Akita Castle

This is quite an interesting castle to visit. I was pleasantly surprised. There are plenty of signs and maps to describe the site. There are foundation stones were different buildings stood and you get a good feel for what the site was like. I would not have wanted to be the poor souls living near t

History

Akita Castle is one of a series of the josaku fortifications built in the Tohoku region by the Yamato Court to help bring the northeast region under their control. Akita Castle was the location of the Dewa provincial government and was an important point for trade between the interior settlements and those of the coast and even trade with Russia. It was abandoned in 1050 after the Former Nine Year's War.

Field Notes

This is quite an interesting castle to visit. I was pleasantly surprised. There are plenty of signs and maps to describe the site. There are foundation stones were different buildings stood and you get a good feel for what the site was like. I would not have wanted to be the poor souls living near the toilet, however, no matter how unique it was!

There are a few different busses from Akita Station that will take you near the castle. It's best to ask at the station which is best based on the time. You can easily visit Akita Castle, Kubota Castle and the nearby Kurosawa Residence in a day.

See also Taga Castle, Shiwa Castle, and Hotta no Saku for similar josaku fortifications.

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Gallery

East Gate
Seicho, administrative compound
East gate of the seicho
East gate of the seicho
Building foundation in the seicho
Administrative compound building foundation
Tsujibei (compacted earth) wall of the seicho
Compacted earth wall
Model of the seicho
Seicho East Gate and wall
Seicho East Gate and wall
East Gate
East Gate
East Gate
East Gate
East Gate
East Gate
Scene from the East Gate
Flushable outhouse
Flushable outhouse
Inside the flushable outhouse
Pit dwelling exhibit
Building foundations
Building foundations
Building foundations
Castle model
Map

Castle Profile
English Name	Akita Castle
Japanese Name	秋田城
Alternate Names	Dewa-saku
Founder	Yamato Court
Year Founded	c. 733
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	Next 100 Castles, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	gates, walls
Visitor Information
Access	Akita Sta. (Oou Line); 20 min bus
Hours	museum open 9am to 4pm; closed Dec 1 to March 31
Time Required	90 mins
URL	Castle Website
Location	Akita City, Akita Prefecture
Coordinates	39.74039, 140.07969
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2012
Contributor	Frank T.
Admin Year Visited	2018
Admin Visits	May 10, 2018

2.20

(5 votes)

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