Annaka Castle

There is nothing left to see of the castle, but the samurai homes are fantastic. It is worth going out of your way to visit them. In particular, there are only a few examples of an original row house throughout Japan.

History

The castle was built by Annaka Tadamasa to defend against incursions by Takeda Shingen. Tadamasa's son capitulated to Takeda Shingen and joined forces with him remaining as castellan of Annaka Castle. Annaka was killed at the Battle of Nagashino and the castle was abandoned. Due to it's strategic importance along the Nakasendo Road, the Annaka Province was established by the Tokugawa in 1614. Ii Naomasa's eldest son, Naokatsu, was made lord of the new Annaka domain. After the Ii, the lord of Annaka was always chosen from among those most loyal to the Tokugawa because of that important location on the Nakasendo to collect taxes and monitor traffic. Even in the Edo Period there was very little fortification around the castle.

Field Notes

There is nothing left to see of the castle, but the samurai homes are fantastic. It is worth going out of your way to visit them. In particular, there are only a few examples of an original row house throughout Japan.

Loading map...

Gallery

Stone sign for the castle in the elementary school parking lot
Map of Annaka Castle form inside the Buke Nagaya
Map of Annaka Castle
Row House (Nagaya)
Entrance to the Nagaya
Nagaya
Outside the nagaya
Nagaya
Nagaya
Nagaya
Inside one of the apartments
Inside one of the apartments. Note the finished ceiling and tokonoma alcove on the left. The room was for entertaining visitors.
Zashiki room in another apartment
Unfinished ceiling of another room
Nagaya rooms
Design for the Nagaya
Kori Bugyo Residence
Original house
Shikidai, the formal entrance to the home
Nagaya Gate
Looking over the gardens
Inside the house
Formal zashiki room
Inside the house
Outline of the home

Castle Profile
English Name	Annaka Castle
Japanese Name	安中城
Founder	Annaka Tadamasa
Year Founded	1559
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Historical Period	Edo Period
Features	gates, samurai homes, castle town
Visitor Information
Access	Annaka Station (Shin'etsu line), 20 min walk
Hours	9am-5pm (Dec-Feb: 9am-4:30pm); 210 yen entrance fee for the samurai homes
Time Required	45 mins
URL	Castle Website
Location	Annaka, Gunma Prefecture
Coordinates	36.32939, 138.89655
Loading map... {"minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"mappingservice":"leaflet","width":"auto","height":"200px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"Castlemarker.png","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"zoom":6,"defzoom":14,"layers":["CartoDB.Positron"],"image layers":[],"overlays":[],"resizable":false,"fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":true,"cluster":false,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clustermaxradius":80,"clusterspiderfy":true,"geojson":"","clicktarget":"","imageLayers":[],"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":36.32939,"lon":138.89655,"icon":"../images/1/1e/Castlemarker.png"}],"imageoverlays":null}
Admin
Added to Jcastle	2018
Admin Year Visited	2018
Admin Visits	March 11, 2018

Nearby Samurai Homes

Annaka Kori Bugyo Residence

Annaka Row House

1.33

(3 votes)

Loading comments...