Japanese Castle guide in Japan castle Historical site Statue Introduction.

[Castle name]
Odaka Castle
Soma Yoshitane lived in it until he moved to Nakamura Castle.

[Description]
Odaka Castle was a castle on a hill in Odaka Ward, Minami Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture.
It is said to be built in the Period of The Northern and Southern Courts. The Soma family ruled this area for generations.

In the Warring States period, Soma Yoshitane, the head of the Soma family, saved his territory through many battles. Under the hill, there were Odaka River and rice field. It means the castle was surrounded by natural moats.

Originally, it was built to prepare for attacks of the Iwaki family from the south. However, Yoshitane shifted his main base to Nakamura Castle. In the 5th year of the Keicho period (A.D.1600), during the Battle of Sekigahara, Yoshitane accompanied with Satake Yoshinobu and didn’ clarify his position.

Thus he was deprived of his estate and his family name by Tokugawa Ieyasu. However, Date Masamune desperately begged his forgiveness and Yoshitane was permitted to keep his estate. Coming to the Edo period, he established Nakamura domain. It lasted until the end of the Edo period.

Now, in the ruin of the castle, Soma Odaka Shrine is built and shows the trace of the Soma family.

[Address,access]
Odaka Ward, Minami Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture

[Map]