Sadowara Castle in Miyazaki Prefecture was a mountaintop yamajiro castle, initially built by the Tajima clan during the Nanboku-Cho period (1334-1394). As was typical of castles from that era, Mt. Kakusho, the chosen mountain, was terraced to create various baileys, or kuruwa. While defensive structures were constructed at the top and around the mountain, the lord's main living quarters and administrative offices were situated at the mountain's base.
Around 1427, the powerful Ito clan of Miyazaki Prefecture seized Sadowara Castle from the Tajima clan. The Ito clan occupied the castle until 1537, when a fire severely damaged it, prompting them to relocate to Miyazaki Castle for five years while repairs were undertaken. In 1568, the Ito clan returned to Sadowara, making it their primary stronghold. However, the castle changed hands several times thereafter: the Otomo clan took control in 1577, only to lose it to the Shimazu clan in 1579. After the death of Lord Shimazu Iehisa, his successor Shimazu Toyohisa fell at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, and Sadowara Castle became Tokugawa property. Despite their former opposition to the Tokugawa, Toyohisa's cousin was appointed castellan in 1693.
The castle underwent significant expansion in 1610, with the construction of a three-story keep, yagura watchtowers, and fortified gates. The remains of the keep indicate it measured approximately 11m by 12m. Excavations revealed parts of a shachihoko, the ornamental tiger-fish roof adornment found on castles and temples, suggesting that gold-covered shachihoko ornaments, 50cm wide and 80cm high, once adorned the keep’s roof.
The paths to the Honmaru, the main central bailey, were carved from the mountain, creating trenches that could trap attacking forces, while defenders could attack from above. Gates along these trenches regulated the flow of potential attackers. By around 1625, the Ni-no-Maru palace and samurai living quarters were built in the defensible narrow valley below the mountaintop.
Sadowara Castle safeguarded the central Miyazaki region until 1870 when the 10th Shimazu lord abandoned it. Like many other castles across Japan, it was demolished in 1871. In 1994, the Ni-no-Maru palace was reconstructed based on studies of the foundation stones and research into 17th-century architectural styles.
See also
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Arato Castle
Arato Castle was built in 1524 by the Yamada clan under the orders of their overlord, Murakami, as a small mountain fort. Over time, it gained strategic importance and became a focal point in the conflict between two famous daimyō of the Sengoku period — Takeda Shingen and Murakami Yoshikiyo. This conflict turned the castle into one of the key fortifications in the struggle for control over Shinano Province.
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Tatsuno Castle
Tatsuno Castle is not a single fortification but rather a complex consisting of two parts: a mountain fortress located at the summit of Mount Keirozan and a flatland-mountain castle situated at its base. The mountain stronghold was built around 1499 by Akamatsu Murahide. During the Muromachi period, the Akamatsu clan was an influential family that, at the height of its power, controlled the provinces of Settsu, Harima, Bizen, and Mimasaka. Murahide’s ancestors were directly involved in the events of the Genkō War in the 14th century and in the subsequent establishment of the Ashikaga shogunate. However, by the 15th century, due to the process of gekokujō, the clan began to lose its position under pressure from rising families, including their former vassals—the Urakami and Bessho clans. In addition, the Akamatsu faced constant pressure from the Amago clan of Izumo Province.
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Takamatsu Castle
Takamatsu Castle was founded by Ikoma Chikamasa (1526–1603), who was appointed ruler of Takamatsu by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1587. The following year, Chikamasa began construction of the castle on the coast of the Inland Sea (Setonaikai), completing it by 1590.
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Sawayama Castle
During the Kamakura period, Sabo Tokitsuna, the sixth son of Sasaki Sadatsuna, built a fort on Mount Sawayama. This fort occupied a strategically important position because it allowed control over traffic along the important Tōsandō route, which was later known as Nakasendō. This road connected the capital, Kyoto, with the eastern regions of the country. Due to its location, the fortification held great military importance, and during periods of civil war it repeatedly became the site of fierce battles.
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Nadzima Castle
It is believed that the first structures on this site were built by Tachibana Akitoshi (?-1568), head of the Tachibana clan, a branch family of the Ōtomo clan, as auxiliary fortifications for Tachibanayama Castle. In 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi established control over the island of Kyushu and granted Chikuzen Province to Kobayakawa Takakage, one of the leading vassals of the Mori clan. Takakage began construction of a new castle on the site of the existing fortifications in 1588. The exact date of completion is unknown, but by the time the invasion of Korea began in 1592, the castle had already been finished, as records note that Toyotomi Hideyoshi stayed there overnight on his way to Hizen Nagoya Castle, which served as the headquarters of the invasion forces.
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Kubota Castle
The founder of the castle is considered to be Satake Yoshinobu (1570–1633). Yoshinobu was one of the six great generals of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. During the Odawara Campaign of 1590, he took part in the siege of Oshi Castle under the command of Ishida Mitsunari, with whom Yoshinobu developed a good relationship.
