Shiroishi Castle

Shiroishi Castle, also known as Masuoka Castle, served as the residence of the Katakura family for over 260 years, from after the Battle of Sekigahara until 1868 during the Meiji Restoration. While its construction date remains unknown (one theory suggests it was renovated by the Gamo clan in the late 15th century), the castle was dismantled in 1874 after the Date Domain, which had sided with the old shogunate forces during the Boshin War, surrendered and the Edo shogunate came to an end. However, the three-story tower (castle keep) and main gate were faithfully reconstructed in 1995 using traditional methods and historical documentation. Today, its reconstructed three-story keep and grand gates evoke the atmosphere of the Sengoku and early Edo periods.
Shiroishi Castle witnessed a series of military and political shifts. Most notably, despite the general rule of one castle per domain during the Edo period, the Date clan was allowed to retain both Sendai and Shiroishi castles because of the vastness and strategic importance of their territory, plus their special relationship with the Edo shogunate. During the turbulent final years of the Edo period in the mid-19th century, it became the base for the Ouetsu Reppan Domei, a coalition of northern domains (including the Tohoku region and present-day Niigata Prefecture) that resisted the new Meiji government.
The Katakura family’s loyalty to the founding lord of the Date Domain, Date Masamune—in particular, the first lord Katakura Kagetsuna (Kojuro), who served as Masamune’s guardian and strategist in his youth—is also a key part of the castle’s legacy, and its exhibits highlight this bond.
Visitors today can explore the reconstructed keep, as well as the Shiroishi Castle History Museum with its 3D videos and samurai armor displays, and the former Koseki residence, a beautifully restored samurai residence and a Miyagi Prefecture Designated Cultural Property that offers a vivid glimpse into Edo-period warrior life.