

Next up: Sendai’s famous green drink and a Rilakkuma store!