Shinpu Castle was a Japanese hirayama-style fortress from the Sengoku period, situated in what is now Nirasaki, Yamanashi Prefecture. It served as the main stronghold of warlord Takeda Katsuyori. Designated as a National Historic Site in 1973, the castle occupies a strategic position on a mountain with steep cliffs, overlooking the Kamanashi River to the west of Kofu, where Takeda Shingen’s Tsutsujigasaki Castle once stood.
Following the death of his father, Takeda Shingen, Katsuyori initially expanded his territories into eastern Mino Province. However, after suffering a devastating defeat at the Battle of Nagashino against Oda Nobunaga’s matchlock-armed forces, in which he lost four of his top generals, the Takeda clan found themselves beset by hostile neighbors like the Oda, Tokugawa, Uesugi, and Odawara Hojo clans. Seeking a more defensible position, Katsuyori relocated his headquarters to Shinpu Castle in 1581, despite resistance from many of his vassals.
Shinpu Castle was built atop a hill formed by ancient lava flows from Mount Yatsugatake, with defenses stretching 500 meters north to south and 200 meters wide. Its inner bailey, positioned at the hilltop, connected to the main gate via a secondary bailey. The layout bore similarities to Tsutsujigasaki Castle. South of the central area was a third bailey, fortified by a clay wall, and the main gate featured additional protection in the form of a half-circular fortification with a dry moat. The northern side of the castle had further fortifications, including two barriers extending into a water moat. Construction was completed in just eight months under the supervision of Sanada Masayuki.
However, in early 1582, before the castle or its accompanying town were fully built, an alliance between Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu launched an invasion into the Takeda territories after the defection of Kiso Yoshimasa. Shinpu Castle, along with other Takeda strongholds, fell quickly to this advance. After the defeat at the Battle of Tenmokuzan, Katsuyori, with only 300-400 men left, abandoned and set fire to Shinpu Castle, retreating into the mountains in an attempt to reach Iwadono Castle. Despite advice from Sanada Masayuki to flee to Iwabitsu Castle, Katsuyori pressed on to Iwadono, only to be denied entry by Oyamada Nobushige, an old Takeda retainer. Facing no other option, Katsuyori committed suicide while his remaining forces delayed the pursuers.
Afterward, Oda Nobunaga sent Kawajiri Hidetaka to take control of Shinpu Castle while Tokugawa Ieyasu continued clearing out the remnants of the Takeda forces. The castle briefly became a Tokugawa stronghold before being abandoned and left to ruin. Today, no structures remain except for remnants of dry moats and earthenworks. A Shinto shrine now stands on the former site of the Inner bailey, and in 2017, the castle was listed among the Continued Top 100 Japanese Castles. It is a 10-minute walk from Shinpu Station on the JR East Chūo Main Line.
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.
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Kavanhoe Castle
Kawanoe Castle is located on the small Wasi-yama hill near the port area of the Kawanoe district in the city of Shikokuchuo, occupying a central position along the northern coast of Shikoku Island. Kawanoe was also known as Butsuden Castle. The term “butsuden” in Japan refers to temple halls, and for this reason it is believed that a Buddhist temple once stood on the site before the castle was built. Due to its location at the junction of four provinces on Shikoku Island, Kawanoe held significant strategic importance and was repeatedly targeted by rival forces seeking military control over the region.
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Yokote Castle
The founder of the castle is considered to be the Onodera clan. The Onodera were originally a minor clan from Shimotsuke Province and served Minamoto no Yoritomo (1147–1199), the founder of the first shogunate. The Onodera distinguished themselves in battle against the Fujiwara clan of the Ōshū branch and were rewarded with lands around Yokote. Around the 14th century, the Onodera moved to Yokote as their permanent residence. Their original stronghold was Numadate Castle, but after a series of clashes with the powerful Nambu clan, they relocated their base to the site of present-day Yokote Castle. It was likely during this time that the first fortifications appeared at the castle.
