Takaoka Castle

Takaokajō is a hirajiro (flatland castle) ruin in Takaoka Municipality. Ruins include earthworks, moats, and stone-piled walls. My second visit to Takaokajō in 2021 was much more rewarding than the first. When I (ART) first went in the summer of 2015 I was rather disappointed in what ap

History

Maeda Toshinaga built Takaoka Castle in 1609 after Toyama Castle burned down. Toshinaga died in 1614. The castle was decommissioned in 1615, before it was even finished, under the One Castle per Domain law. It was designated as a park in 1875.

Field Notes

Takaokajō is a hirajiro (flatland castle) ruin in Takaoka Municipality. Ruins include earthworks, moats, and stone-piled walls. My second visit to Takaokajō in 2021 was much more rewarding than the first. When I (ART) first went in the summer of 2015 I was rather disappointed in what appeared to me to be little more than a large park with shrine buildings and sculptures. However, this time I made an exhaustive tour of the castle ruins, and even took a boat ride in the moat.

Takaokajō has two tall ishigaki (stone-piled ramparts) segments either side of an earthen bridge between the honmaru (main bailey) and ninomaru (second bailey). One side is approachable from below but the other is immediately adjacent to a mizubori (water moat) and the only way to get a good look is by boat. The boat didn't stop for us to appreciate the ishigaki, though, as I thought it might, but instead turned right around again. I realised then that the boat ride is mostly for people with little interest in ishigaki...

Having inspected the other side I found lots of kokuin, or impressions in the stone blocks of the ishigaki, in various patterns, such as manji (swastika) and kushidango (skewered gelatinous rice balls) shapes. Takaokajō is really a fantastic site when one appreciates the mizubori (water moats), dorui (earthen ramparts) and aforementioned ishigaki.

I went around each bailey and the whole of the outer moat. The park contains various facilities, and some of these obscure the dorui unfortunately. Luckily the zoo there is free to enter so one can get a glimpse of some solid dorui there. Dorui is likewise found around the honmaru and other baileys. Other structures include bridges, both reconstructed and earthen. Lastly, the park is really lovely in spring, with flowers blooming, birds chirping, and chubby babies a-romping.

Profile and gallery updated by ART (2024; visited 2021).

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Gallery

ishigaki segment as seen from moat
left-side dobashi ishigaki from dry moat
third bailey well with thatched structure
moat on leftside of earthen bridge to main bailey; partially dry now
kokuin! kushi dango and swastika types shown.
right side ishigaki from above
stairs down into moat
Kokuin! H or エ shape to left
kokuin! cross and wilting cross seals
Inner mizubori moat
Outer water moat
atop of dorui
Main bailey area
outer bailey segment with earthen ramparts to left
bridge over outermoat to second bailey
ramparts of second bailey
moat and chokepoint between baileys
minor bailey surrounded by dorui
thick embankment around main bailey
Dorui
dorui around "Light Bailey"
Edo Period map of the site
castle layout map

Castle Profile
English Name	Takaoka Castle
Japanese Name	高岡城
Founder	Maeda Toshinaga
Year Founded	1609
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	Top 100 Castles, Prefectural Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Features	water moats, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Takaoka Sta. (Hokuriku Line), 10 min walk
Hours
Time Required
URL	Castle Website
Location	Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture
Coordinates	36.74917, 137.02056
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2013
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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