[Explanation]
Oda Nobunaga was called Kippoushi (Yoshiyoshi) when he was young and grew up at Nagano Castle.
Father, Nobuhide passed away, he became the owner of Oda family afterwards.

However, the Oda family at the time could not be said that the conflict among the clan constantly dominated Owari Ichikuni.
younger brother, Nobuyuki defeated Kiyosu castle lord Oda Nobumoto etc gradually by knocking down the castle owners he went on to dominate Owari.

By defeating the Nobumoto, Nobunaga relocates the headquarters to Kiyosu Castle, makes a major renovation, and will fight a battle afterwards based on this castle as a base.

信友を倒したことで信長は本拠地を清州城へ移し大改修を行い、以後この城を拠点として闘いを繰り広げて行くことになる。

[Address,access]
Asahi 1-1 of Kiyosu City, Aichi Prefecture 452-0932

[Map]

[Explanation]
Okazaki Castle is a castle of Matsudaira’s generations.
Ieyasu (then: Take Chiyo) at the Matsudaira family who was succumbed to Matsudaira after his father, Hirohata was murdered by the vassal, but was being threatened by the Imagawa family from the east remained the hostage of the Imagawa family.
And it is supposed to be the daughter of Sekiguchi who married to Imagawa Yoshimoto and became his wife.

The turning point came when Imagawa Yoshimoto took over Owari’s Oda Family and aimed for Kamakura to Kyoto. At this time, Ieyasu (then Motoyasu Matsudaira) was returned to Okazaki castle once and ordered the Imagawa army ahead.

And as soon as Imagawa Yoshimoto was battled by Oda Nobunaga in the battle of Okehama, he immediately returned to Okazaki Castle and formed an alliance of the Oda family and fulfilled his own wish.
After that, we will accumulate power in Okazaki Castle until we transfer our base to Hamamatsu Castle in Utsutsu.

[Address,access]
561 Yasuo Town, Okazaki city, Aichi Prefecture 444-0052

[Map]

[Explanation]
Around the Tenmon seventh year (1538), father Nobuhide moved to Koba Castle, so the third son, Yoshihiro (Nobunaga), only five years old, fell to the castle owner with the help of the old seniors. Nobunaga went to the same year in the same year experienced the death of (Moriyaku) Hirate Masahide at the time of the castle in Nagoya Castle and also has a meeting with Mino of Saito at the castle.

At that time, Nagano Castle was a square building, surrounded by samurai homes surrounded by moats and ditches.
The place is near the corner of the present Nagoya castle; it was also a transportation capital.

[Address,access]
1-1 Inner Citadel Naka ward, Nagoya city, Aichi Prefecture 460-0031

[Map]

[Explanation]
Arako Castle is known as a castle where Maeda Toshiie was born.
Toshiie was not originally in the position to succeed the Maeda family, but was chosen by Arako castle owner because he served Nobunaga Oda as a follower.

The castle was small enough to cover the fence and moat in a small site. Currently, “Stone Monument of Toshiie Maeda” is stood there.
There is an image of “Maeda Toshiie” whose gallant figure is still transmitted to Arako’s station square.
Why do not you visit the courageous form once?

[Address,access]
Aruko Nakagawa Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture 4

[Map]

Gifu castle was destroyed by Ieyasu Tokugawa at the preliminary skirmish of the battle of Sekigahara- Part 3

[Explanation]
In 1600, Hidenobu Oda, the owner of Gifu castle became a part of the West troops of Mitsunari Ishida’s army (the battle of Sekigahara). He barricaded himself at Gifu castle during the preliminary skirmish of the battle of Sekigahara, but it was attacked and destroyed by Masanori Fukushima and Terumasa Ikeda’s east troops. Hidenobu tried to commit suicide with his brother Hidenori, but after Terumasa’s persuasion he surrendered.

After the surrender, he was exiled to mount Koya but eventually he was exiled from mount Koya as well. On May 8th 1605, he died at the age of 26 in Mino province.

※Hidenobu’s descendant still continues in Mino province.

In 1601, Ieyasu Tokugawa decided to demolish Gifu castle and gave his daughter’s husband, Nobumasa Okudaira, 100 thousand Koku and made him build a castle. This was the beginning of Kano domain. After that Kano domain continued to Okubo-shi, Toda-shi, and Ando-shi, and then to Nagai-shi until the Meiji restoration.

