Izushi Castle

Castle Profile
English Name	Izushi Castle
Japanese Name	出石城
Founder	Koide Yoshihide
Year Founded	1599
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	Next 100 Castles, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Features	gates, turrets, bridges, samurai homes, stone walls, walls, castle town
Visitor Information
Access	Toyooka Sta. (Line), bus to Izushi, 5 min walk from the last bus stop
Visitor Information
Time Required
Location	Izushi, Hyogo Prefecture
Coordinates	35° 27' 37", 134° 52' 28"
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Admin
Year Visited	2013
Visits	Sept 26, 2013
Added to Jcastle	2004

History

After the Battle of Sekigahara (1600), the political climate became significantly more stable and there were no more local battles. Because of this, Koide Yoshihide, decided to fortify the area around the foot of his mountaintop castle, Arikoyama Castle, and built Izushi Castle in 1605. Arikoyama Castle was abandoned and Izushi Castle became the main castle for the Tajima Domain under the one castle per country law. A main keep was never built at Izushi Castle, but it was well fortified with several baileys, moats, and yagura. Four main baileys start at the base of the mountain and go up in steps. The highest bailey, Inari Kuruwa, is thought to have been the location of the lord's palace for Arikoyama Castle. The castle town was also designed for defense of the castle. The samurai quarters surround the outside of the castle and several temples were strategically placed near main roads and entrances that could also be used for defense if needed. The Koide ruled until 1697, when Izushi was ransferred to the Matsudaira who ruled until 1706. In 1706 Matsudaira Tadanori was transferred to Ueda Castle and Sengoku Masaaki, lord of Ueda Castle, was moved to Izushi Castle. The Sengoku clan continue to rule over Izushi Castle until the Meiji Restoration.

Visit Notes

notes

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Gallery

Tojomon Gate
East sumiyagura
East sumiyagura and stone walls
East sumiyagura
East and West sumiyagura and stone walls
West sumiyagura
Stone walls
West sumiyagura and red torii
West sumiyagura
The Inari shrine in the Inari Bailey
View from the Inari Bailey
High stone walls of the Inari Bailey.
Shinkoro Clock Tower
Stone walls
Stone walls
Stone walls
Kyooji Temple
Kenshoji Temple
Fukujoji Temple
Map
House
Nagayamon Gate
Second floor. It's intentionally made shorter to make it difficult to use swords.

Nearby Samurai Homes

Izushi Karo Yashiki

3.00

(2 votes)

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FindlayjamiePeasant

20 months ago

Score 0

I came here on an excursion from Toyooka. Well worth the out-of-the-way trip, not so much for the castle (which is fairly small), but for the castle town, with a great atmosphere. The main streets are quite busy, but the walk along the river below the castle is lovely and quiet.

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Castle Profile
English Name	Izushi Castle
Japanese Name	出石城
Founder	Koide Yoshihide
Year Founded	1599
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	Next 100 Castles, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Features	gates, turrets, bridges, samurai homes, stone walls, walls, castle town
Visitor Information
Access	Toyooka Sta. (Line), bus to Izushi, 5 min walk from the last bus stop
Visitor Information
Time Required
Location	Izushi, Hyogo Prefecture
Coordinates	35° 27' 37", 134° 52' 28"
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Admin
Year Visited	2013
Visits	Sept 26, 2013
Added to Jcastle	2004