Sakura, Historic city in Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Sakura is a city in Chiba Prefecture on the Shimōsa Plateau, roughly 40 kilometers northeast of Tokyo. The settlement spreads across rolling terrain where old castle grounds and modern residential areas sit side by side.
Burial mounds from the Kofun period and temple remains from the Hakuho period testify to early settlement in the area. Later the Chiba clan built a castle here that turned the plateau into a military stronghold.
The city takes its name from the cherry blossoms that line the castle grounds and public parks each spring. Visitors today still walk among the preserved earthworks and moats that shaped life here during the samurai era.
Travelers take the Sobu Line from Tokyo to Chiba and transfer to a local train to reach the city. The station sits centrally and allows walks to the main sights in the surrounding area.
A museum here holds over 1,000 artworks from the 20th century, including pieces by Picasso and Rothko. The collection came together through a private foundation and is housed in a purpose-built space.
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