Uwajima Castle

This castle far exceeded my expectations. You tend to see mostly pictures of the main keep and there is not much around it, but I was really impressed by all the stonework here. Once the Daiemon Bailey restoration is complete this castle will be even more impressive. Nearby there is also a Date Muse

History

Todo Takatora built this castle after being granted the small fiefdom around it by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1595. After the battle of Sekigahara (1600), Todo Takatora moved to Imabari leaving it in the hands of Tomita Nobutaka. From 1615 until the Meiji Restoration Uwajima Castle was ruled by Date Hidemune and his descendents. The basic territory and layout of the castle did not change from the time of Takatora, but the Date completed the fortifications with yagura, gates and stone walls.

Field Notes

This castle far exceeded my expectations. You tend to see mostly pictures of the main keep and there is not much around it, but I was really impressed by all the stonework here. Once the Daiemon Bailey restoration is complete this castle will be even more impressive. Nearby there is also a Date Museum, but I was not very impressed with it. There were not so many castle related artifacts.

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Gallery

Main keep
Koori Residence Nagayamon Gate
Path through the Sannomaru Bailey
Road up through the Sannomaru Bailey
Sannomaru Stone Walls
Idomaru Stone gate ruins and stone walls
Idomaru Bailey stone walls
Idomaru Bailey stone walls
Idomaru Bailey stone walls
main keep
Honmaru Obikuruwa Bailey
Stone walls and stairs to the Ninomaru
Honmaru stone walls
Ninomaru Bailey
Kushigatamon Gate to the Honmaru Bailey
Main keep
Main keep.
Roof tiles of the main keep
Roof tiles of the main keep
Inside the main keep
Inside the main keep
Inside the main keep
Kushigatamon Gate and Ninomaru.
Sannomon Gate ruins
Kaminarimon Gate
Road to the Kaminarimon gate
Toube Bailey
Nagaymon Gate
Stone walls of the Toube Bailey
Yamazato Warehouse.
Inside the Yamazato Warehouse
View of the Honmaru and Ninomaru
Stone walls of the Nagato Bailey
Stone walls of the Nagato Bailey
Stone walls of the Nagato Bailey
Stone walls of the Nagato Bailey
Daiemon Bailey Stone Walls
Daiemon Bailey Stone Walls
Daiemon Bailey Stone Walls
Daiemon Bailey Stone Walls
Shikibu Bailey stone walls
Shikibu Bailey stone walls
Noboritachimon Gate
Noboritachimon Gate
Noboritachimon Gate
Old map of the castle area
Castle grounds

Castle Profile
English Name	Uwajima Castle
Japanese Name	宇和島城
Alternate Names	Tsurushima-jo
Founder	Todo Takatora
Year Founded	1596
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, 3 stories
Artifacts	tenshu
Features	main keep, gates, turrets, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Uwajima Sta. (Yosan Line), 10 minutes walk.
Hours	Park opens 6am-6:30pm. The museum and main keep are open 9am-4pm. The museum is closed on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday) and Dec. 29 - Jan. 3
Time Required	2.5 hours
URL	Castle Website
Location	Uwajima, Ehime Prefecture
Coordinates	33.21945, 132.56516
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2005
Admin Year Visited	2016
Admin Visits	Feb 27, 2016

4.05

(20 votes)

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