Sadowara Castle

I took the bus 220 bound for Saito-bus-center at the 'Tachibana3chome' bus stop. It takes about 35 min to 'Koryu center mae' bus stop, which is right in front of the castle site. You're able to take a bus from Miyazaki station, but these are less frequent. The castle ruins on the mountain are open

History

In the mid 14th century Tajima Kyusuke buit Tajima castle on a 100m high hill. The Tajima were a cadet branch of the Ito clan. In 1427, Ito Yuga, of the main branch, took over the castle. He renamed it Sadowara castle. After a major fire in 1536, Itō Yoshitsuke significantly expanded Sadowara Castle to encompass the whole mountain and renamed it Tsurumatsu castle. The Ito clan expanded their territory in the early Sengoku period, but were defeated by the Shimazu in 1572. The Shimazu took over Sadowara castle, and retained it after Toyotomi Hideyoshi captured the whole island of Kyushu. In 1611 a 3 storey high tenshu (donjon) was erected in the main bailey, but in 1625 the mountain area was abandoned, since it became too expensive to maintain. The name of the castle officially changed to Shokaku castle, but was popularly referred to as Sadowara castle. The castle was abandoned during the Meiji period. In 1993, in the Second bailey, the daimyo goten (palace), was reconstructed based on archaeological excavations.

Field Notes

I took the bus 220 bound for Saito-bus-center at the 'Tachibana3chome' bus stop. It takes about 35 min to 'Koryu center mae' bus stop, which is right in front of the castle site. You're able to take a bus from Miyazaki station, but these are less frequent.

The castle ruins on the mountain are open 24/7 year round. Some parts of it were off limits in 2025, due to landslides. The museum and reconstructed palace buildings are open only on saturdays, sunday and holidays, from 09:00 to 16:30. From May the 15th until June the 14th, there are no closing days. They are closed from December the 29th until January the 3rd.

On the other side of the Bus stop is a local shop and Community center. The shop is called Shiro no eki (Castle station). I got a pamphlet and bought a t-shirt of the castle there. They also provide the 'Next 100meijo stamp', when the museum is closed.

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Gallery

Castle site from Koryu center mae bus stop
Reconstructed palace in Ninomaru
explanation board
entrance to goten (palace)
Palace
Otemichi (main road)
Map
Hollow path
Some parts are off limits(2025)
Honmaru masugata koguchi
Honmaru (main bailey)
Honmaru
Tenshudai ato (ruins of donjon foundation)
path
Horikiri (trench)
Kuruwa (bailey)
trench
Evolution of the castle
Museum and goten
Museum
Nakanomichi (central road)
Shiro no Eki

Castle Profile
English Name	Sadowara Castle
Japanese Name	佐土原城
Alternate Names	Tsurumatsu-jo; Shokaku-jo; Tajima-jo
Founder	Tajima Kyusuke
Year Founded	14th Century
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	Next 100 Castles, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	palace, trenches, walls
Visitor Information
Access	See 'field notes'
Hours	See 'field notes'
Time Required	2 hours
URL	Castle Website
Location	Miyazaki, Miyazaki Prefecture
Coordinates	32.04692, 131.42183
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2025
Contributor	Furinkazan
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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