※The picture shows the ruins of Kano castle.

On the other hand, Gifu castle stayed destroyed. Looking from Kyoto, Gifu castle was at the east side, and it was known to be an impregnable castle but it actually had been attacked a number of times. It was a typical mountain castle, and was unsuitable for long term kojo battles during the late Sengoku period.

During Azuchi Momoyama period, there was a palace called Tenshu at the foot of Gifu castle, and there was a moat with stone walls on the both sides of the path to the palace. This palace was Nanban style, and it was a beautiful four story palace. The ruins of the palace is now a part of Gifu park, and excavations still continue. The Tenshu is a 3 tiered 4 story replica made with concrete.

※Gifu castle was registered as the 39th castle of Japan’s 100 famous castles.

[Address,access]
18 Tenshukaku, Kinkasan, Gifu-shi, Gifu 500-0000

[Map]

Gifu Castle: Gifu Castle was a castle that the owner continued to change after Nobunaga and Nobutada Oda were killed at the incident of Honnoji temple – Part 2

[Explanation]
Based in Mino, Nobunaga continued to fight against Asai family in the Northern Omi, the Asakura family in Echizen, gradually conquered Omi, Echizen, and Kinki region, and gained control over Settsu province after conquering Honganji temple. Then he aimed to achieve the unification of the whole country, putting military commanders in various regions.

Below are the military commanders in each region.

Hokuriku region – Katsuie Shibata
Kanto region – Kazumasu Takigawa
Chugoku region – Hideyoshi Hashiba
Kinki region – Mitsuhide Akechi
Shikoku region – Nobutaka Kanbe

In 1576 Nobutada, Nobunaga’s legitimate son, became the owner of Gifu castle, and Nobunaga passed over Mino and Obari to Nobutada. Nobunaga built and moved to Azuchi Castle in Omi. But on June 2nd 1582, Nobunaga and Nobutada were murdered by Mitsuhide Akechi at the incident of Honnoji temple. Mitsuhide Akechi was then murdered by Hideyoshi Hashiba.

On June 27th of the same year, Nobutaka Kanbe received Mino province through Kiyosu conference, and he became the owner of Gifu castle and the conservator of Nobutada’s legitimate son, Sanboshi.

In April 1583, Nobutaka cooperated and raised an army with Kazumasu Takigawa, the owner of Nagashima Castle, to fight against Hideyoshi Hashiba who was becoming Tenka-bito (people who controlled the country). But Katsuie Shibata lost at the battle of Shizugatake, and Nobutaka’s older brother, Nobukatsu, had surrounded Gifu castle which led Nobutaka to surrender. After that Nobutaka was forced to Seppuku.

In May of the same year, when Tsuneoki Ikeda became the owner of Ogaki castle after receiving 130 thousand Koku from Hideyoshi, his legitimate son, Motosuke Ikeda became the owner of Gifu castle. In 1584, Tsuneoki and Motosuke Ikeda were murdered at the battle of Komaki and Nagakute (the battle between Hideyoshi Hashiba and Ieyasu Tokugawa cooperating with Nobukatsu Oda), and Gifu castle became the residence of Terumasa Ikeda, Tsuneoki’s second son.

In April 1591, Hidekatsu Toyotomi, Nobunaga’s son and Hideyoshi’s adopted son, became the owner of Gifu castle after Terumasa Ikeda due to Hideyoshi’s order. On September 9th 1592, after Hidekatsu passed away, Hidenobu Oda became the owner after receiving Gifu 130 thousand Koku. Hideyoshi was Hidenobu Oda’s conservator but he was becoming Tenka-bito at that time.

※As stated Gifu castle’s owner continued to change, but at this time it was owned by the Oda family again.

※Gifu castle is registered 39th in Japan’s 100 famous castles.

[Address,access]
18 Tenshukaku, Kinkasan, Gifu-shi, Gifu 500-0000

[Map]

[Description]
Gifu-jo Castle is a mountain castle located on Mt. Kinkazan in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture, where the current Kinkazayama was called Inokuchi Inabayama, Mino Province, and it was newly constructed by renovating the territory of Inabayama-jo Castle, which Nobunaga ODA seized from Saito Tatsuoki (grandson of Saito Dosan).

