【6-Hour Course】 Use Your Time to Enjoy a Leisurely Trip to Shirakawa and the Surrounding Sightseeing Areas
This six-hour course is great for people who want to go to a lot of different sightseeing spots or visit places a little further away from the station and downtown areas. In this course, there will be approximately 6~8 destinations.
If you're planning to go to some of the natural sightseeing spots that are a bit further away from the downtown area or visit the surrounding onsen hot springs, the six-hour course is your best option. Since there is some time to spare, we also recommend adjusting your tour schedule to eat at a famous Shirakawa ramen restaurant.
There are also some popular sightseeing spots for cherry blossoms and autumn foliage in the area surrounding Shirakawa City. Try out this six-hour course in spring or autumn and spend some relaxing time in a landscape of beautiful scenery.
●Price: JPY 42,000 (six hours) ●Contents: These destinations are just one example of the six-hour course. You can discuss with your driver where you would like to visit on the day of your tour.
- 1Nanko Koen ParkNanko Koen Park in Shirakawa City, Fukushima Prefecture, is a Japanese *teien* park that was constructed in 1801 by Matsudaira Sadanobu, a Shirakawa feudal lord. The park is surrounded by the hills of a number of mountains, and from it one can look out on Mt. Sekisan in the southeast and the Nasu Mountains far off to the west. Nanko Koen Park was created to be a place where anyone can relax, regardless of social status. It is considered one of the first modern parks, and it is often referred to as Japan's oldest park. In the park is also a tearoom called Kyorakutei, said to have been built for the enjoyment of the common people. There are several popular photography spots within the park, such as Nanko Jinja Shrine and Suirakuen Garden, and the grounds are dotted with any number of monuments and stone slabs with *haiku* and *tanka* inscriptions.
- 2Shirakawa Barrier Site
The Shirakawa Barrier Site in Hatajuku, Shirakawa City, is the remains of a checking station that was placed at the entrance to the Mutsu Province along the ancient Tosando Route. The Shirakawa Barrier, which lost its functionality along with the decline of the *ritsuryo* governing system, later became a place of admiration for cultural figures from the urban areas, eventually becoming known as a place for *waka* poetry. Surrounding the barrier site are a number of giant trees, including an 800-year-old cedar, which create an ambiance of longevity. - 3Kashima Jinja Shrine
Kashima Jinja Shrine is located in Kashima, about two kilometers southeast of Shirakawa Station. The Shirakawa Lantern Festival is held here, and it is counted as one of the Three Great Lantern Festivals of Japan (Shirakawa, Yahiko, Isshoku). During the festival, around 120,000 tourists come to visit from nearby prefectures. 16 stone *komainu* guardian lion-dogs dot the shrine grounds, and it is popular for visitors to do *komainu-meguri* and go around to see all 16 of the statues. Additionally, about a three-minute walk from the shrine there is an *iwakura* deity dwelling and a sacred tree, leading the area to be known as a power spot. - 4Daruma Land
Daruma Land in Shirakawa City is an experience-based entertainment facility dealing mainly in Shirakawa *daruma* dolls, a traditional handicraft of Fukushima Prefecture. The facility was built by relocating and reforming five buildings, including historical structures and one building that is over 150 years old. The establishment itself is separated into six areas, and it includes things like a Shirakawa *daruma* manufacturing process factory observation and exhibit area, a workshop that combines painting experiences and virtual factory tours, a *daruma* shrine where visitors can pray for success, *daruma*-themed attractions, and a souvenir shop planned and developed in collaboration with local businesses. The facility as a whole is designed so that visitors can enjoy a variety of things all together in one space. - 5Komine-jo CastleKomine-jo Castle is located in Shirakawa City, Fukushima Prefecture. Its walls are constructed entirely of stone, and it is counted as one of Tohoku's Three Famous Castles along with Morioka-jo Castle and Wakamatsu-jo Castle. The castle fell in the battle of Shirakawaguchi during the Boshin War, but using drawings from the Edo period as a reference, the three-story keep tower was rebuilt in 1991 and the front gate reconstructed in 1994. The three-story keep tower is one of only a few castle towers reconstructed in wood, and it can be seen clearly from the JR Shirakawa Station platforms. In recognition of its historical importance, the castle was declared a National Historic Site in 2010.
