Former Sanada Family Residence

Admission fee: 400 yen for adults. A common ticket for the Treasure Museum and Bunbu School costs 1,100 yen. The outer castle palace of Matsushiro Castle was built in 1864 by the 9th feudal lord, Kounori, as a residence for his mother-in-law, Teishoin (Yukiyoshi's wife), and was called the ``Shin-Goten'' at the time. During the Edo period, the wives and children of feudal lords were required to live in Edo for the rest of their lives, but in 1862 (Bunkyu 2), with the relaxation of the sankin-tatai system due to the Bunkyu reform carried out during the era of the 14th shogun, Iemochi Tokugawa. Since his wife and children were allowed to return to Japan, he needed a mansion in Matsushiro as well. Later, after his retirement, Kounori also lived here, and after the Meiji period, it became the private residence of the Sanada clan, who became counts. In 1966 (Showa 41), the 12th head of the family, Mr. Koji, transferred it to Matsushiro Town, along with his family heirlooms. The main building, front gate, seven storehouses, and gardens clearly convey the style of palace architecture at the end of the Edo period, making it a valuable building from an architectural historical perspective, and it has been designated as a national historic site as part of Matsushiro Castle. The seasonal atmosphere of the sitting garden is also a highlight.