Aya Castle
All pictures donated by Raffi
History
Koshiro Yoshikado Hosokawa was appointed lord over this region and his son Yoshito built the castle atop Mt. Ryuubi. Yoshito renamed himself Aya and he and several generations of descebndents ruled over this castle until the Ito took control. Aya Castle became one of the most important of the 48 Ito castles in their battles with the Shimazu clan. In 1577, the Ito fell to the Shimazu and the Shimazu assumed control of Aya Castle. Aya Castle was conquered by Hideyoshi in 1587 as he subjugated Kyushu, but the castle was returned to Shimazu control when the area calmed down.
Aya Castle was decommission in 1615 under the Tokugawa's one castle per country law. The castle was reconstructed in 1985. There is no evidence to prove that a castle of this type existed here at any time. The design is based on what the earliest castles in the Sengoku Period were like and is a vivid example of the roots of the later castle tenshu.
Field Notes
All pictures donated by Raffi
Gallery
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Aya Castle |
| Japanese Name | 綾城 |
| Alternate Names | Ryuubi-jo |
| Founder | Koshiro Yoshikado Hosokawa |
| Year Founded | 1331-1334(?) |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Reconstructed main keep |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Main Keep Structure | 3 levels, 3 stories |
| Year Reconstructed | 1985 (wood) |
| Features | main keep, stone walls |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Miyazaki Sta., 60min bus, 15 min walk |
| Hours | |
| Time Required | |
| URL | Castle Website |
| Location | Aya, Miyazaki Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 32.00336, 131.24904 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2007 |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
| Admin Visits | not personally visited. |
