Matsumae Castle

Matsumae Castle (松前城跡, Matsumae-jō ato), built on a hilltop, once protected Japan’s northern frontier during the Edo Period. Although the original structure was destroyed, today’s castle is a 1960s reconstruction featuring a local museum. Inside, you'll find exhibits on the Matsumae clan and rare Ainu artifacts. It was the only Japanese-style castle ever built in Hokkaido and was even equipped with cannons to guard against foreign threats.

Surrounding the castle is Matsumae Park, filled with over 10,000 cherry trees in more than 250 varieties. This makes for a unique cherry blossom season from late April to late May, one of the longest in Japan. The annual festival includes food stalls, live performances, and evening illuminations of the castle until 9 PM. A nearby Sakura Museum shares the fascinating history and development of these diverse blossoms.