Maruoka Castle

Maruoka Castle is located in the central part of the former city of Maruoka, which is now part of the city of Sakai. This area lies in the northeastern part of Fukui Prefecture. The castle was built on the bank of the Kuzuryu River, on the side opposite Fukui City, which once served as the administrative center of the former Echizen Province. Thanks to its location, Maruoka held significant strategic importance, as it controlled two major routes at once: the Hokurikudo highway leading from Kaga Province and the Mino Kaido road connecting these lands with Mino Province.

The first fortification on this site appeared at the beginning of the 16th century. It was built by one of the vassals of the Ogasawara clan, which at that time ruled Echizen Province. However, during the prolonged and bloody wars of the Sengoku period, the castle was completely destroyed and ceased to exist for some time.

In 1575, Oda Nobunaga, regarded as Japan’s first unifier, crushed the resistance of the Ikko-ikki religious leagues and captured Echizen Province. He then entrusted control of these lands to his general Shibata Katsuie (1521–1583). Katsuie established his residence at Kitanosho Castle in Fukui City and appointed his nephew and adopted son, Shibata Katsutoyo, as provincial governor.

At first, Katsutoyo intended to restore the mountain castle of Toyohara, which had previously belonged to the Ikko-ikki. However, he encountered serious difficulties transporting building materials into the mountainous area. As a result, he decided to construct a new castle at Maruoka. Construction began in 1576 and continued for nearly two decades.

Legends Associated with the Construction of the Castle

Several well-known legends are connected with Maruoka Castle. One of them dates back to the construction of the donjon. For a long time, the foundation of the main tower could not be made stable: the stones would not hold, and the masonry kept collapsing. The builders then decided to resort to the ancient ritual of hitobashira, which literally means “human pillar.” This custom involved human sacrifice, in which a person was buried alive within one of the supports of the future structure in order to appease the spirits and ensure the building’s stability. Such rituals existed not only in Japan but also in China and other parts of Asia. As a rule, people agreed to such a sacrifice voluntarily, guided by religious beliefs. In Maruoka, the role was taken by a one-eyed widow whose son was working on the castle’s construction.

Another legend is connected with the castle’s second name, Kasumigajo, meaning “Castle of Mist.” According to legend, once when a large army attempted to storm the fortress, a gigantic snake appeared and breathed out a thick mist that protected the castle. It is said that ever since then, whenever enemies tried to locate and capture Maruoka, it was always concealed by a dense fog.

The Meiji Reforms and the Loss of the Castle Buildings

In 1871, the Meiji government issued an edict ordering the dismantling of samurai castles, regarding them as “relics of feudalism.” Almost all of the structures of Maruoka Castle were taken apart, and only the donjon survived. For some time it remained the property of the Arima clan, but in 1901 it was purchased by the municipal government of Maruoka.

On June 28, 1948, one of the most powerful earthquakes in Japan’s history struck Fukui Prefecture. As a result of the destruction, 3,769 people lost their lives, and many buildings were destroyed. The donjon of Maruoka Castle also failed to withstand the disaster and collapsed.

Restoration work was completed by 1955. More than 80 percent of the materials from the original tower were reused during reconstruction, allowing the authorities to classify the donjon as authentic. However, a number of experts dispute this authenticity, since some elements were reused for different purposes than originally intended; for example, certain former columns were repurposed as beams.

For a long time, it was believed that the donjon of Maruoka had survived unchanged since the time of Shibata Katsutoyo’s construction. This belief allowed Maruoka to claim the title of the oldest surviving castle in Japan, competing with Inuyama and Matsumoto castles.

However, studies conducted in recent years at the request of the Sakai city administration have seriously challenged this view. According to a report published on March 26, 2019, chemical and isotopic analyses showed that the main wooden structures date to the 1620s. One theory suggests that the castle was completely rebuilt around 1628, while another holds that only the upper floors were reconstructed in the 1620s.

Architectural Features of the Donjon

The donjon of Maruoka Castle belongs to the simplest architectural type, known as dokuritsushiki, in which the main tower stands alone and is not connected to other buildings. It rises on a hill in the middle of a relatively flat plain and takes the form of a two-tiered, three-story tower approximately 33 meters high.

Unlike most Japanese castles, whose roofs are covered with terracotta tiles, Maruoka’s roof is made of stone tiles. This choice is explained by the fact that stone better withstands the sharp temperature fluctuations characteristic of this region of Japan. The donjon is considered the oldest surviving tower with an observation deck on the top floor. In terms of size and interior layout, it closely resembles the donjon of Inuyama Castle.

The moat that surrounded the two main courtyards of the castle had a pentagonal shape. It was filled in during the Meiji period, but the current city administration is considering plans to restore it. The outer moats have only partially survived and today exist in the form of city canals.

Cultural Heritage Status

Since 1950, the donjon of Maruoka Castle has been designated an Important Cultural Property. In 2013, the Sakai city administration established a special organization aimed at obtaining National Treasure status for the castle. As of today, only five castles in Japan hold this designation. A strong argument in Maruoka’s favor is the fact that it was already recognized as a National Treasure in 1934. In addition, in 2006 the Japan Castle Association included Maruoka Castle in its list of the “100 Fine Castles of Japan.”

Several other surviving structures associated with Maruoka Castle were relocated to different locations in the 19th century. One of the gates was moved to the grounds of a private residence in the former castle town. Two other gates are located at Kozenji Temple in Komatsu City and Renshoji Temple in Awara City.

Today, a public park occupies the castle grounds. At the foot of the hill stands a small museum dedicated to the history of the owners of Maruoka Castle.

More than 400 cherry blossom trees are planted in the park surrounding the castle. The traditional hanami festival, dedicated to viewing cherry blossoms, is held during the first three weeks of April. During this period, the blooming trees are illuminated in the evenings by approximately 300 paper lanterns. In 1990, the park was included in the list of the top 100 places in Japan for cherry blossom viewing.