In 1201, the government of Nikaido built a fort on Mt. Inaiba, and then the daughter of the government, the Son-in-law SATO, became the lord of the castle, and the younger brother of Iga Mitsumune Gwangjong of Goryeo, Mitsusuke INABA, became the castella, and after that, the castle became a castle, and the Shugodai [Saito Toshinaga], a shugodai (deputy military governor) of Mino Province, repaired the castle in the middle of the 1500 s.

In 1525, Ujiie NAGAI, a vassal of the Saito clan, and “Chozaemon NAGAI no jo” (New Lieutenant of the Left Division of Outer Palace Guards) raised a rebellion and attacked Inabayama-jo Castle, and after the death of the New Saemon no jo (third ranked officer of the Left Division of Outer Palace Guards), the son “Nagai Shinkuro Norihide (Saito Dosan)” succeeded to the throne and became the lord of the castle, after the death of the new Saemon no jo (the third ranked officer of the Left Division of Outer Palace Guards), the fifth Hiroshi Cho (). 9.

* There are various theories.

In 1539, Saito Dosan began to build a full-scale mountain fortress on Mt. Otabayama, and after a few years, he expelled Toki Yorinari, a Shugo (provincial constable) of Mino Province, and in 1554, he named’ Saito Yoshitatsu,’ the head of the family,’,’ who was the head of the family ; however, Road 3 was defeated by his legitimate child, Yoshitatsu, in “Battle of Nagara,” and he died in “Battle of Nagara River” by his legitimate child, Yoshitatsu, in. 8 23 3.

* In general, it is said that he killed Road 3 because his father was’ Toki Yorinari.’.

After that, due to the sudden death of Yoshitatsu, Saito Tatsuoki took over as the head of the family at the age of 13, and in February 1564, “Takenaka Shigeharu (Takenaka Hanbee),” who was a vassal of the Saito clan, rebelled against Ryuoki, and he attacked the castle and attacked Inayama-jo Castle, and he, who had no lack of ambition, returned the castle to Ryuko, which led to the repentance of the castle, which he had not no ambition for about half a year about half a year ago, because the Emperor, who had been a vassal of the Saito clan, returned to Ryuoki Castle for about half a year, which encouraged him to revisit the castle in order to encourage the Emperor Ando Morinari. 7.

In September 1567, Nobunaga ODA, who had been aiming for the invasion of Mino Province, succeeded in capturing Inabayama-jo Castle by the internal stress of’ Nishimino 3 ninshu (ininaba, Ando Morinari, Ujiie UJIIE)’ in the “Nishimino ninshu shu.” 10.

On the other hand, Ryuoki fled to Ise Nagashima, and in the future, he began to resist Nobunaga, and he later died of a battle with his vassal when Nobunaga attacked Echizen-Asakura, Nobunaga moved to Mount Komaki Castle when he dropped Inabayama-jo Castle, and in ancient, he changed the names of the names of the castle and town by changing the name of’ Gifu’ to’ Gifu.’ King Wen of Zhou.

From around this time, Nobunaga began to use “Tenin” (a seal) of “Tenbu Fubu” (literally, “great faith in the whole country”), and began to aim for the unification of the whole country in earnest.

*Image of Nobunaga ODA in front of Gifu Station

*Gifu Castle is designated as Japan’s one hundredth best castle, 39.

[Access, access]
18 Tenshukaku Tenshukaku, Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture 500 – 0000 Gifu Prefecture

[Map]

[Description]
Kakegawa Castle is a castle located in Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture. It is said that it began when the Imagawa clan, Shugo (provincial constable) of Totomi Province, ordered his vassal, Asahina, to build it during the Muromachi period.
After that, the Imagawa clan continued to rule it, but the Imagawa family was destroyed by Takeda Shingen of Kai Province and Ieyasu Tokugawa of Mikawa Province during the Sengoku period (period of warring states).

As a result, the Takeda family will own the Suruga Province, and the Tokugawa family will own the Totomi Province. For a while, Ieyasu’s vassal 「Ienari Ishikawa」 was appointed as the castle keeper, but when the whole country came under the rule of Hideyoshi Toyotomi, Ieyasu was forcefully transferred to the Kanto region Hasshu, which the Hojo family ruled.

