Ako Castle

From Jcastle.info

Ako Castle was much more vast than I had imagined. I'm actually quite surprised that so much good land was not developed over the years. Some of the remains have been rebuilt but the fact that they had the land or could acquire it is very impressive. There are ongoing plans to rebuild more of the ca

Ako10.jpg

History

When Asano Naganao was transferred here in 1648 he was instructed by the Tokugawa government to build a new castle. Originally the ocean would have come close to the southern boundaries of the castle providing direct access to the sea. The vast castle had 10 corner turrets, 12 gates and the length of the outer baileys is nearly 3km long. There is a main keep foundation at Ako Castle but the main keep was never built because the Tokugawa Bakufu never granted permission to do so. Ako Castle was dismantled in 1873.


Field Notes

Ako Castle was much more vast than I had imagined. I'm actually quite surprised that so much good land was not developed over the years. Some of the remains have been rebuilt but the fact that they had the land or could acquire it is very impressive. There are ongoing plans to rebuild more of the castle. I was not able to visit the museum this time and the gates for the samurai homes were not open so I will definitely visit again some time to see those and whatever they rebuild next.

Whether the castle was a strong and defensible castle or not may be open for debate. Having been to many Edo Period castles I feel the moats are too narrow and walls too short to be of much defensive use. On the other hand, the Otemon and Honmaru Gates are well designed formidable gates and the many corner turrets with good angles for flanking fire are certainly well planned, but I'm not sure about the rest. I once heard someone once describe this as a "50,000 koku daimyo trying to build a 500,000 koku castle." Regardless, it is still a beautiful and photogenic castle. There are many stone walls and moats and different landscapes to photograph. You'll see some complete castle structures and some in ruins. I spent over 3 hours here early in the morning but could have easily spent more. I would like to have taken some more photographs of the Honmaru and Ninomaru Gardens which are also designated as National Scenic Locations. I love these cold December mornings with bright blue skies for photographs even if there are some long shadows to compete with.


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Gallery
  • Otemon Gate
  • Otemon Gate
  • Sannomaru Bailey stone walls
  • Shioya Gate
  • Sannomaru Bailey stone walls
  • Sannomaru Bailey stone walls
  • Kita Yokoyamasugata foundation
  • Sannomaru moat and stone walls
  • Ote Corner Yagura
  • Otemon Gate
  • Guardhouse looking rest area
  • Otemon Stone Walls
  • Otemon stone walls, Ako Oishi Shrine in the background
  • Kondo Genpachi Residence Nagayamon Gate
  • Oishi Kuranosuke Residence Nagayamon Gate
  • Oishi Yoshitaka Residence Nagayamon Gate
  • Bukeyashiki Park Gate. The gate is only a mock entrance to an area that housed samurai homes
  • Bukeyashiki Park. An area that housed samurai homes
  • Moat and walls near the Shimizu Gate
  • Ninomaru moat and stone walls, Ako City Museum on the left
  • East Corner Yagura Foundation
  • Shimizumon Gate
  • Ninomaru stone walls
  • East Yagura Foundation
  • Ninomaru stone walls
  • Shiomi Yagura Foundation
  • Mizunotemon Gate
  • Ninomaru moat and stone walls
  • Ninomaru Rest House, mock rice warehouse
  • Ninomaru moat and stone walls
  • Sannomaru Stone Walls (left); Ninomaru stone walls (right)
  • Seinan Yagura Foundation
  • Sannomaru Stone walls
  • Nishi Yagura Foundation
  • Nishi Yagura Foundation
  • Sites of samurai residences since the road to the Shioya Gate
  • Gate to the Ninomaru Gardens and site of Oishi Tanomosuke's residence
  • Ninomaru Teien
  • Ninomaru Gardens stone walls and embankment
  • Honmaru Gate
  • Honmaru Gate
  • Honmaru Gate
  • Honmaru Gate
  • Honmaru Gate
  • Honmaru Gate
  • Honmaru Gate
  • Honmaru compound
  • Honmaru embankment and stone walls
  • Honmaru embankment and stone walls
  • Honmaru Garden
  • Honmaru compound
  • Honmaru compound
  • Honmaru embankment and walls
  • Main Keep Foundation
  • Umayaguchimon Gate
  • Umayaguchimon Gate
  • Higashi Yokoyamasugata Foundation
  • Hanebashimon Gate
  • Honmaru moat and stone walls
  • Ninomaru Garden West Shikirimon Gate
  • Ninomaru walls and moat
  • Ninomaru walls and moat
  • Ninomaru walls and moat
  • Ninomaru walls and moat
  • Sannomaru moat and stone walls
  • Sannomaru moat and stone walls
  • Map
  • Map
  • Ako Oishi Shrine
  • Ako Oishi Shrine


Castle Profile
English Name Ako Castle
Japanese Name 赤穂城
Alternate Names Kariya-jo
Founder Asano Naganao
Year Founded 1648
Castle Type Flatland
Castle Condition No main keep but other buildings
Designations Top 100 Castles, National Historic Site
Historical Period Edo Period
Features gates, turrets, bridges, samurai homes, water moats, stone walls, walls
Visitor Information
Access Banshuako Sta. (Ako Line); 15 min walk
Hours gardens open 9;00-16:30; closed Dec. 28 - Jan. 4
Time Required 180 mins
URL Castle Website
Location Ako, Hyogo Prefecture
Coordinates 34.74613, 134.38869
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Admin
Added to Jcastle 2009
Contributor Eric
Admin Year Visited 2018
Admin Visits December 21, 2018
Friends of JCastle
Malcolm Fairman Photography - Ako Castle


3.57
(21 votes)
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