Shiroishi Castle

Shiroishi Castle (also known as Masuoka Castle) was a hirayamajo, or a castle on a hill surrounded by plains. It was located in the center of the city of Shiroishi and is designated as a historical site by Shiroishi City.
The castle was the southern strategic point of the Sendai Domain, and after the Battle of Sekigahara, the castle was the residence of the Katakura, the chief vassal of the Date family, for 260 years until the Meiji Restoration.
The Shiroishi Castle keep (donjon) was rebuilt in 1995, 120 years after its demolition in 1874. The wooden reconstruction, one of the few of its kind in Japan, has received high academic praise and is one of the tallest and largest wooden reconstructions of a postwar castle keep in Japan in terms of both height and size.
Masuoka Park, where Shiroishi Castle is located, is home to around 400 cherry trees which bloom around mid-April. In summer, the Shiroishi Summer Festival fireworks can be enjoyed from the castle keep. From late October, visitors can witness the contrast between the beautiful plasterwork of Shiroishi Castle and the autumn colors of the leaves. The castle is also brightly decorated during the chrysanthemum event held at the same time. In winter, the whiteness of the snow and plaster harmonizes with the colors of the oxidized silver tiles and natural wood, creating an opportunity to enjoy natural colors rarely seen in modern times. Come and see Shiroishi Castle and its natural colors against the snow-covered backdrop of Mt. Zao.
[*Shiroishi Castle will be closed to visitors until the end of September 2022 due to disaster restoration work. The castle keep will be covered with sheets for protection. However, visitors are welcome to view the cherry blossoms in Honmaru Square.]