Along with this, the 5 provinces of Mikawa, Totomi, Suruga, Kai and Shinano, which were Ieyasu’s territory, were divided between the daimyo (Japanese feudal lord) who favored Hideyoshi.
At this time, 「Yamauchi Kazutoyo」 who was appointed to the post of 「Lord of Kakegawa Castle」 50,000 koku will later become the Governor of Tosa Province. It is said that it was during Yamauchi Kazutoyo’s era that the castle of the present was developed.

*Outer Citadel Palace (Reconstruction)

The lord of Kakegawa Castle in the Edo period changed rapidly and moved from 「Hisamatsu clan」, 「Aoyama clan」, 「Matsudaira clan」, 「Honda clan」, 「Matsudaira clan」, 「Hojo clan」, 「Ii clan」 and 「Ogasawara clan」.
At the end, the 「Ota clan」 welcomed the Meiji Restoration as the Castle lord. In the Meiji period, the 「Haijo Rei」 was issued nationwide, and Kakegawa Castle was destroyed.
The current Castle Tower was unusually reconstructed from wood 「Wooden Castle Tower Restoration (Three-ply, Four-Storey), and also, the Kakegawa Castle is designated as the forty-second famous castles of Japan’s 100 castles (4 stories).

[Address,access]
1138 – 24, Kakegawa, Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture 436 – 0079

[Map]

[Description]
Ejiri Castle is a flatland castle built in Ejiri Town, Shimizu District, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Province. It was built by Mr. Takeda in Eiroku 13 year (1507) in order to prepare for Mr. Tokugawa.

It absorbed water from Tomoe River and made moats. [Yamagata Masakage] was appointed as the first castle owner.

After that, Takeda Katsuyori inherited after Shingen died. In May Tensho 3 year (1575), the Battle of Nagashi broke out between Oda and Nobunaga joint army, and Katsuyori was greatly defeated. Lots of vassals of Mr. Takeda died at this battle, and [Yamagata Masakage] was one of them.

After Masakega died, Anayama Nobutada was appointed as the castle owner. Nobutada gathered all the vassals in Eijiri Castle and expanded the castle. After that, Nobutada betrayed Katsuyori and followed Oda and Tokugawa. In February Tensho 10 year (1582), he gave the castle to Tokugawa at Koshu Battle.

Nobutada received the stamp from Nobunaga, and protected himself. At the sameyear, Oda Nobunaga killed himself due to [Akechi Mitsuhide]’s rebellion. Nobutada was killed on the way back to his country.

After Nobutada died, [Anayama Nobuharu] inherited and he was protected by Ieyasu. However he died at a very young age and Mr. Anayama was destroyed. Along with Mr. Anayama, Ejiri Castle also became abandoned. Nowadays, [Shizuoka Shimizu Ejiri Primary School] is built on the current castle ruins, and it is residential area near by. The castle remainings have nothing left.

[Address,access]
〒424-0818 14-63 Ejiri Town, Shimizu District, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Province

[Map]

[Description]
Numazu Castle is a flatland castle located in Ote Town, Numazu City, Shizuoka Province.
Tensho 7 year (1579), in order to strengthen the defend from Mr. Hojo, [Takeda Katsunori] built Sanmaibashi Catle.

At the same year, when Takeda and Uesugi signed alliance, the threat from the North was less, [Kosaka Masamoto] was appointed as the castle owner of Sanmaibashi Castle. In February Tensho 10 year (1582), Oda and Tokugawa joint army started attacking Koshu, and Tokura Castle of Izu fell down, continuously, Mr. Hojo advanced to Sanmaibashi Castle and Masamoto escapted to Kaizu Castle.

Tokugawa entered Sanmaibashi Castle and appointed Matsudaira Tadatsugu as the castle officer. Keicho 6 year (1601), [Oukubo Tadasuke] was the castle owner. Keicho 18 year (1613), when Tasasuke died, there was no one to inherit therefore Mr. Oukubo was destroyed. Keicho 19 year (1614), Sanmaibashi Castle became abandoned.

Anei 6 year (1777), Mizuno Tadatomo was given Numazu, and Numazu Castle was built on the site of [Sanmaibashi Castle]. Numazu Castle is a flatland-mountain castle. Honmaru, Ninomaru and Sannomaru were also built.

