Yubikan

Miyagi

Castles & Historic Sites

Gardens & Nature

# Historic Building

# Garden

# Fall Foliage

# Samurai

# Oldest in Japan

Traditional Japanese building with a thatched roof reflected on a pond, surrounded by lush green trees.

Two traditional Japanese thatched-roof buildings by a pond in a bright green garden under a blue sky.

Interior of a traditional Japanese room with tatami mats, wooden ceiling, and sliding doors opening to a pond view.

Exhibition room interior with a high thatched roof, displaying historical documents and artifacts in glass cases.

Close-up of deep red and orange autumn maple leaves over the thatched roof of a traditional building.

Key Points

Yubikan was an academy established by the Iwadeyama Date clan, retainers of the Date Domain during the Edo period
Originally established within the grounds of the retirement villa for Iwadeyama Date clan heads
A serene Edo-period garden once designed to welcome a feudal lord
Holds various events annually, like special exhibitions, tea ceremonies, and light-up displays

Yubikan is a rare surviving example of an Edo period school. Although it officially opened as a school around 1850 under Date Kuninao, the tenth head of the Date Domain, a branch of the Date main family, and the Gokaisho, was originally built in 1677 as the retirement villa of the second lord, Date Munetoshi.
Unlike many historical buildings in Japan, Yubikan has never been destroyed by fire or war, making it a remarkably well-preserved site. Its garden is a traditional strolling pond-style garden designed in 1715 to host the visiting Date Yoshimura, fifth lord of Sendai. The garden also features a teahouse, and views that incorporate the natural cliffside landscape of Iwadeyama Castle.
Yubikan holds various events annually, like special exhibitions, tea ceremonies, and light-up displays.

Information

Spot information including address, access, and website
Address	6 Kamikawaramachi, Iwadeyama, Osaki City, Miyagi
Access from Tokyo	(1) From Tokyo Station, take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Furukawa Station (approx. 1 hour 46 minutes). (2) At Furukawa Station, transfer to the JR Rikuuto Line local Train and take the train to Yubikan Station (approx. 20 minutes). (3) From Yubikan Station, the Yubikan Samurai Villa is an approximately 6-minute walk. Show route from Tokyo Station
Website	https://yubikan.jp/top-en.html