Just 30 minutes away from Inawashiro, Aizu-Wakamatsu is a center of historical activity in the area.
Tsurugajyo Castle was once a partner to Kamegajyo Castle — Tsuru means Crane and Kame means Turtle. In Japanese, Crane and Turtle somehow match each other to mean something very lucky. Honestly, I don’t know the details about it, but apparently there’s a term “tsurukame” which mixes the two and means something along the lines of good luck. If someone knows more, please share in the comments!
Kamegajyo was in Inawashiro and was burnt down at the end of the Edo Period. Tsurugajyo was also burnt down, but was rebuilt in 1967, and that’s what you see here.
It’s a really awesome town to visit. If you go, make sure to try some local Sake, eat Sauce Katsu-don, and learn a little bit about the Boshin War and the Byakkotai fighters who commited suicide because they mistakenly thought their castle was burning down.
You can start here:
Hope you can make it out there someday – it’s a really great town!
And you might even run into a random UFC zainichi Korean dude on the street who will treat you to free local sake all night long. Can’t beat inaka kindness!
AloJapan.com