One of Japan’s National Heritage Sites, Shirakawa Komine Castle is also one of Tohoku’s Three Famous Castles. Together with Morioka Castle and Wakamatsu Castle, the three castles have been constructed using only stones, which is a rare practice within the region. The history of Shirakawa Komine Castle started back in 1340, when a warlord named Yukichi Katomo began the construction. The castle was finished in 1632 after a four-year construction period by the domain lord Niwa Nagashike.