Aobajo (Sendaijo) Castle, Miyagi

Aoba Castle Ruins (Sendai Castle Ruins) is a castle ruin of Masamune Date, which is a warring country daimyo (Japanese feudal lord), and the equestrian statue of the Masamune on the hill is also famous as a symbol of Sendai. It is said that building was started in 1600, and in 1602 it was almost told that it was completed. From the castle tower you can see the city of Sendai and the Pacific Ocean beyond, and it is popular as a night view spot of Sendai City. In 2003, it was designated as a historic monument of the country as a castle ruins representing the modern era.
Although Aoba castle is a vast mountain castle, but around Honmaru (centre of a castle) where there are museums and shrines, you can walk around everything in about 30 minutes. In addition, if you go to the Sannomaru ruins (the outermost outworks of a castle) at the foot of Mt. Aobayama, you need one hour for one way, two hours for round trip. From Honmaru to Sannomaru ruins it is a naturally rich stroll road, but there is also a section that is a steep slope, so you need to be careful if your have weak leg and hip.
Although walking around Castle Ruins (Honmaru) is free 24 hours a day, 365 days a day (free parking at night), to check the opening hours of each shop, meal, museum, etc., you should refer to the website of “Honmaru-Kaikan”.
You can visit Aoba Castle Ruins through the four seasons. It might be good to visit in May when the streets of Sendai City celebrate the best time, and the season when the nearby sightseeing spots are in full bloom, such as the cherry blossoms of the nearby Zuiho-den Hall and autumnal leaves are in full bloom. The late autumn is also a recommended season when the air is clear and the night view is beautiful.
Aoba castle and its surroundings have many sights. The sightseeing circulation bus “Loople Sendai” stops at each of these sights, so it is a good idea to use it. Also, it might be a good idea to look at the night view of Sendai at dusk. It is time to recommend winter from autumn to seeing the night view.

The “Aobajo Castle” as an elegant name

Sendai which is the greatest town in the Tohoku district. Speaking of the tourist attraction representing Sendai, it is the “Sendaijo Castle”.
The Sendaijo Castle is known also for “Masamune Date” who was famous Sengoku Busho (Japanese military commander) having built the castle. It is called the “Aobajo Castle” as an elegant name and this name is more common in the hometown.
The castle tower which is the symbol of the castle was not built from the beginning. The number of the restored buildings is one at present, and it is unusual situation compared with other ruins of a castle.

Buildings were burned down by the Sendai air raid

It was Yamashiro without the castle tower, and the broadness seemed to be unique in those days in the whole country.
In the Meiji era, the main building of the castle was destroyed. Then, buildings other than Tatsumi-mon Gate of Sannomaru were burned down by the Sendai air raid in 1945. Furthermore, the Tatsumi-mon Gate has also been destroyed by the Occupation Forces at the postwar period.

It is the only building restored in the Sendai ruins

What it remains in now is only a stone wall and side tower restored in 1967.
It is the only building restored in the Sendai ruins of the castle, and is one of a few spots which can feel castle-likeness.

The statue of Valiant Masamune Date

There is “Masamune Date horseriding statue” which is the most popular here in the former site of main building of the castle. Valiant Masamune Date is looking down on the castle town of Senda.

Many souvenirs are sold here

Next to Gokoku-jinja Shrine (shrine honoring war dead), there is the building called Aobajo Honmaru Hall. You can have a meal here or can buy a souvenir.
In a wide, tidy shop, the specialty of Sendai such as Hagi-no-Tsuki (sweets that are popular in Sendai) or Gyutan (Ox tongue) and accessory goods are sold.
There are also the exhibition library and the CG theater.

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