WalkWalking Trips in Ena

Area 2

The ruins of Iwamura Castle
and the castle town
A hero and female castle load lived here.

Name of a housewife is on a short curtain in the historical town.
Town of the female castle load is filled with kindness and warmth.
Since it was built on the highest place (717m above sea) for a castle in Japan, the ruins ofIwamura Castle have been selected as one of three major mountain castles in Japan. It
also has been selected as one of 100 superior castles in Japan. It was an impregnablecastle by taking advantage of the altitude and geographical features. The builders took
advantage of the unique foggy climate around the area in constructing the castle giving it
the nickname “Foggy Castle” . It lasted the Warring States period and 300 years of theEdo period since its construction in 1185. It continued to stand about 700 years until thegovernment ordered to destroy all the castles in the Meiji period. One of the famous
1 The ruins of Iwamura Castle
lords of the castle was a woman called “Onna Joshu” and protected her vassals and The stone walls extend about 1.7km. About
people while she chose a political marriage. Although the castle is gone, the way the 40,000 stones are piled up. You can see three
ways of piling up stones.
stone walls and wells were made says much about thetechnologies at that time. Materials about those technologies are restored
in History Museum.
The castle town is divided into two areas. Samurai residences are locatedon the north side of Iwamura River and merchant residences are locatedon the south side of it. You can find sea cucumber-patterned walls andlattices which are iconic of the old ages here and there.

Walk along the historicalstreets enjoying a gentle breeze.
The main street which extends from Iwamura Station to the ruinsof Iwamura Castle has been selected as “Important Preservation
Districts for Groups of Historic Buildings” . You can find a nameof each house’ s proprietress printed on a short curtain underthe eave which reminds you of the female lord of a castle. You
can learn unique ideas and skills ofancient people in the structures ofwine cellars, sweetshops, andkimono shops, as well as in sea
cucumber-patterned walls andwatercourses going under houses.

4 Katsukawa’ s House

5 TosayaThis facility consists of two houses which are two story
buildings. The study, tea ceremony room and rooms
for employees tell about how they lived back then.

You can learn how people dyed kimono deep blueat that time.

Free admission Closed on Tuesdays

Admission ￥200

Closed on Wednesdays

Sea cucumberpatterned walls
These walls are found in adaimyo’ s residence and acastle.

6 Kimura’ s House

The style of the Edo period still remains in thishouse which reminds you of the history of thecastle town.

Admission ￥200 Closed on Mondays

Historical streets

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The old streets have been selected as one of 100
selections of beautiful historical landscapes in Japan.

These are the streets of merchant stores which played an important role in commercial
activities since modern times. Stately buildings indicate the prosperity at that time.
Historically valuable signboards still remain intact.

え なAccess

Ena
Higashino

Ena IC●By Akechi Railway : 30 min from Ena Sta.

IibamaHanashiro

Yamaoka

NoshiAkechi

11Stone pavement

Utako Shimoda’ s Study RoomTaiko-Yagura,
Front gate of Chishin-kan

To Kamiyahagi

UtakoShimoda

3PPanoramic view of Iwamura Town

Iwamura Castle parking

History Museum
Photography
spotNight-light257

Lattice and ancient signboard

2 Utako Shimoda’ s

Sea cucumberpatterned wall

Study Room

Kimura’ s House

Utako Shimoda was a pioneer of afemale education as well as a poet fromthe Meiji to the Showa period. Thisbuilding is a reconstruction of her study
room.

Tourist Information

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P6Taishojin Park← To observation deckfor Best Agricultural Sceneryin JapanPTosaya 5● Local Eats

Katsukawa’ s House
Iwamura Shrine

Castella

Hand-made soba

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She was educated since her
childhood and composed
Japanese poems and Chinesepoems. When she was 19, she ser ved in theImperial Household Agency and her Majesty
considered her to be a talented poet. After that, she
was engaged in female education and establishedschools for girls. She was a representative person offemale education in the Meiji and Taisho periods.

You can find a sake distiller y and Japanese
sweets shops with traditional manufacturing
along the old streets. Enjoy the taste of theold days with some handmade Soba or Udonor relax in an old cafe.

Iwamura branch office parking

Kousatsuba
Gunsmith

He was born in 1772 as thesecond son of a feudal lord.
He ser ved as a vassal of afeudal clan and lear ned
Confucianism. The government regarded him as amaster of Confucianism. Educated people, cultured
people and politicians read his collection of sayings.

2Photography
spot

Folk Museum

Issai Sato

Agi

IwamuraJoshi Parkof famous people in Ena

Iinuma●By car : 20 min from Ena ICRuins of Iwamura Castle● A series of biographies

Kankara-mochi Local sake

Main street
castella, Kiku-Gobo

Iwamura Tenmangu

Don’t
miss!

Tetrahedral tower
Iwamura Art Museum

PKamono Chomei-zuka

hiAkecay

Railw363

Iwamura Sta.

To Akechi Town

Ishimuro Sentai-butsu
To city area

3 History Museum

This is a museum which displays
materials of more than 800 years historyof Iwamura. It preserves “ Iwamura
Castle Illustration Map” and “ Self portraitof Issai Sato” which are historicallyvaluable.

people 65 and over ￥200
high school and under freeFor more information:
you can get “Iwamura Castle
Town Illustration Map” and“Iwamura Guidebook”
at Iwamura Station,
tourist infor mation,and etc.

The entrance area of the ruins of Iwamura castle iscalled “Joshi Park” . The ruins of Iwamura Feudal
Lord House, History Museum and Taiko-Yagura tella lot about the historyof the area. Ever y
A u g u s t, a torchlight
performance of Noh is

Front gate of Chishin-kan

When you walk along
the old streets, you findthose sayings here andthere.

Admission: general ￥400

Iwamura Joshi Park

played at the ruins ofIwamura Feudal Lord
House.

A collection ofsayings by
Issai Sato

Taiko-Yagura

Inquire at
Ena City Tourist Association
Iwamura branch office
TEL 0573-43-3231
http://www.iw.vrtc.net/ ~ fureai-yakata/kankou/

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