Aizuwakamatsu, Historical city in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.
Aizuwakamatsu spreads across a wide area in western Fukushima Prefecture, combining flat rice paddies with forested hills and smaller settlements. The area includes several districts, among them a restored samurai quarter with traditional wooden homes and paved lanes.
During the 19th century, this was the final stronghold in the Boshin War, when Tsuruga Castle resisted imperial forces. The confrontation ended in 1868 with the defeat of regional forces and the end of samurai rule.
Craftspeople across the area continue centuries-old methods to produce the region's famous lacquerware, known for glossy red layers and detailed patterns. These works are made in small workshops where visitors can watch artisans at work.
Travelers reach the main sites using the Haikara-san and Akabe buses, which run from the train station and link the castle grounds with the old quarters. Streets in the samurai district are easy to walk, though some paths include gentle slopes.
On Mount Iimori stands a memorial to the Byakkotai, a group of young samurai who took their own lives in 1868 during the siege. From the hill, they saw smoke over the castle and mistakenly believed it had fallen.
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