Nostalgia Garden

Komoro Castle Ruins Park is located in Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture. It is the former castle site of the lord of Komoro Domain (the Makino clan from 1702), with a 15,000 koku stipend. It sits on a cliff 650 meters above sea level, overlooking the Chikuma River, where the end of the Asama volcano's lahar flows. At the entrance to the park is the Sannomon Gate of Komoro Castle, which was rebuilt in 1765 (Meiwa 2), and the stone walls of the castle tower remain. The park became famous because of its connection to Shimazaki Toson's literature, as he taught at Komoro Gijuku, which was located in part of the old castle grounds. A monument to the poem "Chikuma River Travel Song" stands on the cliff over the Chikuma River, and in addition to the Toson Memorial Museum, there are also eight monuments bearing haiku by Wakayama Bokusui and others. The park was developed in 1926 (Taisho 15) under the direction of landscape designer Honda Seiroku, and also has a zoo and an amusement park. On some days, you can see the Northern Alps and Mt. Fuji in the distance, and you can see the Asama and Yatsugatake mountain ranges right before your eyes. It is also famous as a cherry blossom viewing spot. It is a 5-minute walk from Komoro Station.

[Hiroyoshi Kobayashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

長野県小諸(こもろ)市にある小諸城跡公園。小諸藩1万5000石の城主（1702年以降牧野氏）の居城跡で、浅間(あさま)火山の泥流の末端が千曲(ちくま)川に臨む標高650メートルの断崖(だんがい)上にある。園の入口には1765年（明和2）再建の小諸城の三ノ門があり、天守閣の石垣も残る。この園が有名になったのは島崎藤村が旧城内の一部にあった小諸義塾に勤めていたことから藤村文学と関連したためである。『千曲川旅情のうた』の詩碑が千曲川の断崖上にあり、藤村記念館のほか、若山牧水らの句碑8基もある。1926年（大正15）造園設計者本多静六の指導で整備され、動物園、遊園地などもある。北アルプスや富士を遠望できる日もあり、浅間、八ヶ岳(やつがたけ)連峰を眼前に眺められる。サクラの名所としても名高い。小諸駅から徒歩5分。

［小林寛義］

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