After that, this area was ruled by Mr. Mizuno for 8 generations until the end of Shogunate.

Numazu Castle was damaged in Meiji 4 year. Central Park is built on the current castle ruins but castle remainings have nothing left. Nowadays, [Numazu Castle Honmaru Site] monument is built on Honmaru trace.

[Address,access]
〒410-0801 4-3 Ote Town, Numazu City, Shizuoka Province

[Map]

[Explanation]
Kanie Castle is the medieval castle on the plains that was present in Kanie town, Aichi Prefecture Kaifu District. It was said that Houjou Tokitou had built a castle in the Era of Eikyou, and in the Sengoku Era, there were three Inner citadels, outer citadels and 3 district outside of the castle, large field, the lower market and Maeda’s three castles.

It was captured by Hirotada Matsudaira (father of Tokugawa Ieyasu) of the Imagawa side in the first year of Kouji (1555), and then takes a position of confrontation with Oda together with Nagashima castle owner “Tomosada Hattori”. Eiroku 10th year (1567), Kanie castle that was lost by Oda family’s Kazumasu Takigawa was rebuilt, it will be the base for the subsequent Northern Ise promotion and Nagashima Ichimoto Ikki suppression. Nagashima castle owner Tomosada Hattori will be expelled by the Kazumasu based on this place, then Nagashima castle will also belong Kazumasu.

Tensho 11th year (1583), Kazumasa is defeated by Hashiba Hideyoshi after “Shizugatake fight”, vassals of Nobukatsu Oda, Masakatsu Sakuma became the castle owner. In the “Kanie Castle Battle” in the battle of Komaki and Nagakute in Tensho 12th year (1584), even though it was captured by the Kazumasu which became Hideyoshi’s, it was surrounded by the army of Ieyasu Tokugawa and Nobukatsu Oda, on top of being confined, surrendered after half a month.

Tensho 13th year (1585), Kanie castle was destroyed by Tensho Earthquake. Currently there are stone monuments of the castle ruins and remains of the wells in the inner citadel of the residential area.

[Address,access]
Kanie Town Castle 1 Aichi Prefecture

[Map]

[Explanation]
Tsu castle is a lineage castle in Tsu city, Mie prefecture.
When Kitabatake family was the castle owner, it was called “AnoTsu castle (That Tsu castle)”.

The castle is located in the center of Tsu city, where it is sandwiched between the Anou river in the north and the Iwata river in the south, and made them a natural outer moat. The name of Tsu city in this era was Ano Tsu (That Tsu), which was the political economic center of Ise from the Heian period. It was called Anotsu castle from this.

The origin of Tsu castle begins with a small-scale Anotsu established in Ano and Iwata river delta in the long period of Sengoku Era, by Nagano’s family “Hosono Fujiatsu”. After that, it continued as a castle reigned by Nagano of Kitabatake family of Ise country.

Eiroku 11th year (1568), Oda Nobunaga’s invasion of Ise Anotsu castle confine itself and surrenders the last, and Oda sweeping head (Tsuda Ichiyasu) enters. In the following year, Nobunaga’s younger brother ‘Oda Nobuka’ came in. The Nobuka expanded the castle, expanded stone wall, made a moat around, and maintained Inner citadel, Outer citadel and outermost region of the castle. And in the 5th year of Tensho (1577), the five main watchtowers and small towers were completed.

Bunroku 3rd year (1594), In the era of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the shrine was transferred to the Tanba’s country Kashiwabara to honor Hideyoshi’s life, instead Hideyoshi’s vassal “Tomita Ippaku” was given 50,000 Jewels and entered the castle. Nobutaka, a child of Tomita Ippaku, was attacked by the East Army in the battle of Sekigahara in the 5th year of Keicho (1600), by armies of Mouri Hidemoto, Chousakabe Morichika of the West, the army of about 30,000 soldiers attacked the castle. Nobutaka Army summoned 1,300 people and was forced to struggle because it was inferior, burning down most of the buildings in the castle.

And after the fierce battle, it became a fortress by mediation of a holy men who abstain from meat and cooked food. However, due to this fierce battle, they received an increase of 20,000 rocks from Ieyasu Tokugawa after the war. Keicho 13th year (1608), Nobutaka was transferred to Iyo Uwajima Castle, and in exchange Toudou Takatora from Iyoimabari Clan entered in Ise, Iga 220,000 Jewels.

