Kubota Castle

History

Satake Yoshinobu was moved from the Mito area to Akita in 1602 after the Battle of Sekigahara. He first moved into Minato Castle, but it was small with poor defenses so he built Kubota Castle in 1604. It's said that Satake never built a main keep nor any 3 level yagura so that he wouldn't attract the ire of the Tokugawa. Another theory is that he just couldn't afford an extravagant main keep. Even so, the castle had eight 2 story corner yagura and a large palace. Most of the buildings burned down in a fire in 1880. The Satake continued to rule until the Meiji Restoration.

Visit Notes

The castle is well known for being mainly built from large earthen embankments. There is very little stonework and that os mainly to fortify some foundations. The large main keep looking building is a museum and is not an accurate representation of an Edo Period yagura. The Omotemon Gate however was faithfully reconstructed in 2001. The Omonogashira Gobansho (guard house) is the only remaining original structure on the site. The castle was much bigger and more interesting that I expected. The earthen embankments around each Bailey are in interesting feature and I tried to highlight them in some of the photos here.

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Gallery

Osumi yagura
Omotemon
Omotemon
Omotemon
Omotemon Gate
Details of the reconstructed Omotemon Gate
Foundation stones of the Omotemon Gate
Anamon Moat (Sotobori)
Sign and moat
Uchibori (inner moat)
Site of the Nagasaka Gate
Omonogashi Gobansho (Guardhouse)
Inside the Omonogashira Gobansho
Odashishoin Bailey. Former palace for entertaining.
Bailey around the Odashishoin Bailey
Looking to the teahouse from the Odashishoin Bailey
Teahouse
Path to the Osumiyagura
Osumiyagura
Osumiyagura
Castle diorama
Site of the Obikuruwa Gate
Honmaru Bailey
Path around the outside of the Honmaru
Site of the Uramon Gate
Site of the Uramon Gate
Kogetsu Pond in the Ninomaru Bailey
Ninomaru Bailey embankment
Ninomaru Bailey
Ninomaru Bailey
Site of the Kuromon Gate
Site of the Kuromon Gate
Site of the Kuromon Gate
Kuromon moat
Site of the Otemon Gate
Otemon Moat
View from the Osumiyagura
Map
Detailed depiction of the Honmaru Bailey and palace
Map
Map

Castle Profile
English Name	Kubota Castle
Japanese Name	久保田城
Founder	Satake Yoshinobu
Year Founded	1603
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	Top 100 Castles
Historical Period	Edo Period
Artifacts	Omonogashi Gobansho
Features	gates, turrets, samurai homes, water moats, trenches, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access	Akita Sta. (Oou Line); 10 min walk
Visitor Information	Osumiyagura Museum is open 9-4:30, closed Dec 1 to March 31; 100 yen
Time Required	90 mins
Website	https://www.city.akita.lg.jp/kanko/kanrenshisetsu/1002685/1009870/index.html
Location	Akita City, Akita Prefecture
Coordinates	39° 43' 24.53" N, 140° 7' 23.66" E
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2011
Admin Year Visited	2018
Admin Visits	May 10, 2018

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2.33

(12 votes)

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ARTShogun

45 months ago

Score 0

Did the "tenshu" get downgraded to yagura? : p

Also, did Kakunodate get a structure? : o

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FurinkazanDaimyo

114 months ago

Score 1

After visiting the Jomon/Yayoi settlement, by name Jizoden Yoyoikko, i went to this castle. There isn't alot to see here. The guardhouse was interesting but i was dissapointed by the Osumiyagura. There is only a model of the castle in its heyday and the view from the top floor. 100¥ isn't a lot of money too. I visited also the Satake historical museum. Entry fee also 100¥. This was really rewarding. There are numerous artifacts such as armors, jinbaori(=jacket worn over the armor) and hata(=flags). The castle-site is a beautiful garden and somehow this is also a problem. The trees hide a lot of the embankments.

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