Tsuruoka Park

The castle ruins park was developed on the site of "Tsurugaoka Castle," where the Sakai family, the lords of the Shonai Domain, resided for about 250 years. A moat, stone walls, and old cedar trees that are thought to be several hundred years old remind us of the old days.

The park, selected as one of "The 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan", is planted with approximately 710 cherry trees, including someiyoshino cherry trees, yaezakura- cherry trees, and shidare-zakura- cherry trees, which are usually in full bloom from early to mid-April.
The "Tsuruoka Cherry Blossom Festival" is held when the cherry blossoms are in bloom, and lanterns and food stands are used to create a festive atmosphere. In addition to the cherry blossoms, the iris, and Japanese iris in the "Ayame Garden" and the "TAKI-FUJI" wisteria flowers that extend their vines from the giant cedar trees and bloom like a waterfall are beautiful flowers that bloom from season to season.

It is a Western-style building built in the Taisho period (1912-1926) with a distinctive red dome on the roof and white walls. Today, the park is an area where various historical and cultural attractions are gathered, including the "Taihokan Museum," which introduces the historical figures of Tsuruoka, "The Fujisawa Shuhei Memorial which collects materials on Shuhei Fujisawa, a historical novelist from Tsuruoka, and Shonai Shrine. Additionally, the park is home to a variety of historical and cultural attractions.