Wakayama Castle

I put off going to this castle for a long while, but after visiting I really think that most castle books don't give it justice. The amount of stone walls and baileys that remain are impressive. Even though the main keep and connected buildings are reconstructed, the complex keep style (renritsushik

History

In 1585, under the orders of his older brother Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Toyotomi Hidenaga established Wakayama Castle to help rule over the Kii area. When the castle was finished, Hidenaga had made Yamato Koriyama Castle his home base and stationed Kuwayama Shigeharu here in his place.

Asano Yoshinaga was stationed at Wakayama Castle after the Battle of Sekigahara. In 1619, Tokugawa Ieyasu's 10th child Yorinobu became lord of the castle. From that point until the Meiji Restoration the castle was ruled by successive Tokugawa lords.

Even after the Meiji Restoration, the beautiful main keep was kept intact and designated a National Treasure. Unfortunately, it burned to the ground during bombings in 1945. Wakayama Castle together with Himeji Castle and Iyo-Matsuyama Castle are called the Three Great Flatland Mountain Castles.

Field Notes

I put off going to this castle for a long while, but after visiting I really think that most castle books don't give it justice. The amount of stone walls and baileys that remain are impressive. Even though the main keep and connected buildings are reconstructed, the complex keep style (renritsushiki) that completely encloses the main keep courtyard is one of only a few that you can see like this. The castle also has two original gates, a beautifully reconstructed covered bridge, and you can see all the different types of stone walls depending on when they were built. There is also an original bell tower yagura, the kitchen yagura from the honmaru palace and a samurai home in the town. I highly recommend you take the time to walk the grounds and enjoy this great castle.

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Gallery

main keep, Ninomon, and Ninomon Yagura
Okaguchi gate
Main keep and connected yagura
Main keep
main keep
Approaching the main keep
Ninomon Gate (Kusunoki Gate)
Inside the Main Keep compound
Inui Yagura
Main keep bailey.
Ninomon Yagura
Uzumimon Gate (buried gate)
foundation of the Daidokoro Yagura
Rock chutes
Okaguchi Gate
Rear side of the Okaguchi Gate
wall connecting to the Okaguchi Gate
Otemon Gate and Ichinohashi Bridge
Back side of the Otemon Gate
Oimawashi Gate
Oimawashi Gate
Ohashiroka
Ohashiroka Bridge
Inside the Ohashiroka Bridge
a high stone wall
East moat near the Oteguchi Gate
Stone walls of the Akazumon Gate ruins
Stone walls of the former Nakamon Gate.
Stone steps of the Okura Bailey.
Stone steps of the Okuru Bailey
Stone walls of the South Bailey
Stone walls
Stone walls near the Tsurunomon Gate ruins
high stone wall foundation of a yagura
dry moat
Stone walls of the South Nakamon entrance
stone walls and steps
map

Castle Profile
English Name	Wakayama Castle
Japanese Name	和歌山城
Alternate Names	Takegaki-jo, Torafusu-jo
Founder	Toyotomi Hidenaga
Year Founded	1585
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	Reconstructed main keep
Designations	Top 100 Castles, has Important Cultural Properties, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Main Keep Structure	3 levels, 3 stories
Year Reconstructed	1958 (concrete)
Artifacts	Okaguchi Gate
Features	main keep, gates, turrets, bridges, water moats, stone walls, walls
Visitor Information
Access	Wakayama Station (Nankai Line, JR Hanwa Line); 15 min bus to Koenmae bus stop, or walk 20 mins
Hours	400 yen; open 9-5:30pm; closed 12/29-12/31
Time Required	120 mins
URL	Castle Website
Location	Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture
Coordinates	34.22761, 135.17137
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2005
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	2012
Admin Visits	March 17, 2012

3.75

(24 votes)

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