Oda
Azuchi Castle
安土城
| Founder | Oda Nobunaga |
| Year | 1576 |
| Type | Hilltop |
| Condition | Ruins |
| Rating | ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ |
| Historical Site | Special Historic Site |
| Historical Value | Top 100 Castles |
| Location | Azuchi, Shiga Pref. |
| Map | Google Map |
| Access | Azuchi Station (JR Tokaido Line) |
| Website | Azuchi Town |
| Visited | February 21, 2004 |
| Notes | There are no buildings left but the amount of stonework and the preserved layout is incredible. It has a very historic feel and expands your imagination. |
| History |
By 1575 Nobunaga had become the most powerful samurai in the country. He turned over control of the Owari & Mino provinces to his eldest son Nobutada and set his own eyes on the unification of all Japan. In 1576, Nobunaga established his new castle and power base at Azuchi on Lake Biwa. This was a very strategic location in that it gave him significant control over the nearby Tokaida and Nakasendo roads to Kyoto and any traffic on Lake Biwa.
It took 3.5 years to complete the donjon and entire castle. Unfortunately, the castle was short lived. After Nobunaga was killed by Akechi Mitsuhide in 1582 at Honnoji Temple, Azuchi Castle was burned to the ground in a battle between Nobunaga's second son Nobukatsu and Akechi's men who had taken over the castle. The construction of Azuchi Castle was a revolution in castle design and marked the turning point in a new type of castle. Until this time, most were smaller mountaintop structures that were only used as a lookout or as needed. Nobunaga's Azuchi castle led the way for the larger and more grand structures of the late Sengoku Period and Early Edo Period turning castles in to quarters for the daimyo and some retainers. The main donjon itself was 7 stories high and thought to have been the largest multi-storied wooden building in the world at that time. The fifth floor of the main keep was an octagon representing heaven and the quadrangular sixth floor represented the thoughts of Taoism and Confucianism. The picture above is of the Ote-michi entrance through to the castle. Along either side were houses of loyal retainers. |
| Photo Tags |
Viewer Comments
(7) | Post CommentLisa,I don't know where you are now. I went to and stayed at Hkone with my wife on Feb 15. The hotel we stayed was faced to the castle moat. The staffs are kind. You can visit Azuchi ruins within 30 minutes by local train. Have a nice tour! Kai,Kitakyushu-city
March 09, 2009 at 08:18 AM
This castle is very interesting
January 27, 2009 at 04:26 AM
Agreed. Look for hotels in Hikone. There should be several hotels with English websites and it's just a couple stops away by train. You can visit Hikone Castle too and there is a variety of things to do in Hikone too.
November 23, 2008 at 11:51 AM
Lisa, I am not the guy who runs this wonderful website, but I live in Shiga and have been to Azuchi Castle Ruins a couple of times. There isn't much around JR Azuchi Station. Your best bet for finding a hotel would be in Kusatsu, Hikone, or perhaps Omi-hachiman, one station from Azuchi. The first two places, which are also on the same JR line, are around 15 to 20 minutes from Azuchi. Why not stay in Hikone City and visit both Hikone Castle (an original castle) and Azuchi Castle Ruins? My two yens' worth.
November 22, 2008 at 08:18 AM
I don't know if anyone is still updating this site but if so i need to know what hotels are nearby to this castle. My research brings up sites that i can't read and the information is required for a class project. Any help?
November 22, 2008 at 04:46 AM
whoa!!!! really!!!! dude i'm REALLY jelous he's my heroe
October 14, 2008 at 10:41 PM
i have yet to go here , i really want to though. Oda Nobunaga was my ancestor on my grandma's dad's side of the family
June 18, 2008 at 12:08 PM