Hikone Castle, nestled in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture, is categorized as a hirayama-jiro, a castle strategically built on a low hill with the surrounding flatlands integrated into its design. Remarkably, it stands as one of Japan's twelve castles with its original tower keep intact, proudly holding the distinction of being one of only five designated as National Treasures. The castle's inception dates back to 1603, commissioned by Ii Naomasa.
Originally, the Hikone region fell under the control of Ishida Mitsunari, who fortified his main castle on nearby Mt. Sawayama. However, following his defeat by Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, the Ishida domain faced turmoil, with Sawayama suffering partial destruction. Seizing the opportunity, Ieyasu bestowed the strategically vital lands upon his trusted ally, General Ii Naomasa. Disdainful of the associations with Ishida Mitsunari, Naomasa opted to build a larger, more formidable castle closer to Lake Biwa's eastern shores, a decision that birthed Hikone Castle.
Though Naomasa passed away before its completion in 1602, his sons, Naotsugu and later Naotaka, oversaw the twenty-year construction period. Given the ongoing military conflicts, many structures within Hikone Castle were repurposed from other castles, exemplifying resourcefulness amidst turmoil. For instance, the main keep of Hikone originated from Otsu Castle, dismantled after the Battle of Sekigahara. Hikone's keep, adorned with 18 sets of hafu (triangular roofing devices), stands as a testament to its architectural magnificence.
Renowned for its defensive prowess, Hikone Castle boasts ingenious features to thwart potential attackers. The sloping path leading to the central bailey, although appearing gentle, is deliberately designed with varying step dimensions to impede momentum and balance. The castle's Rokabashi Bridge, collapsible and strategically positioned, further deters intruders, enhancing the stronghold's impregnability.
Moreover, Hikone Castle harbors hidden secrets within its walls, including a small triangular-shaped chamber within the hafu. This clandestine room, accessible through a discreet hatchway, is believed to have been designed for ritual suicide in dire circumstances, ensuring the lord's dignity in defeat.
Beyond its defensive fortifications, Hikone Castle's allure extends to its picturesque surroundings, including the tranquil Genkyu Rakuen gardens and the historic Keyaki Goten palace residence. A visit to the castle museum offers insights into the legacy of the Ii clan, showcasing original artifacts and weaponry used by the family.
Shiga Prefecture's National Treasure, Hikone Castle, stands as a testament to Japan's feudal heritage and architectural prowess, inviting visitors to explore its rich history and timeless beauty.
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Fukuyama Castle
After the defeat of Toyotomi Hideyori’s supporters in the Osaka Campaigns of 1614–1615, many clans in Japan still remained not fully loyal to the Tokugawa shogunate, especially in the western Chūgoku region. Mizuno Katsunari (1564–1651), a cousin of Tokugawa Ieyasu, became the first of the Tokugawa house’s close retainers, the so-called fudai daimyō, to be relocated to this strategically important area.
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Tiba Castle
The founder of the Chiba clan is considered to be Chiba Tsunesige (1083–1180), who in 1126 moved his residence to the Inohana area and built a strongly fortified stronghold there. Although Tsunesige himself came from the Taira clan, the Chiba clan later supported Minamoto no Yoritomo, the future founder of the first shogunate.
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Sunomata Castle
Oda Nobunaga, as part of his “final solution” to the conflict with the Saitō clan, conceived the construction of a fort in the Sunomata area, which was intended to serve as a forward base for an attack on Inabayama Castle (later renamed Gifu). Sunomata was a swampy area located between Ogaki Castle, a stronghold of the Oda clan, and Inabayama, the main fortress of the Saitō clan. Earlier attempts to build fortifications in this area, carried out by Oda generals Sakuma Nobumori and Shibata Katsuie, had all ended in failure. After that, the task was entrusted to the young vassal Kinoshita Tokichirō, who later became known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
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Shibata Castle
The exact time when structures first appeared on the site of the present-day castle is unknown; however, it is generally believed that the first fortified buildings were constructed here during the Muromachi period, when these lands were controlled by the Shibata clan.
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Okayama Castle
According to a number of accounts, the earliest fortifications on the site of present-day Okayama Castle appeared as early as the 14th century and were built by the Nawa clan. The Asahigawa River was used as a natural defensive barrier, protecting one side of the fortifications.
In the early 16th century, the Kanamitsu clan constructed a new castle here, which at the time was known as Ishiyama. In 1573, it came under the control of the Ukita clan, after which Ukita Naoie (1529–1582) launched large-scale reconstruction efforts. He did not live to see the work completed, and construction was continued by his son Hideie. -
Nagahama Castle
Hashiba, later known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, received Odani Castle and the surrounding lands from Oda Nobunaga after the defeat of the Azai clan. However, Odani Castle was located high in the mountains, which made it poorly suited for the effective administration of the territory. For this reason, in 1575 Hideyoshi began constructing a new castle in the village of Imahama on the shore of Lake Biwa. Taking the character naga from Nobunaga’s name, he renamed both the village and the new castle Nagahama.
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Kokura Castle
Kokura Castle is traditionally considered to have been founded by Hosokawa Tadaoki (1563–1645), although by the time the Hosokawa clan came to control these lands, the fortification had already existed since at least 1569 and was most likely built by members of the Mori clan.
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Ikeda Castle
In 1334, Ikeda Noriyoshi built a small fort on this site, which over time was repeatedly expanded and rebuilt. During the Ōnin War of 1467–1477, the Ikeda clan supported the Western Coalition. As a result, Ikeda Castle was attacked and captured by the forces of the Eastern Coalition, but it was soon recaptured, allowing it to avoid serious destruction.
