Aoba Castle

What to know

Aoba Castle (青葉城, Aobajō) was built in 1600 by the powerful feudal lord Date Masamune. For defensive reasons, Masamune chose to build his fortifications on Mount Aoba, 100 meters above the town below.

Over the past 400 years, the castle survived the anti-feudal fervor of the Meiji Period, a massive fire in 1882, and the carpet bombing of 1945. Today, only remnants of the outer stone walls and a guard tower remain. The lookout now offers scenic views of the city rather than serving a military purpose, though a statue of Masamune on horseback in armor recalls the site's origins.

A museum on the site commemorates Aoba Castle's history. It features models of the castle as it appeared in the Edo Period (1603–1868), artifacts from the castle, and a theater showing a short film about the castle in Japanese. VR goggles are also available, allowing visitors to explore the castle grounds and imagine how it looked when its many buildings were still standing.

The prefectural branch shrine of Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, called Gokoku Shrine, is also located on the castle's former foundations. The shrine has its own museum, but it offers no English information. The museum focuses on Japan's modern military history.

Within walking distance from the castle are several other points of interest. A short walk down Mount Aoba's northern slope leads to the Sendai City Museum, which displays relics of the Date clan and hosts rotating temporary exhibitions.

About 1.5 kilometers southwest of the castle lies Sendai Yagiyama Zoo. The selection of animals is impressive for a small zoo, and visitors to Japan will appreciate the section dedicated to local animals. However, some may find the facilities a bit lacking. Across from the zoo is the Yagiyama Benyland amusement park.