Sakasai Castle Park

A park designated a Prefectural Historic Site encompassing the site of Sakasai Castle, a plains castle constructed in the late Warring States period. Built in 1577 by the Later Hojo clan to serve as a base for their expansion into northern Kanto, the castle was destroyed by the mighty samurai lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1590 and abandoned. Today, the outer moat and portions of the castle base still remain in an untouched state. Castle facilities such as the main gate, bridge, walls, main building, and two-tier tower have been reconstructed in based on archeological excavations, showing what the castle looked like in its heyday and giving visitors the chance to feel like they've gone back in time. Some 200 cherry trees grow on the grounds, including Beni Sashima cherries, an endemic Ibaraki variety, and the park is a top local destination for viewing cherry blossoms in the spring.