Sōma-Nakamura Castle, Japanese castle in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture
Sōma-Nakamura Castle is a Japanese castle situated on a small hill in Sōma, incorporating the Uda River as a natural outer moat and rising approximately 15 meters above ground level. The site has been transformed into Baryo Park, which preserves its original stone walls, gates, earthworks, and moats for visitors to walk through and explore.
The castle was originally built around 800 CE by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, but later served as a major seat of the Soma clan. Its most significant transformation occurred in 1611 when it was substantially rebuilt and established as an important administrative center.
The castle grounds are closely tied to the annual Soma Nomaoi festival each July, where mounted warriors in traditional armor gather for ceremonial events. This festival demonstrates the ongoing connection between the site and the region's warrior heritage.
The grounds are freely accessible and allow visitors to explore the well-preserved structures like walls, gates, and moats at their own pace. The park offers quiet pathways and vantage points from which the historical layout of the site becomes clear.
The main tower in the southwest corner of the fortress was destroyed by lightning in 1670 and never reconstructed, leaving an unusual gap in the layout today. This missing structure silently tells the story of nature's power and the choices of earlier generations.
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