Iwakura City is amazing!

My city, Iwakura, is located in the northwest of Aichi Prefecture. It is the smallest city in Aichi Prefecture and the 10th smallest in Japan.

However, there are three castle ruins: Iwakura Castle, Inoue Castle, and Yatsurugi Fort. This is because Iwakura was one of the centers of the Owari region during the Sengoku Period (period of warring states in Japan). Iwakura Castle was the headquarters of the Oda family in Iwakura, who divided the Owari region into north and south. Therefore, Iwakura Castle was the front line of attack and defense against the surrounding forces, and a defensive base was necessary.

The Inoue Castle and the Yatsurugi Fort were intended to protect Iwakura Castle.

Nevertheless, Iwakura Castle was destroyed by Nobunaga Oda in 1559.

There are 25 shrines and 32 temples in Iwakura. The reason why there are so many temples in such a small city is because warlords of the War period used this area as their base of operations, and they built temples and shrines to serve as their family temples and prayer halls.

After the castle was attacked by Nobunaga Oda and fell, it flourished as a castle town, so many temples and shrines remain in the area today.

In the Edo period (1603-1867), the Iwakura-kaido, the road connecting Nagoya and Inuyama was built, and Iwakura seems to have prospered as an important transportation center.

Iwakura was a very important town at that time, so Iwakura could make three festival floats. 400 years ago. In spring, they are on parade during the cherry blossom festival, and in summer, they are on parade with lanterns and karakuri dolls (Japanese traditional mechanical dolls). The Shimohonmachi float is the largest in Aichi Prefecture.

At the beginning of August, I had a chance to see the Shimohonmachi float and was impressed by the way the float pullers maneuvered the float and children played the flutes and drums on the float.

I got married and came to Iwakura from Nagoya, and I am very happy to be able to live here in Iwakura City.

Some people feel sorry for me because I moved from a busy big city to a small town, but I’m happy here.

Now, so many foreigners are coming to Iwakura, I hope I am doing something useful for Iwakura.