Japanese Castle guide in Japan castle Historical site Statue Introduction.

[Castle name]
Tatsuoka castle
One of the two western star style castles in Japan

[Description]
Tatsuoka Castle is a western style castle located in Saku City, Nagano Province. The clan officer of Mr. Matsudaira of Tatsuoka Clan was set here. It is one of the two western star style castles in Japan, and the other one is Goryokaku. In order to differentiate them it is called [Tatsuoka Goryokaku].

[Matsudaira Norikata] who was the clan master of Okutono Clan decided to move the base to Tanokuchi in the end of Shogun. Norikata who belonged to Enlightened Party got the permission from the Shogun to build a western style castle.

※When entering Meiji Era, Norikata, and Sano Tsunetami put lots of effort on Hakuai Society (the current Red Cross Organization).

Genji 1 year (1864) he started building the castle and did not finish before Meiji Restoration. Tatsuoka Castle is French style castle. It is said that the chest wall is low therefore moats are narrow.

In the center of Goryokaku is the caln master’s house and office. Central gate, General gate are set in North East and South East, and a special gate is set in North West and South East. The stones, moats are still existed. Meiji 4 year (1871), Meiji government ordered to destroy all the castles therefore [Tatsuoka Goryokaku] became abandoned.

After being abandoned, it was used as agriculture. Some information related to Tatsuoka Castle is being displayed at [Goryokaku Pavilion]. The current Tatsuoka Castle is appointed as the historic site.

[Address,access]
〒384-0412 3000 Tanokuchi, Saku City, Nagano Province

[Map]