Matsudaira Family Cemetery on Mt. Innai

The burial ground of the Matsudaira daimyo lords sits on the forested slopes of Mt. Innai in Fukushima, with some tombs more than 400 years old. The first burial here was for a teenage son of Hoshina Masayuki who died in 1657. Eight successive daimyo lords were later interred in Shinto style, with each tomb marked by a towering inscribed stone pillar resting on a turtle-shaped kameishi base, considered to have protective power. English signage explains the layout. The 15-minute hike to the cemetery is pleasant year-round, particularly in autumn. Bear bells are available to borrow free at both trailheads, as Asiatic black bears inhabit the area.