Fukui Castle, erected in 1606 by Yuki Hideyasu, Tokugawa Ieyasu's clandestine son, stands as a testament to a complex family history. Born to Oman, a servant of Ieyasu's wife Tsukiyama Dono, Yuki Hideyasu was concealed by his father out of fear of marital discord. Raised in the shadows until his emergence as a samurai, Yuki proved his mettle in numerous battles, earning accolades from Ieyasu himself.
At the pivotal Battle of Sekigahara, Yuki Hideyasu sided with his father's Eastern forces, showcasing his prowess once more and garnering Ieyasu's admiration. In recognition of his valor, Ieyasu granted him the lands of Shibata Katsuie in Echizen Province (now Fukui Prefecture) and aided in the construction of Fukui Castle. Designed by Ieyasu and fortified with stones from Kitanosho Castle, the castle complex, including the Honmaru and Ni-no-maru precincts, took six years to complete.
In 1624, Fukui Castle was formally christened by its third lord, Matsudaira Tadamasa, marking the beginning of Fukui Domain's rule under the Matsudaira clan for 270 years. Although the castle's iconic five-story tower keep succumbed to flames in 1669 and was never rebuilt, the resilient stone walls and expansive moats endure as silent witnesses to centuries of history.
Today, the former castle grounds host governmental and law enforcement offices, yet echoes of Fukui Castle's legacy persist. A monumental stone statue of Yuki Hideyasu graces the landscape, while ongoing efforts seek to enhance the site's historical authenticity, including the restoration of strategic gates like the Rokabashi bridge and the Yamazato-guchi Gomon Gate. The castle's original stone base remains accessible to the public, offering a glimpse into Fukui's storied past amidst the modernity of Fukui Prefecture.
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Yoshida Castle
Yoshida Castle is renowned worldwide, particularly through the intricate woodblock prints by Edo Period artist Hiroshige. His famous series, depicting the 53 stages of the Tokaido—the historic route between Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo)—includes the 34th print, which shows workmen repairing a castle overlooking a wooden bridge crossing a wide river. This scene captures the Toyokawa River at Toyohashi in southeast Aichi Prefecture, and the castle is Yoshida Castle.
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Yamato Koriyama Castle
The impressive ruins of Koriyama Castle sit atop a small hill, surrounded by two rivers. The strategic positioning and strong layout of the castle served it well through the final years of the Sengoku period and the peaceful days of the Edo period.
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Yamanaka Castle
Yamanaka Castle, established by Hojo Ujiyasu in the 1560s, is located in what is now eastern Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture. This castle served as the first line of western defense for the main Hojo Castle at Odawara. Carved into the side of a 586-meter-high mountain, Yamanaka Castle was strategically positioned along the Tokaido Highway, offering superb views of nearby Mt. Fuji, the ocean, and the road leading to Odawara.
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Uwajima Castle
Uwajima Castle, located in Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku, is one of the 12 remaining Japanese castles with an original keep. Known for its small size, Uwajima Castle is relatively difficult to access, which means it is less frequented by tourists.
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Ueda Castle
Ueda Castle in Nagano Prefecture once stood prominently on a cliff overlooking the Saigawa River. Also known as Amagafuchi-Jo, Isesaki-Jo, Matsuo-Jo, and Sanada-Jo, it was built around 1583 by its first master, Sanada Masayuki. This sturdy yet small fortress cleverly utilized the surrounding natural defenses, including the river, steep rocky cliffs, the layout of the town below, and the strategically designed waterways to hinder attackers. Ueda Castle was fortified with seven defensive yagura (watchtowers) atop robust stone walls and had two large gates with watchtowers above them.
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Tsuyama Castle
Tsuyama Castle, located in Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture, is celebrated as one of Japan's top three major hilltop (Hirayama) castles, alongside Himeji and Matsuyama Castles. Originally, Tsuyama Castle comprised 77 structures, including the main keep, various yagura (watchtowers), gates, palaces, and living quarters. For comparison, Hiroshima Castle had 76 structures, and Himeji had 61. The first castle on this site was built in 1441 but was soon abandoned. The large-scale construction that we recognize today began in 1603 under the orders of Mori Tadamasa. The castle served as the administrative base for the Tsuyama Han daimyo, the Mori clan from 1603 to 1697, and the Matsudaira clan from 1698 to 1871.
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Tsu Castle
Tsu Castle, located in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture, was originally built by Hosono Fujiatsu in 1558 and was known as Anotsu Castle, named after the old region. The site was strategically chosen at the confluence of the Ano and Iwata Rivers, which naturally formed a moat around the castle, while the nearby port served as a vital trade route.
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Sasayama Castle
Tamba Sasayama Castle, also known as Sasayama or Kirigajo (Mist Castle), is a flatland castle (hira-jiro) situated on a gentle rise in the Tamba region of Hyogo Prefecture. It was constructed in 1608 as part of Tokugawa Ieyasu's strategy to prepare for an attack on Osaka, aiming to bring an end to the Toyotomi clan. Ieyasu ordered the castle's construction using the Tenka Bushin system, engaging 20 former enemy daimyo and their forces to complete the complex within six months. This system kept the former enemies close and preoccupied, financially straining them and limiting their capacity for further conflict. The stones used in Sasayama Castle feature engravings called kokumon, indicating who made each part of the walls and preventing theft by other lords' men.
