The End of an Era for Amarume
Goodbye Random Castle-like Building
When I first moved to Amarume in the Shonai region of Yamagata, I noticed this building:
I mean, how could you not?
It’s like, a fake castle office building thing? Who knows? Amarume never really had that much clout. It was stuck between the actual castles of Tsuruoka, Matsuyama, Sakata (Kamegasaki), and one in southern Karikawa.
Anyway, even now I don’t know what that part of the building was for, but the part with the triangular windows to the right there was an indoor swimming pool I frequented, because of course it was, and on the ground floor (1st floor in Japan), there was a bank and a supermarket,
because of course there was.
Well, the building has been empty for at least a few years now, apparently it wasn’t earthquake safe, and it appears they are finally taking it apart:
Amarume will never be the same again.
Further (Required) Reading:
Daily Yamabushi Posts for April 24 to 30, 2026
Daily Yamabushi posts for April 24 to 30, 2026.
Remember, you can read a whole month’s worth of Daily Yamabushi at timbunting.com/daily-yamabushi. See all Japan Deep Dives here.