Ōkusa Castle Ruins Park

Overview

Ōkusa Castle Ruins Park is located in Nakagawa Village, Kamiina District, Nagano Prefecture. It's built on the site of Ōkusa Castle, constructed in the early Nanboku-cho period (1336-1392). The Kosaka clan once ruled this area, notably sheltering Emperor Go-Daigo's eighth prince, Imperial Prince Munenaga, in Ōkawahara, making it a crucial stronghold. The castle fell into disuse after Oda's invasion of Ina in 1581, later serving as farmland. Designated a historical site of Nakagawa Village in 1977, the park was completed in 1993. It offers magnificent views of the Central Alps and a breathtaking spring spectacle of approximately 200 cherry trees in full bloom. The park features a castle mound, a cherry blossom plaza, a four-seasons plaza, a grassy plaza, and a children's playground, providing ample enjoyment for both children and adults. A stele bearing a poem by Imperial Prince Munenaga, "If you ask where I am in this world, tell them I am in Shinano, nestled amongst the pines of the mountain breeze," is also located within the park. Ōkusa Castle Ruins Park, a place where you can savor both history and nature, is a must-visit destination when exploring Nagano Prefecture.