Nationally Designated Historic Site Yamagata Castle

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Search for the landmarks of
Yamagata Castle that remain to this day!

About the statue of Mogami Yoshiaki on horseback

The statue of Mogami Yoshiaki on horseback located in the East Otemon Gate Plaza of Kajo Park depicts him valiantly charging toward the Uesugi forces while holding an iron baton and taking command of the troops in the pursuit during the Battle of Hasedo.

The dynamic bronze statue, which looks as though it is about to spring into life with its front legs raised high, is the result of Yamagata casting’s outstanding technical expertise. It is very rare to see a statue of a horse standing on only two hind legs as is the case with the statue of Mogami Yoshiaki. It is truly a hallmark of Yamagata casting's technical prowess, realized through the collective efforts of craftsmen and their traditional skills.

In the past, the statue was ranked No. 1 in the "Way too cool! Bronze statues of local warlords" by the Internet site "Rekijin Magazine", it is one of the main attractions of Yamagata Castle.

About the statue of Mogami Yoshiaki on horseback

Yamagata Castle and Scenery full of local taste

As the name "Kasumiga-jo" implies in Japanese, Yamagata Castle is in full bloom in spring, with cherry blossoms shrouded in mist. From the large trees near the Higashi Ote-mon gate, to the contrast of the stone walls, to the reflection of the cherry blossoms on the surface of the moat seen from the train windows of the local trains and Shinkansen, the cherry blossoms and Yamagata Castle offer a variety of beauty. When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, you can see them lit up at night.

The autumn leaves are magnificent as well. The golden hues of the large gingko trees near the west earthen mound in Kajo Park and the beautiful autumn leaves that dye the quasi-Western-style Yamagata City Local Museum are among the highlights.

Cherry blossoms near Ninomaru Higashi Ote-mon gate Presented by Yamagata City Tourist Association
Cherry blossoms near Ninomaru Higashi Ote-mon gate
Presented by Yamagata City Tourist Association
Route guidance
Cherry blossoms along Ninomaru earthen mounds path Presented by Yamagata City Tourist Association
Cherry blossoms along Ninomaru earthen mounds path
Presented by Yamagata City Tourist Association
Route guidance
Colored leaves of Yamagata City Local Museum Presented by Yamagata City Tourist Association
Colored leaves of Yamagata City Local Museum
Presented by Yamagata City Tourist Association
Route guidance

The site of Sannomaru earthen mounds
and moat left in the city

The Sannomaru area of Yamagata Castle used to stretch 1,580 meters from east to west and 2,090 meters from north to south. This scale is one of the largest in Japan, and most of the current city center of Yamagata City could be completely contained within the Sannomaru.

After the Meiji era, most of the moats and earthen mounds were torn down and buried by the landscape of the town, but the "Sannomaru earthen mound and moat site" in Toka-machi has been preserved in its original form.

Sannomaru earthen mound site and moat site Route guidance
  • Sannomaru earthen mound site and moat site
    1-1, Toka-machi, Yamagata City

Facilities around Yamagata Castle

Kajo Park is an urban park with cultural and sports facilities in an area centered around the ruins of Yamagata Castle. At the large site, which can hold about eight Tokyo Domes, is the Yamagata City Local Museum, a relocated replica of the former Saiseikan hall, a quasi-Western-style hospital building completed in September Meiji 11 (1878).

Nearby are the Yamagata Museum of Art, which houses and exhibits Japanese and Oriental art, French modern art, and Yamagata art, and the Mogami Yoshiaki Historical Museum, which exhibits and introduces the history of the Mogami family, focusing on the achievements of MOGAMI Yoshiaki.

Mogami Yoshiaki Historical Museum Presented by Yamagata City Tourist Association
Mogami Yoshiaki Historical Museum
Presented by Yamagata City Tourist Association
Route guidance
  • Mogami Yoshiaki Historical Museum
    1-53, Ote-machi, Yamagata City TEL023-625-7101
  • Yamagata City Local Museum
    1-1, Kajo-machi, Yamagata City TEL023-644-0253
Yamagata City Local Museum Presented by Yamagata City Tourist Association
Yamagata City Local Museum
Presented by Yamagata City Tourist Association
Route guidance
Yamagata Museum of Art Presented by Yamagata City Tourist Association
Yamagata Museum of Art
Presented by Yamagata City Tourist Association
Route guidance
  • Yamagata Museum of Art
    1-63, Ote-machi, Yamagata City TEL023-622-3090
Characteristics and sight-seeing guide of
Yamagata Castle
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