Shirakawa Komine Castle
The moats and walls around this castle are very well preserved. If you're in the area it is definitely worth a stop. Walk around the full outside of the castle to see the stone walls well. The main keep is also very well rebuilt.
History
Komine-jo was originally built by the Yuuki in 1340. When they were dispossessed of all their holdings by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1590, it became a subsidiary castle of the lords of Aizu, first the Uesugi, then after the Battle of Sekigahara, the Gamō. They are thought to have begun modernising it. In 1627 Niwa Nagashige became the first lord of the Shirakawa Domain, made the castle his headquarters, and significantly renovated it. In 1643 the Niwa were moved to Nihommatsu and the Sakaibara took over. In 1649 they were replaced by the Honda Clan who were in charge till 1681. They were followed by three different branches of the Matsudaira clan. In 1823 the Abe Clan became the final lords, continuing until 1866 when the castle was transferred from Abe Masakiyo to direct shogunate control. He returned for a short while but it was then put under the command of the Nihommatsu Domain. It fell to Imperial forces in 1868.
Field Notes
The moats and walls around this castle are very well preserved. If you're in the area it is definitely worth a stop. Walk around the full outside of the castle to see the stone walls well. The main keep is also very well rebuilt.
Gallery
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Shirakawa Komine Castle |
| Japanese Name | 白河小峰城 |
| Alternate Names | Shirakawa-jo |
| Founder | Niwa Nagashige |
| Year Founded | 1627 |
| Castle Type | Hilltop |
| Castle Condition | Reconstructed main keep |
| Designations | Top 100 Castles, National Historic Site |
| Historical Period | Edo Period |
| Main Keep Structure | 3 levels, 3 stories |
| Year Reconstructed | 1991 (wood) |
| Features | main keep, gates, turrets, stone walls, walls |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Shirakawa Station (Tohoku Honsen), 7 minute walk |
| Hours | 9:00-17:00 |
| Time Required | 120 mins |
| URL | Castle Website |
| Location | Shirakawa, Fukushima Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 37.1328, 140.21358 |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 1999 |
| Contributor | Eric |
| Admin Year Visited | 1998, 2003 |
| Admin Visits | September 1998, September 13, 2003 |
