Funaoka Castle Ruins Park

This large park was built on the "Funaoka Castle" ruins where Shibata Family used to live until the Meiji Revolution. It is famous nation-wide through NHK’s 1970 historical drama “Mominoki wa Nokotta” based on Shugoro Yamamoto’s book. The fir tree, which was used as the title of the drama, is still standing tall in the park.

To get to the Funaoka Castle Ruins on top of Mt. Shiho at 135m above sea level, you can ride a slope car that will climb 305m from the parking lot at the middle of the mountain. "Funaoka Peace Kannon statue", a 24m-tall symbol of Shibata Town, is standing there at the top, where you can look over Shibata Town, Zao mountains, and far to the Pacific Ocean.

The park is known for the cherry blossoms and is the only place in Miyagi which is chosen into Japan’s 100 Great Spots for Cherry Blossoms. In spring, 1,000 cherry trees cover the mountains. With the cherry promenade along Shiroishi River at the foot of the castle, it is a phenomenal scene. From the early to late April, "Shibata Sakura Festival" is held, attracting more than 270,000 flower-lovers from in and out of the prefecture. Hydrangea from June through July, red spider lilies from September through October, plum and daffodils peak in March. You get to adore brilliant flowers in season throughout the year.