Shiroishi, the City with a Towering Castle

Shiroishi City is located roughly 2 hours by Shinkansen from Tokyo. Shiroishi Castle, the symbol of the city, is located on a hill in the city center. Shiroishi Castle was demolished in 1874, but its tower and other parts were restored in 1995, faithfully reproducing its appearance during the Edo Period (1603-1867). The area around the castle is dotted with the residences of retainers who once served the lord of the castle, the waterways that flow around the castle, and the warehouses of old merchant houses, giving it the atmosphere of an old castle town. Kamasaki Onsen, a hot spring resort area, is a 20-minute drive from the city center. Located in the mountains and surrounded by tranquility and rich greenery, the baths here first opened around 600 years ago. The oldest ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) in Kamasaki Onsen is Ichijoh Ryokan (Yunushi Ichijoh). Built about 80 years ago, this wooden inn was a large-scale building at the time of its construction, and it still retains its original appearance from that era. In 2016, the building was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, recognizing its worth as a building that embodies the history of Japanese ryokan architecture.