Utoko Castle

This castle ruin is about 500m to the west, from the Uto castle buit by Konishi Yukinaga in 1588. The remains are actually bigger than the 'new' castle. Two gates have been reconstructed. It's built on a 39m high hill called Nishiokadai. From west to east it is 700m long and the widest point is 350m

History

When excavations were done, it was discovered that this site was already a fortified site during the early Kofun period(4th century). I is believed that a Kofun (burial mound) was built on the site. In 1048 the Uto clan built their castle on these older fortifications. They were a cadet branch of the Kikuchi clan, which dominated Higo province. The clan grew in power and at one point they threatened the Kikuchi clan. The Uto clan was defeated in 1503 and their castle was destroyed. The Nawa clan, which fled from their Minamata stonghold, soon took over Uto castle. Nawa Nagatoshi, rebuilt the castle and expanded it. Most of the ruins we see today are from this period.

During the Higo rebellion of 1587-1588, the Nawa clan kept a neutral stance. Because of this, they were evicted from their castle and Konishi Yukinaga used it as his main castle to govern Southern Higo province. He found the castle too constricted, to build a castle town, and decided to build a new castle 500m to the east.

Field Notes

This castle ruin is about 500m to the west, from the Uto castle buit by Konishi Yukinaga in 1588. The remains are actually bigger than the 'new' castle. Two gates have been reconstructed. It's built on a 39m high hill called Nishiokadai. From west to east it is 700m long and the widest point is 350m. It has 2 main baileys, Sannojo and Senjojiki and a 3rd koshikuruwa(hip bailey). This last bailey is just to the north of Nishiokajingu. This shrine has a room with information about both Uto castles(only in Japanese).

On the north side of Sannojo bailey are ishigaki, but I'm not sure if these have been added in more modern times.

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Gallery

Site of the castle from afar
Information board of the castle
ruins of a building in the koshikuruwa
Koshikuruwa
terraced baileys of Senjojiki
Information board
terraced bailey
Moat and earthen wall of Senjoniki
Koshikuruwa next to Senjojiki
Bridge over moat
Remains of buildings in Senjojiki
Reconstructed gate of Senjojiki
Rest place on remains of a building
Castle marker
terraced bailey of Sannojo
Explanation of building remains
Remains of buildings in Sannojo
terraced bailey with ishigaki
terraced baileys in the west of Sannojo
Reconstructed gate in the North-West
Reconstructed gate in the North-West

Castle Profile
English Name	Utoko Castle
Japanese Name	宇土古城
Alternate Names	Uto Castle (Nishiokadai)
Founder	Uto clan
Year Founded	1048
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	National Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	gates, bridges, trenches
Visitor Information
Access	3km from Uto station
Hours	Grounds are open year round
Time Required	1 hour
URL	Castle Website
Location	Uto, Kumamoto Prefecture
Coordinates	32.67911, 130.64611
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2025
Contributor	Furinkazan
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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