Yuzuki Castle

This castle was much more interesting than I had expected. The reconstructed buildings have been done very well and help you to imagine what a castle from that time would have been like. From the top of the hill you can also get a good view of Matsuyama Castle and the surrounding area.

History

During the Nanboku-chô period (1336-1392), Kono Michimori moved the clans' home base from Kono-Gun to Yuzuki Castle in Dogo which was a more prosperous area. Despite intervention by the Hosokawa and internal family disputes, the clan served the Ashikaga Shogun family, and was allied with neighboring clans including the Ouchi, Otomo and Mori. Around 1535, Kono Michinao constructed the outer moat of the castle thus giving it two large moats and increasing its defences. He also strengthened his relationship with Murakami Michiyasu, son-in-law and pirate leader of the Inland Sea (Kurushima). In 1585, another Michinao (Ushifukumaru), the last heir, surrendered the castle to Toyotomi Hideyoshi. This was the end of the Kono clan in Iyo. Yuzuki Castle was briefly ruled by Fukushima Masanori until it was abandoned.

Field Notes

This castle was much more interesting than I had expected. The reconstructed buildings have been done very well and help you to imagine what a castle from that time would have been like. From the top of the hill you can also get a good view of Matsuyama Castle and the surrounding area.

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Gallery

West Entrance
West Entrance
Outer moat
Reconstructed samurai homes
Reconstructed samurai homes and outer embankment
Embankment and clay wall
Remains of other buildings
Reconstructed Samurai Home #2
Inside of the Samurai Home #2
Reconstructed samurai home #1
Interior of samurai home #1
Gate to the first samurai home
Inner moat embankment and the #2 samurai home
Inner moat
Inner moat
East side embankment and water drainage
Earthworks
View from the top of the hill
Matsuyama Castle as seen from Yuzuki Castle
A bailey on the mountain
Inner moat and samurai quarters area
Inner moat
Outer moat and earthworks
Outer moat embankment
Outer moat embankment
Outer moat and earthworks
Diorama of the castle
Map

Castle Profile
English Name	Yuzuki Castle
Japanese Name	湯築城
Founder	Kono Michimori
Year Founded	1334-1338
Castle Type	Mountaintop
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	Top 100 Castles, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features	gates, samurai homes, water moats, trenches, walls
Visitor Information
Access	Matsuyama Sta (Yosan Line); streetcar 20 min to Dogo Kouen-mae stop
Hours	Park: open year round, free admission Facilities : open from 09:00 to 17:00; closed on Mondays (when monday falls on a national holiday, the next day will be closed), December 29th-january 3rd; admission free
Time Required	45 mins
URL	Castle Website
Location	Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture
Coordinates	33.84753, 132.78604
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2012
Admin Year Visited	2016
Admin Visits	February 26, 2016

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