Tohoku 2015 東北の旅 - Kakunodate Bukeyashiki / Samurai Residences District 角館武家屋敷, Iwahashike 岩橋家, Ishiguroke 石黒家

Visited 10.10.2015 (Sat)

Bygones. Kakunodate was formerly a castle town established in 1620 during the Edo period, according to a plan designed by the feudal lord, Yoshikatsu Ashina 蘆名義勝. The castle town has distinct segregation between samurai, merchant and craftsmen residences / districts and these features have miraculously survived through the ages (for more than 380 years) till today. Kakunodate is also well known throughout Japan for its mesmerising weeping cherry blossom trees; imagine the magnificent sight of 400 of such trees blossoming along Bukeyashiki-dori 武家屋敷通り between late April to early May. Designated as a preservation district for important historical buildings, Bukeyashiki-dori/street is fairly wide with black wooden fences of samurai residences lined on both sides of the street. One can choose to enjoy a leisure stroll to soak into the ambience of Edo era; or be a passenger by hopping onto a rickshaw to explore the town in a more luxurious way.







Changing seasons. Visited Kakunodate during early autumn and the trees were in the midst of colour transformation from lush green to warm colours of red and yellow, and I could imagine how brilliant looking the autumn foliage would have been, especially against the black fences of the samurai residences. Fortunately, we arrived early at Kakunodate on the day of our visit and was able to experience a quieter side of the town before the tour groups started to crowd the area in the late morning.

Iwahashike

Iwahashike

Iwahashike

Iwahashike

Bungalows. There are a total of six samurai residences here which are opened to the public, some free and others require admission fee. Visited two of the residences - Iwahashike 岩橋家 and Ishiguroke 石黒家. Equivalent to bungalows in modern days, these residences have their own yard and are enclosed by black wooden fences. Iwahashike was a typical residence of an intermediate class samurai, equipped with its own well and visitors can locate a 260 years old oak tree, designated as a natural monument by Senboku city, in the yard. On the other hand, check out the thatched roof of the main building of Ishiguroke, which was built during the late Edo period.

Ishiguroke

Ishiguroke

======

Kakunodate Bukeyashiki / Samurai Residences District 角館武家屋敷
https://www.city.semboku.akita.jp/sightseeing/spot/07_buke.html

Iwahashike 岩橋家
角館町東勝楽丁
Operating hours: 0900 - 1700 hrs (12 Apr - 30 Nov)
Free admission

Ishiguroke 石黒家
角館町表町下丁1
Operating hours: 0900 - 1700 hrs
Admission fee = 400 yen

How to get there?

(1) By foot. About 15 mins walk from Kakunodate JR Station 角館駅.

======

Commemorative stamps:

Ishiguroke

Iwahashike