Kakunodate Samurai Residences

• Akita
• Sightseeing
• Activities
• Spring
• Summer
• Autumn
• Winter

Kakunodate Samurai Residence Street, located in Semboku City, Akita Prefecture, is known as the "Little Kyoto of Michinoku" and is designated as a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.The street, lined with heavy, black-painted wooden fences, retains samurai residences from the early Edo period. The most famous feature is the approximately $400text{ weeping}$ cherry trees (Shidarezakura) over $300text{ years}$ old that bloom in spring, creating a spectacular contrast between the black walls and the pale pink blossoms during the flowering season.Residences of high-ranking samurai from that era, such as the Ishiguro House and the Aoyagi House, are open to the public, offering a glimpse into samurai culture and lifestyle. The Somei Yoshino cherry trees along the nearby Hinokinai River embankment are also famous. It is a place where you can feel both history and the beauty of the cherry blossoms.