Traveling on a Dime Banetsu Monogatari: Remember the Last Samurai for This is Where They Fell

Remember the last Samurai, for this is where they fell. When blood was spilled under the red terracotta roof of Tsuruga Castle it was the end of an era. The world was changed, never to be again, so when you visit here, heed this cry, remember the last Samurai for this is where they fell.
Fukushima Prefecture’s Aizu Wakamatsu is a land steeped in samurai lore. The decisive Battle of Aizu marked the beginning of the end for the samurai. The month long seige and sacking of Tsuruga Castle and the mass seppuku of the young Byakkotai/White Tiger Force are just some of the many events that Aizu Wakamatsu is famous for. One could spend a month in Aizu taking it all in. I didn’t have that long so I stuck to the best of the best. An accurate reconstruction of Tsuruga Castle stands today giving visitors panoramic views of the city and an idea of what castle life might have been like. The castle’s intact moats and stone walls along with it’s hundreds of sakura trees make it a wonderful place to go for a walk. Even getting to and from Aizu Wakamatsu is an adventure. The Banetsu West Line connecting Aizu Wakamatsu with my home in Niigata City, is one of the most scenic train rides in the entire country. It’s also one of just 11 train lines left in Japan to operate a steam engine! The Banetsu Monogatari Express, the name meaning “story of Banetsu,” makes one round trip journey a day most weekends and national holidays throughout the year and is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a piece of history and to write down the story of your adventure in your memories. All aboard!

This is an episode of “Traveling on a Dime,” produced by Grinning Studios’ partner, Bryan Baier.

The song is “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” by Graham Smith off his album “Now.” You can pick up this great music from our favorite local musician at or on iTunes. We have full permission to use the music in the video.

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