Koriyama Castle 郡山城跡

Koriyama Castle was destroyed during the Meiji era (1868-1912), after the dissolution of the Edo Shogunate, but the inner moat and stone walls are still in good condition.

A 7-minute walk from Kintetsu-Koriyama Station or a 15-minute walk from JR Koriyama Station.

When creating the wall of the castle, Lord Toyotomi Hidenaga (1540-1591) ran out of materials to make the splendid, intimidating wall that he had envisioned. Instead of leaving his wall unfinished, he decided to take whatever stone he could get his hands on to finish the protective barrier.

Now the wall at Koriyama Castle is considered one of the most fascinating sights in the area because of Hidenaga's clever solution. Because there were not enough regular stones, the ruler used gravestones and and a stone image of Jizo, a deity typically associated with children and protection, to finish his wall.

Hidden in the wall of the castle is a stone statue of the bodhisattva Jizo. Try to find it as you circle to the top level of the castle. Hint: Look for money that visitors leave as offerings.

Fans of cherry blossoms should check out the Yamatokoriyama Oshiro Matsuri which is held from late March to the beginning of April. The nighttime illumination of the castle and its flower-filled trees is one of the highlights of the festival.

The latest information may differ, so please check the official website