白石城

Shiroishi Castle is forever linked to Katakura Kagetsuna — nicknamed 'Kojūrō' — the brilliant right-hand man of Date Masamune who governed this strategic southern gateway of the Date domain. The current three-story wooden tenshu was meticulously reconstructed in 1995 using traditional carpentry techniques, making it one of Japan's finest examples of a historically faithful wooden castle reconstruction. Shiroishi's deepest romantic story involves Katakura Kagetsuna's son, Katakura Shigenaga, who fought the legendary Sanada Yukimura at the Siege of Osaka. After the battle, Shigenaga sheltered and adopted Yukimura's surviving daughters — creating a bond of human compassion between former enemies that has captivated Japanese people ever since. The castle sits near the famous 'Hitome Senbon Zakura' (Thousand Cherry Trees at a Glance) riverbank, one of Japan's most spectacular cherry blossom avenues.