Ozu Castle 大洲城
main keep and yagura
Picture Donated by Raffi
Founder Utsunomiya Toyofusa
Katou
Year 1331
Type Hilltop
Condition Reconstructed
Alternate Name Jizogatake-jo
Reconstructed 2004 (wood)
Structure 4 levels, 4 stories
Admin's Rating ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Historical Site Prefectural Historic Site
Historical Value Top 100 Castles, Important Cultural Properties
Historical Artifacts Important Cultural Properties:
Sannomaru South Sumi Yagura, Owata Yagura, Daidokoro Yagura, Koran Yagura
Location Ozu, Ehime Pref.
Map Google Map
Access Iyo Ozu Sta. (Yosan Line), taxi
Website Ozu City
Notes not personally visited
History The first fortifications on this site were constructed in 1331 by Utsunomiya Toyofusa. From 1585-1617 the castle was ruled by a quick succession of lords including Kobayakawa Takakage, Toda Katsutaka, Todo Takatora and Wakisaka Yasuharu. The castle you see today was most likely built up during this time. Kato Sadayasu arrived in 1617 and his descendents ruled until the Meiji Restoration. The main keep was destroyed in 1888. The reconstruction was completed in 2004 using wood and traditional methods. It also connects 2 of the original yagura.
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Comment on this castle
  • furinkazan on My Page    April 22, 2012 at 04:56 PM
    Went this morning to this castle. It's a nice reconstructed one. It's easy to access from the JR-station. Just turn right on the exit and follow the small green flower-shaped indication-panels. The castle is about 2km. When you leave the station and go for Uwajima, you are able to take a nice picture of the castle.
  • Frank T. on My Page    September 21, 2011 at 08:00 PM
    There's not much to see here aside from the keep, but this is the way reconstructions should be done: in the traditional way with wood. It's nice to see more castles and palaces being rebuilt with traditional methods and materials.
  • Rheagan_Greene    April 16, 2010 at 09:50 PM
    I would strongly recommend visiting this Castle. I was there on 7th April 2010. Yes, it is reconstructed, but using the same techniques and materials as would have been employed during the Edo period. The craftsmanship is breathtaking. Iyo Ozu village is also well worth walking round. Iyo Ozu is easy to get to, take the JR line south for about 45 minutes from Matsuyama. The Castle is visible from the train, slightly further south from the station. It’s easily walkable, but I took a taxi there (to find the way) and walked back.
  • MM    March 16, 2008 at 07:02 AM
    This Shiro is worth going to as the interior looks as all japanese castles did shortly after construction.
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Ozu, Ehime Pref.
Ozu Castle views
main keep and yagura
castle as seen from town main keep and stone walls
main keep at sunset interior of an original yagura
interior of the main keep interior of the main keep
view of the town roof display
map of the grounds