Shiroyama Park 城山公園

Mt. Fuji view and reconstructed castle

Shiroyama Park is easy to spot from central Tateyama City because of its gleaming white castle keep. Tateyama Castle, like hundreds across Japan, was pulled down during the Meiji Restoration. The reconstruction, dating from the 1980s, is based on Inuyama Castle in Aichi Prefecture. The park has a lovely tea house with a karesansui garden and water features. It's a lovely spot for seasonal colors. I arrived just in time to see the end of the autumn leaves. When I visited in summer, there was a farmer's market in front of the chaya at the foot of the mountain. You can run dogs and children can play on the wide lawn.