Established in 724, this administrative office was set up to govern Mutsu Province, which lay beyond the reach of the central government during the Nara period. It served as a key strategic point for governing the Tohoku region, housing both the provincial government office (“kokufu”) and the military garrison and command center (“chinju-fu”). Today, it is counted among Japan's Three Great Historic Sites, alongside the Heijō-kyō ruins in Nara Prefecture and the Dazaifu ruins in Fukuoka Prefecture. It is also renowned as the city's premier cherry blossom viewing spot and serves as a place of relaxation for citizens. (National Special Historic Site, Japan Heritage)