Jcastle.info

Guide to Japanese Castles

Kiyosu Castle

清洲城

donjon and red bridge
←      →
Founder Shiba Yoshishige
Year 1394-1427?
Reconstructed 1989 (concrete)
Type Flatland
Structure 3 levels, 4 stories
Condition Reconstructed
Admin's Rating ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
Location Kiyosu, Aichi Prefecture
Map Google Map
Access Kiyosu Station (Tokaido Honsen) or Shin Kiyosu Station (Meitetsu Nagoya Honsen), walk 15 minutes.
Website Kiyosu Township Site
Visited several times in 1995-1996
Notes Kiyosu-jo has always been a little special for me. When I lived in Nagoya I lived just a short walk from this castle. I went to the festival held here and often took walks around the castle area. It is also a rather aesthetically pleasing reconstructed castle. You can also see it frm the Shinkansen on the way into Nagoya.
History

Who first built this castle and when are completely unknown. One theory states that it may have been built by Shiba Yoshishige between 1394 and 1427. Other theories say that it was built later around 1478.

Oda Nobunaga, in his efforts to unite all of Owari (Nagoya and vicinity), killed Oda Nobutomo from a rival faction of the same Oda family in 1555 and took Kiyosu-jo by force. Nobunaga completed the unification of Owari with the capture of Iwakura-jo in 1559. Nobunaga remained in Kiyosu-jo until he moved to Komaki-jo in 1563. Tokugawa's ninth son Yoshinao was the last occupant of Kiyosu-jo. It was torn down in 1610 after Yoshinao moved to the newly completed Nagoya-jo.

Many interesting stories surround the history of Kiyosu-jo. Once Oda Nobunaga pardoned his younger brother Nobuyuki for acts of treason. Nobuyuki did not learn his lesson and again Nobunaga discovered his treasonous activities. This time Nobunaga feigned illness and when his brother came to visit him Nobunaga had him executed.

Another story involves Nobunaga's successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Once a 180 meter section of a moat around the castle collapsed. Hideyoshi divided the collapsed section into 10 parts and offered a reward to the team that finished rebuilding their section first. The collapsed moat was rebuilt in less than a day. It is said that this incident is what made Nobunaga first take notice of the abilities in his lieutenant, Hideyoshi.

Photo Tags

Viewer Comments

(3) | Post Comment
  • Anonymous    February 11, 2010 at 03:20 PM
    I want to warn everyone that this castle is closed untill march 20th for renovations. I went there today but ended up at a closed gate.
  • Julian (from Canada)    October 26, 2009 at 11:13 PM
    I feel like such an idiot. I have seen that castle many times from the Shinkansen and I lived in Nagoya twice, but I've never been inside Kiyosu-jo. I've been back to Nagoya once since I lived there, but didn't have time. One day, I'm promising myself. Thank you for the great description Raymond, and I'm surprised photos are allowed inside, eh?
  • Raymond    December 30, 2008 at 04:48 PM
    I went to this castle on the weekend before Christmas. The time to visit this castle is in the late afternoon as the winter sun casts some soft orangey light on the castle and the red bridge leading towards it. Having read on this website that it is a concrete reconstruction, I did not expect much, but boy, was I surprised by the interior! It is all wood inside with a very good museum which includes displays of samurai armour and a scene in a tatami room with realistic dummies of Oda Nobunaga and his generals / servants. The interior of Kiyosu Castle feels like that of the Gojikkennagaya Storehouse at Kanazawa Castle. You can take photos inside. I checked with the attendant first, and she said it was okay. If you are in Nagoya City and have time to spare after visiting Nagoya Castle, I do recommend seeing this castle. It certainly lacks the crowds at Nagoya Castle, and that is a good thing in my book.