Aizu Wakamatsu Castle

The gray roofing tiles were all replaced in 2010-2011 with reddish tiles to match the original construction. The castle has many great moats and stone walls so I recommend taking the time to walk the grounds.

History

Tsuruga-jo is the strongest and oldest fortress in all of Tohoku. It was originally built in 1384 as Kurokawa-jo by Ashina Naomori. In 1589 Date Masamune defeated Ashina Yoshihiro and moved into Kurokawa-jo. A year later it was absorbed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and governed by Gamo Ujisato. Gamo renovated the castle and renamed it Tsuruga-jo. The reconstructed main keep you see today was built by Gamo.

After the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate the castle was governed by the Matsudaira clan. The Matsudaira were a branch of the Tokugawa family and thus in the category of "inner lords." The "inner lords" were branches of the Tokugawa family who kept watch over the daimyo who were not originally Tokugawa allies and provided a buffer between allied and non-allied daimyo. The Matsudaira ruled from Tsuruga-jo until the Meiji Restoration when it fell in the Boshin War . The most famous episode from the downfall of Tsuruga-jo is that of the Byakkotai. The layout of this castle was patterened after that of Osaka Castle during Hideyoshi's time.

Field Notes

The gray roofing tiles were all replaced in 2010-2011 with reddish tiles to match the original construction. The castle has many great moats and stone walls so I recommend taking the time to walk the grounds.

Loading map...

Gallery

main keep
Gosangai Yagura
main keep
main keep
main keep
stone stairs
West bailey
moat near the North Bailey
moat around the Honmaru Obi Kuruwa bailey
Bell tower
Nishi Naka Gate
Nishi Naka Gate ruins
Tsukimi Yagura Foundation
Hoshii Yagura and South Hashirinagaya Tamon Yagura
Hashirinagaya, Kurogane Gate and Hoshii Yagura
interior of the Hashirinagaya Yagura
Hoshii Yagura Interior
Kurogane Gate
Mushahashiri stone stairs
Stone walls of the Rokabashi Gate
Rokabashi Bridge
view from the Rokabashi Bridge
NInomaru East Gate
View from the main kep
map
Chatsubo Yagura (Teapot Tower) foundation
Chatsubo Yagura (Teapot Tower) foundation from the back
Kōka-machi Gate Remnant
Aizu Karou Yashiki Genkan

Castle Profile
English Name	Aizu Wakamatsu Castle
Japanese Name	会津若松城
Alternate Names	Tsuruga-jo, Kurokawa-jo
Founder	Ashina Naomori
Year Founded	1384
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	Reconstructed main keep
Designations	Top 100 Castles, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Main Keep Structure	5 levels, 7 stories
Year Reconstructed	1965 (concrete)
Features	main keep, gates, turrets, bridges, samurai homes, water moats, stone walls, walls
Visitor Information
Access	Wakamatsu Station (Ban'etsu Saisen), 30 minute walk or 10 minutes by bus
Hours
Time Required	120 mins
URL	Castle Website
Location	Aizu Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture
Coordinates	37.48777, 139.9299
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":37.48777,"lon":139.9299,"icon":"../images/1/1e/Castlemarker.png"}],"imageoverlays":null}
Admin
Added to Jcastle	1999
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	1997, 1998, 2003, 2011
Admin Visits	October 1997; January 1998; Sept. 14, 2003; July 17, 2011

Nearby Samurai Homes

Aizu Karou Yashiki (Saigou Residence)

3.86

(21 votes)

Loading comments...