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.
Constructed in 1505 on the western bank of the Toyokawa, Yoshida Castle was strategically placed to guard an important river crossing along the vital Tokaido highway. It was designed to protect the eastern Mikawa (now central Aichi Prefecture) lands of warlord Imagawa Ujichika from the encroachments of the Matsudaira Clan of western Mikawa Province. Utilizing the river as a natural defense, the castle’s main citadel, or Honmaru, was enclosed by a moat. Unlike many Japanese castles that feature a large multi-story tower donjon, Yoshida Castle boasted three three-story yagura (watchtowers), a single two-story yagura, and three large fortified gates. The second and third citadels were also encircled by moats and fortified with smaller yagura and robust gates.
Due to its strategic importance, Yoshida Castle was the site of numerous battles and sieges during the civil war period. One notable siege occurred in 1575, led by Takeda Katsuyori before the Battle of Nagashino. Despite being besieged by over 15,000 Takeda forces, the castle’s small garrison of 500 samurai held out, causing Katsuyori to abandon the siege and attack nearby Nagashino Castle instead. This delay allowed the allied forces of the Tokugawa and Oda clans to prepare for the decisive battle that led to the Takeda clan's downfall.
From 1600 onwards, under Tokugawa rule, Yoshida Castle remained a significant stronghold and a key sentinel over the Tokaido. Throughout the Edo Period, various daimyo oversaw the castle, many of whom expanded and fortified its structure. However, with the fall of the Shogunate in 1868 and the abolition of feudalism, Japan returned to imperial rule. The castle was peacefully surrendered to the new Meiji government but was destroyed by fire in 1873 after being handed over to the Imperial army.
After World War II, the castle site was transformed into a park. Toyohashi City Hall was constructed on part of the old castle grounds, beside the main citadel. In 1954, the three-story Kurogane Yagura, one of the original larger turrets, was rebuilt. The castle walls surrounding the inner bailey remain in good condition, giving visitors a sense of the castle's original size. However, many of the old moat systems have been filled in to make way for roadways. An art gallery and a sports complex now occupy the site of the second and third citadels. One of the best views of the castle is from the opposite (eastern) riverbank, where the reconstructed turret and riverside stone walls can be fully appreciated.
Despite its small size, Yoshida Castle played a significant role in Japan's turbulent history. Today, it stands as a picturesque reminder of the past, offering visitors a glimpse into its storied legacy.
See also
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Nagoya Castle
Nagoya Castle, originally built by the Owari Domain in 1612 during the Edo period, stands on the site of an earlier Oda clan castle from the Sengoku period. It became the centerpiece of Nagoya-juku, a significant castle town on the Minoji road, which connected two major Edo Five Routes: the Tokaido and the Nakasendo. In 1930, ownership of the castle was transferred to the city by the Imperial Household Ministry, establishing it as the focal point of modern Nagoya. Although partially destroyed in the Pacific War in 1945, the castle has undergone continuous restoration and preservation efforts since 1957.
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Matsushiro Castle
Matsushiro Castle, originally known as Kaizu Castle, is located in what was once Matsushiro town, now part of Nagano City. The site is recognized as a National Historic Site of Japan. Situated on the northern Shinano flatlands between the Chikuma River and a former riverbed that serves as a natural outer moat to the north, the castle and its surrounding town were prone to flooding due to their location.
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Fushimi Castle
Fushimi Castle, also known as Momoyama Castle or Fushimi-Momoyama Castle, is located in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto. Originally built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi between 1592 and 1594 as his retirement residence, the castle was destroyed by the 1596 Keichō–Fushimi earthquake and later rebuilt. However, it was demolished again in 1623, and its site now houses the tomb of Emperor Meiji. A replica of the castle was constructed nearby in 1964.
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Odawara Castle
Odawara Castle, located in the city of Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, is a reconstructed historical site with roots dating back to the Kamakura period (1185–1333). The current donjon (main keep) was rebuilt using reinforced concrete in 1960 on the stone foundation of the original structure, which was dismantled between 1870 and 1872 during the Meiji Restoration.
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Shinpu Castle
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.
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Takato Castle
Takato Castle, located in the city of Ina in southern Nagano Prefecture, Japan, was a notable stronghold during the Sengoku period. By the end of the Edo period, it was the residence of a cadet branch of the Naito clan, the daimyo of the Takato Domain. Also known as Kabuto Castle, it was originally constructed in the 16th century and is now mostly in ruins.
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Takatenjin Castle
Takatenjin Castle was a yamashiro-style fortress from Japan's Sengoku period, situated in the Kamihijikata and Shimohijikata districts of Kakegawa, Shizuoka Prefecture. Designated a National Historic Site in 1975, with an expanded protected area in 2007, its ruins remain a significant historical landmark.
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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.
