Shiroishi Castle

The stone foundation of the main keep is nozurazumi style, using nearly natural stones with little shaping. The smoothness of them makes me think they may have been from a river, but unfortunately the guides at the castle could not answer that question. The nearby Koseki Residence, a samurai home is

History

The area of Shiroishi was under the control of Date Masamune until 1591. In that year it was seized by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and bestowed upon Gamo Ujisato along with Tsuruga-jo (Wakamatsu). Gamo then constructed this castle at Shiroishi under control from Wakamatsu. Soon after the battle of Sekigahara (1600) Date Masamunue reclaimed this area and stationed Katakura Kojuro at Shiroishi-jo. After the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate, they created a law which allowed for only one castle in each province. The area of Shiroishi was techinically in the province controlled from Sendai which already had a castle. The Katakura family, however, received special permission to retain their castle at Shiroishi and the descendents of Katakura Kojuro controlled Shiroishi-jo until the Meiji Restoration. It was eventually torn down during the second year of Meiji (1867).

Field Notes

The stone foundation of the main keep is nozurazumi style, using nearly natural stones with little shaping. The smoothness of them makes me think they may have been from a river, but unfortunately the guides at the castle could not answer that question. The nearby Koseki Residence, a samurai home is also a must see if you are in Shiroishi. It is one of the best samurai homes I've visited. There are also two original gates from that castle that have been repurposed at temples in the city. They are uniquely designed and well worth a visit if you have time.

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Gallery

Main Keep and One Ninomon Gate
Main keep
Main keep
Stone wall. You can see the change between nozurazumi and kirikomi style stone walls.
Stone walls
Main keep
Ote Ichinomon Gate
Ote Ichinomon gate
Ote Ninomon Gate
Ote Ichinomon Gate
Ote Ninomon Gate
Otemon Gate
Ote Ninomon Gate
Main keep
walls
walls
Otemon Gate and bell tower
Inside the main keep
Inside the main keep
Inside the main keep
Inside the main keep
Inside the main keep
Inside the main keep
Inside the main keep
Inside the main keep
Inside the main keep
Inside the main keep
Otemon Gate
Inside the main keep
Inside the main keep
Inside the main keep
View from the main keep
View from the main keep
Stone foundation (nozurazumi)
Main keep
Site of the rear entrance
Honmaru stone walls
Umayaguchimon (Stable Gate), now at Enmeiji Temple
Umayaguchimon Gate (Enmeiji Temple)
East Gate (Ote Ninomon Gate)
East Gate (Ote Ninomon Gate)
East Gate (Ote Ninomon Gate)
Castle seen from Shiroishi Zao Station
Old map
Old Map
Map

Castle Profile
English Name	Shiroishi Castle
Japanese Name	白石城
Alternate Names	Masuoka-jo
Founder	Gamo Ujisato
Year Founded	1591
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	Reconstructed main keep
Designations	Next 100 Castles
Historical Period	Edo Period
Main Keep Structure	3 levels, 3 stories
Year Reconstructed	1995 (wood)
Features	main keep, gates, turrets, samurai homes, stone walls, walls
Visitor Information
Access	Shiroishi Station (Tohoku Main Line), 15 minute walk
Hours	9am-5pm (closes 4pm Nov-Mar). Closed Dec. 28-Jan. 3 (400 yen)
Time Required	60 mins
URL	Castle Website
Location	Shiroishi, Miyagi Prefecture
Coordinates	38.00263, 140.61711
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	1999
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	1997, 2018
Admin Visits	October 1997; May 12, 2018

Nearby Samurai Homes

Koseki Residence

3.27

(15 votes)

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