Kakunodate is a former castle town that was first built in the Edo Period when Yoshikatsu Ashina became lord of the area.
Kakunodate (角館) was first founded in 1620 by
Yoshikatsu Ashina who was one of the retainers of Lord
Yoshinobu Satake. The town was built north of
Kakunodate Castle, which was situated at the top of
Mount Furushiro. Kakunodate was built as a military
stronghold because it was strategically constructed to be
surrounded by three mountains and Hinokinaigawa River
to the south for defense. The layout of Kakunodate can
be broken up into two districts. The northern district is
where the samurai built their homes in the Uchimachi or
Inner Town. The southern district was occupied by
townsfolk and merchants, which is also known as
Tomachi or Outer Town. In the center is the “Firebreak”
plaza that distinctively separates the two areas.
Kakunodate Castle was to act as the mountain fortress,
but when the Tokugawa Shogunate issued the one castle
per domain rule the structure was discarded. Nothing
remains of the castle today, but it is still a beautiful spot
to see the entire city.
Back when the city was developing, 80 samurai families
made large residences in the northern district, which are
still there today. Many of them are occupied by the
descendants of the samurai and only 5 of them are open
to the public. These houses can be spotted by the black
fences marking the perimeter of their estate. With the
lack of damage from any of the wars Japan was involved
in, Kakunodate was able to maintain its Edo period
landscape. Kakunodate is not only famous for its well
preserved samurai district it is also known as a top cherry
blossom viewing spot. There are over 700 weeping
cherry trees (shidarezakura) all over the city and many of
them are lined up by the Hinokinaigawa River and down
the samurai dori (street). It is said that the trees were
brought to the area over 350 years ago from Kyoto. It can
also be one of the reasons why Kakunodate is referred to
as “Little Kyoto.” The merchant district is a notable area,
but is widely unknown by tourists.
Festivals in Kakunodate are almost as old as the city
itself. Many of the festivals in Japan tend to lack the
reverie to a deity. The Oyama-buttsuke also known as
the Kakunodate Festival keeps the simple religious
beliefs of waiting and revering the deity with fierce
events. From September 7 to 9 dashi (floats) are pulled
by the young men through the town with performances
following suit. The traditional dances perform to the
sound of Akita folk music. If the floats ever cross paths
then a collision ensues to determine, which one has the
right of way. It is a tradition that has continued for over
350 years and is a wonderful event to witness. There is
also the Fire and Snow Festival, also known as Hiburi
Kamakura Festival, held on February 13 to 14, which is a
purification ceremony. The participants swing a bundle of
rice straw around their body to ward off evil spirits and
wish for a healthy new year. It is recommended to wear
something over your head to prevent the embers from
landing directly on top.
Tohoku | Akita | Kakunodate
Kakunodate Samurai District
The Kakunodate Samurai District has been around since 1620 when Yoshikatsu Ashina became the lord of the area.