Nihonmatsu: Castle Town, Cherry Blossoms and Culture

Nihonmatsu combines the history of a castle town with seasonal park themes and a recommended cycling route for viewing cherry blossoms, whose route information was last updated in 2023. Its varied cultural points of interest include historic shrines, traditional Japanese confectionery shops, Kasumigajo Castle Park and the Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival. If you are looking for a hotel in Nihonmatsu, you can first consider whether you are more interested in the town’s history, a seasonal park theme or the cycling route. This helps you plan your trip around the things that interest you most while you are there.

Castle Town History and a Walk

During the Edo period (1603–1868), Nihonmatsu developed into the castle town of the Nihonmatsu clan. As you walk through Nihonmatsu, you will come across historic shrines and traditional Japanese confectionery shops. This brings together different cultural points of interest: religious sites, confectionery craftsmanship and the history of the clan. The walk offers a different perspective from a focused look at the former castle site, as it takes in several aspects of the town.

Kasumigajo Castle Park

The former site of Nihonmatsu Castle is now home to Kasumigajo Castle Park. Its surviving and reconstructed walls, buildings and gardens illustrate what the castle was like in centuries past. The combination of surviving and reconstructed elements helps you understand the present-day park as a representation of the former castle: not all of its features have been passed down unchanged. The park thus offers a tangible point of reference for Nihonmatsu’s history as a castle town.

Cherry Blossoms and Autumn Highlights

Around 2,500 cherry trees grow in Kasumigajo Park, including Somei Yoshino and mountain cherry trees. The park is counted among Japan’s 100 famous cherry blossom spots and is known for its spring blossoms. In autumn, the seasonal highlights include fall foliage and a chrysanthemum sculpture exhibition. The focus differs distinctly by season: cherry trees take center stage in spring, while autumn brings colorful foliage and the exhibition. If you are including the park in your plans, you can use this contrast to choose your travel dates based on your interests.

Cycling Route and Hills in the City Center

The route information, last updated in 2023, recommends a cherry blossom cycling tour from Nihonmatsu Station via the cherry trees at Rengeji, Kyōseki-ji, Shingyōji, Kenpōji and Honkyūji to Kasumigajo Castle Park, returning to the station. The riding time alone is listed as about one and a half hours; breaks and sightseeing are additional. So when planning your time, allow for stops as well as the riding time. Another consideration when deciding whether to rent a bicycle is the many hills on streets in the city center. The city advises people who are unsure of their physical fitness not to use rental bicycles.

The Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival

The Nihonmatsu Lantern Festival is counted among Japan’s three major lantern festivals. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the event dates before finalizing your hotel plans.

Discover more destinations: Furudono, Aizumisato, Yama District, Yanaizu, Tanagura, Iwaki, Sōma, Tomioka

For the overall travel guide: Fukushima Prefecture.