Saga Castle

Photos donated by Daniel from Japanese Castle Explorer

History

In 1608 Nabeshima Naoshige and his son Katsushige built Saga Castle from by expanding on and utilizing much of the former Muranaka Castle which belonged to the Sengoku period lords of the Ryuzoji clan. Saga Castle was plagued by fires. Between 1716-1736 most of the castle buildings including the main keep burned down. The main keep was never rebuilt but the palace and government buildings were rebuilt centering on the Ninomaru compound. In 1835 the Ninomaru Palace among other buildings burned down so they moved back to the Honmaru compound where a new palace was constructed. The extant Shachinomon gate and connected yagura date from this time period (1838) and the reconstructed palace also reflects the Honmaru palace from this period.

Much of the castle also burned down during the Saga Rebellion of 1874. The Honmaru Palace actually survived through the Meiji Period and was used as government offices and a school until it was dismantled in 1957.

Field Notes

Photos donated by Daniel from Japanese Castle Explorer

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Gallery

• 

  Shachinomon gatehouse with adjoining turret (important cultural propert)
• 

  original part of the honmaru palace
• 

  Shachinomon gate
• 

  Honmaru palace
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  Honmaru palace
• 

  honmaru palace
• 

  Honmaru Palace
• 

  Southwest yaguradai ishigaki and moat
• 

  Shachinomon from rear
• 

  Entrance to tenshudai
• 

  Main Bailey West Gate remains
• 

  Tenshudai from below
• 

  kikkōźumi kirikomihagi ishigaki (ramparts piled from precisely cut, tortoise shell shaped stone blocks)
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

  Replica castle gate at Akamatsu ES
• 

  Restored Main Bailey Palace
• 

  Restored Main Bailey Palace - Kitchen
• 

  Restored Main Bailey Palace
• 

  Restored Main Bailey Palace
• 

  Restored Main Bailey Palace
• 

  Restored Main Bailey Palace
• 

  Restored Main Bailey Palace
• 

  Restored Main Bailey Palace
• 

  Restored Main Bailey Palace
• 

  Restored Main Bailey Palace
• 

  Restored Main Bailey Palace - Genkan
• 

  Restored Main Bailey Palace
• 

  Restored Main Bailey Palace

Castle Profile
English Name	Saga Castle
Japanese Name	佐賀城
Founder	Nabeshima Naoshige
Year Founded	1608
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	Top 100 Castles, has Important Cultural Properties, Prefectural Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Artifacts	Shachinomon and tsuzuki yagura
Features	gates, palace, stone walls, walls
Visitor Information
Access	Saga Sta. (Nagasaki Line); 10 min bus.
Hours
Time Required
URL	Castle Website
Location	Saga, Saga Prefecture
Coordinates	33.24561, 130.30253
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2009
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

3.40

(15 votes)

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