Samurai AKITA - Tazawako Kakunodate TRAVEL GUIDE

Kakunodate is a town within a grove and a profound samurai district that still retains the remnants of the feudal era. It is a famous place for cherry blossoms that has an atmosphere suitable for calling it Little Kyoto in the Tohoku region.
This town was built in 1620 (6th year of Genna) by Yoshihiro Ashina, who ruled the Kakunodate region. Located in the northern part of the Semboku Plain, surrounded by mountains on three sides. The terrain is along the Hinokinai River in the west and the Tamagawa River in the south, making it the most suitable place to form a castle town.
Kakunodate townscape

The most notable territory (design) of the castle is the "fire shield" with an earthen wall built in the center of the town extending from north to south, dividing the samurai residential area "Uchimachi" and the tradesman residential area "Tomachi". It can be said that the samurai residence is a place for living while also forming castle defences.

In September 1976, the area from National Route 46 at the foot of Mt. Kojo to the area where the Hiyoke Earthen Fire Wall used to be, commonly known as "Bukeyashiki Street," was selected by national governemnt as an Important Preservation District for Traditional Buildings.

Dakigaeri Gorge is famous as a scenic spot. Dakigaeri Gorge is called Yabakei in the Tohoku region, and it is a famous place for luscious greenery and autumn leaves, with its beautiful virgin forests on both banks, waterfalls on the quay, and a unique blue mountain stream.
The promenade is well maintained and you can lesurily look apon the strange rocks, rapids, and various sized waterfalls. The view from "Kami no Iwahashi", a suspension bridge that can be seen when you arrive at the valley, is also wonderful.