Kochi Castle

This is a really great castle. I just wish it hadn't been raining so hard when we were there. The warmer more tropical like climate of Kochi results in the castle having much vegetation growing everywhere. Exhibits inside the castle show that it was in a terrible state of neglect until they repaired

History

Yamanouchi Kazutoyo began the construction of Kochi castle in 1601 after he was stationed in the Tosa region. Originally he resided in Urado Castle but decided to build a new castle in the current location. Yamanouchi moved in two years later after the main keep and main structures were finished. The whole castle was completed in 1611.

Much of the castle, including the main keep, were burned to the ground in a great fire that broke out in the castle town in 1727. The current main keep dates from this reconstruction which was completed in 1748. It took until 1753 until the castle was completely rebuilt.

One of the most rare aspects of this castle is that all the structures from the original honmaru remain.

Field Notes

This is a really great castle. I just wish it hadn't been raining so hard when we were there. The warmer more tropical like climate of Kochi results in the castle having much vegetation growing everywhere. Exhibits inside the castle show that it was in a terrible state of neglect until they repaired it between 1948-1959.

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Gallery

donjon, yagura
stone wall
gate with main keep in the background
Otemon gate
honmaru, gates and yagura
kuroganemon gate
gate
main keep and entrance
Tsunemon Gate (by AMcL)
Kaitokukan (AMcL)
Tetsumon Gate (AMcL)
Tenshu top storey (AMcL)
Tenshu and Kaitokukan (AMcL)
Kaitokukan (AMcL)
Moat (AMcL)
Otemon Gate (AMcL)
View from the Tenshu (AMcL)
Stone wall (AMcL)
Nishi Tamon Yagura and Rokamon (AMcL)
Tsunemon (AMcL)
Stone wall (AMcL)

Castle Profile
English Name	Kochi Castle
Japanese Name	高知城
Alternate Names	Taka-jo
Founder	Yamanouchi Kazutoyo
Year Founded	1603
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	Original main keep
Designations	Top 100 Castles, has Important Cultural Properties, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Main Keep Structure	3 levels, 6 stories
Artifacts	Kaitokukan, Kuroganemon, tenshu, Nando Kura, Tenshu Southeast Wall, Tenshu Northwest Wall, Kuroganemon Northwest wall, Kuroganemon Southeast wall, Outemon Southwest wall, Outemon Northeast wall, Outemon, East Tamon, Rokamon, Tsumemon, West Tamon
Features	main keep, gates, turrets, palace, water moats, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Kochi Station, 25 minute walk or 15 minutes bus or street car
Hours
Time Required
URL	Castle Website
Location	Kochi, Kochi Prefecture
Coordinates	33.56068, 133.53125
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2001
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2001
Admin Visits	October 21, 2001
Friends of JCastle
Malcolm Fairman Photography - Kochi Castle

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