- Type
- Castle
- Origins
- 1601 · 17th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Location
- Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
- Coordinates
- 38.2525°, 140.8562°
History
Date Masamune, one of the most powerful daimyō of northern Japan, began building the castle on Aoba Hill above the Hirose River in 1601, moving his seat here from Iwadeyama. Protected by a cliff and the river, the fortress was never given a main keep; its heart was a grand palace with an audience hall. The Date clan ruled the Sendai domain from here until the Meiji Restoration. After 1871 the army took over the site, and most buildings were demolished or lost. In 1945 an American air raid burned down the Ōte-mon gate, which had survived until then.
What to see
What survives is chiefly the massive stone walls, parts of which have been dismantled and reset in recent decades. Along the approach stands the Sumi-yagura corner turret, rebuilt in 1967. The hilltop is crowned by an equestrian statue of Masamune, and the terrace beside it offers a panorama of Sendai. Nearby are the Gokoku Shrine and a visitor centre with a computer reconstruction of the palace.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q598621
Popularity: articles about this site in 15 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).