Komine Castle

Komine Castle

Shirakawa Castle (Komine Castle) was heavily damaged during the Boshin War (also known as the Meiji Restoration), and was restored in the 1990s.

Komine Castle's restoration marked the first time in over 120 years that a restoration had been attempted on a triple turret (yagura) structure. Blueprints from the late Edo Period were used as references for the repair of this structure.

As a result of using these blueprints, it was possible to restore the castle almost exclusively using wood construction techniques. This amazing architecture, along with the extraordinary techniques used to make the stone wall around the castle, make this castle extremely special. There is also an exhibition hall on site.

Venue Details

Venue Details
Websitehttps://shirakawa315.com/kominejyo/
Contact

Shirakawa Tourism and Local Products Association

Best SeasonAll Year
Opening Hours

Entry into the castle is possible during the hours below. Apr. to Oct.: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM | Nov. to Mar.: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Closed between Dec. 29 and Jan. 3

ParkingAvailable
Entrance FeeFree
Access Details
AccessKakunai, Shirakawa, Fukushima 961-0074
View directions
Getting there

By Car: 10 min from Shirakawa Chuo Smart Exit (ETC only), or 15 min from Shirakawa I.C. exit on the Tohoku Expressway.

By Train: 5 min walk from Shirakawa Station on the JR Tohoku Main Line; 10 min by taxi from Shin-Shirakawa Station (JR Tohoku Shinkansen)

Useful Links

1 Day in Shirakawa

Daruma Paradise In Shirakawa City

Nanko Park

Related trips

  1. Nature

    One-Day Sakura Hunting in Central Fukushima on the Tohoku JR Pass

    This one-day cherry blossom hunting route will take you to two beautiful cherry blossom spots in the central area of Fukushima.  We recommend following this route around mid-April to see the blossoms at their fullest. You will start your trip from Fukushima Station, from where you’ll visit Hanamiyama park first thing in the morning. The great variety of flowers at the park (plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, magnolias, azaleas, etc.) means that the park can be enjoyed throughout the year, although it sees most of its visitors between end of March to early April, when the landscape of the delicate blossoms against the snow capped Mt. Azuma signals the beginning of the spring. This is a wide park and will possibly entail an hour-long hike, if not longer. Bearing this in mind, be sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothes. You’ll then go south to Shirakawa City, where you’ll be able to enjoy seeing delicate flowers against the elegant black-and-white Komine Castle. This itinerary is designed for holders of the Tohoku JR Pass, who will travel between destinations on ‘shinkansen’ bullet trains and local buses (the bullet train fare is covered by the Tohoku JR Pass; the fare for the local buses amounts to an additional fee of approx. 500 yen per person).

    One-Day Sakura Hunting in Central Fukushima on the Tohoku JR Pass

Nearby

The World Glassware Hall
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Koori Town's Peach Blossoms

Koori Town, home to some 236 acres of peach orchards, is a wonderful place to view peach blossoms when spring rolls around. 24,000 trees fill the 120 hectares of peach orchards located along the banks of the Abukuma in Koori Town's Danzaki area - many of these are located along a road known locally as 'the Peach Line'. When these flowers all open their petals in unison, the landscape is transformed into a sea of pink, truly a utopian vista. Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress (the Crown Prince and Princess at the time) walked through this orchard on April 26 1996 - an event which is commemorated with a memorial tablet that stands along the Peach Line. Visitors to the peach orchards on the banks of the Abukuma river will be treated to views of Mt. Handa, the symbol of Koori Town. The best time to visit the peach orchards is mid-April.

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This is a museum dedicated to Eiji Tsuburaya the “Father of Tokusatsu,” or, the “Father of Japanese special effects.” There are exhibits relating to many of the monsters, “Kaijyu,” that are featured in many of Tsuburaya’s films including a Godzilla suit and Mothera egg!Eiji Tsuburaya is from Sukagawa City so you will also find statues around town of various Kaijyu and Ultraman characters from the Ultra-series, a series that was primarily created by Tsuburaya.©円谷プロ
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