Akizuki Castle

The ruins of Akiźuki Castle contain ample ishigaki (stone ramparts) for the castle ruin enthusiast to appreciate, and even some extant structures, of which chiefly stark is the black gate which stands like a lonely shadow in the verdure of the orchard. Stone and earthen ramparts are found at the foo

History

Harada Tanekatsu built a mountaintop castle atop Mt. Kosho and a fortified home at the base in 1203. At this time they changed their name to Akizuki. The Akizuki continued to rule for 16 generations until Hideyoshi's 1587 Kyushu Campaign. At this time, the mountaintop castle was destroyed and the castle was abandoned. In 1624, Kuroda Nagamasa's third son Nagaoki was given lands around Akizuki and rebuilt the castle partially with materials from the earlier fortifications. The Kuroda continued to rule for 12 generations until the Meiji Restration when the castle was dismantled in 1873.

Field Notes

The ruins of Akiźuki Castle contain ample ishigaki (stone ramparts) for the castle ruin enthusiast to appreciate, and even some extant structures, of which chiefly stark is the black gate which stands like a lonely shadow in the verdure of the orchard. Stone and earthen ramparts are found at the foot of the old castle mount. Unique and mysterious is a prominent ramp-like bridge which rises to the beneath the ramparts but appears to go nowhere further, being a dead-end, or false start? The mizubori (water moat), as shallow as a puddle today, flows beneath a rectangular opening in the carefully placed stone blocks of the bridge. Perhaps placed for traction due to the incline, the bridge's track is made of tiles stood on end.

Akiźukijō is an incredibly pleasant site for a stroll, and conjures up in its turn all those quaint infinitudes of aesthetic charm that truly bless this grand archipelago. I can't say whereat this pleasing array was most bold. The castle town in its rustic loveliness of by-gone days? The mossy piled stone on the ramparts of the castle ruin? The sacred causeway of the shrine on the mount? In the infinitesimal transienge of mood, atmosphere and lighting, what objectivist could say for sure?

For the related kyokan site see here. Commentary by ART. Photo gallery donated by KyushuDan from Japanese Castle Explorer.

Gallery

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  Nagayamon
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  Nagayamon
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  stone walls
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  kuromon gate
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  Kuromon gate
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  stone walls
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  South palace ruins
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Castle Profile
English Name	Akizuki Castle
Japanese Name	秋月城
Alternate Names	Akizuki Jinya
Founder	Akizuki Tanekatsu
Year Founded	1203
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	Prefectural Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Features	gates, samurai homes, trenches, stone walls, walls, castle town
Visitor Information
Access	Amagi Sta. (Amagi Line), bus
Hours
Time Required
URL	Castle Website
Location	Asakura, Fukuoka Prefecture
Coordinates	33.46607, 130.69543
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2009
Contributor	Kyushudan
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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