Kasumigajo Park 霞ヶ城公園

Retaining the original walls of Nihonmatsu Castle (Kasumiga Castle), Kasumigajo Park is a popular place for cherry blossom viewing when its 2,500 trees flower. During this time, the fortress earns its nickname of "the castle in the mist."

You can reach the park by train and then on foot or by taxi.

Take the Tohoku Honsen Line from Koriyama Station, a Tohoku Shinkansen stop, to Nihonmatsu Station. Walk 20 minutes to the park.

Kasumigajo Park actually contains the remains of two castles, with the later Nihonmatsu Castle built in the 17th century. The castle fell in a brutal battle during the Boshin Civil War to government forces.

In 1872, the castle ruins were demolished, although the walls remained. A gate and turret were rebuilt in 1982, with further restorations completed in 1993. The site became a National Historic Site in 2007.

Have a relaxing stroll through the park, with its waterfalls, statues and shrines. Get great views of the surrounding landscape from the top of the walls. In spring, the grounds are awash in pink as its cherry trees bloom.

From October to November, you can see the annual Chrysanthemum Dolls, mannequins dressed in clothing made of chrysanthemums, re-enacting scenes from history and literature. The flowers are also arranged in various different shapes.