※It is said that he appointed a Takatora as a suppression of Toyotomi Hideyori of Osaka Castle.

Takatora began a major refurbishment of the castle and transformed it into a castle of outline style, and improved the castle town. Following the fight of Osaka’s group, the Todo family became a major name of 323,000 Jewels, receiving 50,000 Jewels each year in the first year of Ganwa (1615) and Ganwa 3rd year (1617).

The castle town of Tsu prospered as a town for the worship of Ise Shrine throughout the Edo period. After that, until the Meiji Restoration it was Todo’s residence.

In Meiji Era 4th year (1871), it was abandoned by the abolished clan, and after that the structure was destroyed. After that, the Japanese garden was maintained at “Inner citadel ruins” as “castle park”, and in Shouwa 33rd Era (1958), the Northeast tower was restored. At the entrance of the Japanese garden of inner citadel, currently the entrance gate of the domestic archeological gate in the clan school remains transplanted.

[Address,access]
Nishi Marunou city Tsu, Mie Prefecture 514-0035

[Tsugi Map]

[Explanation]
Tobu Castle is the sea castle that is present in Toba City Mie prefecture now. It was a castle specialized for the military and was also called “Toba’s floating fortress” because the major gate protruded towards the sea side.

Originally projected to Toba Bay there was the medieval and Tachibana’s residence. In the country of Shima during the Sengoku Era, although there were several clans, Shima prefecture was unified by “Kuki Yoshitaka”, which was backed by the power of Oda Nobunaga. Bunroku 3rd year (1594), When the era of Toyotomi Hideyoshi came, Yoshitaka built Toba castle at the site of Mr. Tachibana’s residence. Toba castle ruins are the short hill behind the present Toba Aquarium.

The castle owner of Toba castle in the Edo period changed swiftly. Kuki family, Naito family, Tenryou Doi family, Ougyuu (Matsudaira) family, Itakura family, Toda (Matsudaira), Kyouho went to Karasuyama from Country of Sa clan and bought it from them for 30,000 Jewels, the lordship was finally settled. After that, Inagaki is approaching the end of the Tokugawa period.

During the battle of Toba and Fushimi clan soldiers participated in battle as shogunate army, Daimyou Inagaki Nagiyuki was during Edo theme, the possibility of subjugation by the new government army emerges, but it was dismissed for the exclusion of the Daimyou Osayuki’s Vassal and the permanent imprisonment work of the commanding officer and others, and 15,000 warrant funds.

In Meiji Era 4th year (1871), the Toba clan became the abolished clan and became Toba prefecture, and finally it will be transferred to Mie prefecture. In Shouwa 40th year (1965) December, it is designated as Mie prefecture historic site.

At the Toba City Library of Mie Prefecture in Heisei Era 25th year (2013), it turned out that an old document written with specific plan of Castle tower was kept. According to the old document, Toba castle was found to have been a Castle tower establishment.

[Address,access]
Mie Prefecture Toba City 3-1 Toba

[Map]

[Explanation]
Azaka Castle is a castle that exist in the current Mie Prefecture Matsusaka city Osaka Town.

In the second year of Kemmu (1335), “Kitabatake Chikafusa” entered Ise country with three of his sons Akiie, Akinobu and Akiyoshi. Azaka Castle is one of the castle he noticed.

Castle ruins consist of the southern and northern parts, the southern part was called Hakumai castle and the northern part was called shiinoki castle. According to Oda Nobunaga’s Ise capture plan, it was Kinoshita Toukichoro (Toyotomi Hideyoshi) who received an attack order. And castle fell. Due to the falling of Azaka Castle, the crisis came close to ‘Anotsu Castle’ and ‘Okawa castle’ which was also said be the headquarters of the Kitabata family.

In fact, both castles have fallen away after this. In Shouwa 57th year (1982), Azaka Castle Ruins was designated as a national historic site.

[Address, Access]
Mie Prefecture Matsusaka city Osaka Town Musume Mountain

[Map]

[Description]
Kano Castle was built after Hidenobu Oda surrendered Gifu Castle prior to the battle of Sekigahara. Ieyasu Tokugawa wanted to preserve the resources of Mino, therefore placed only ministers with little power.

Following this trend, Gifu Castle was demolished; it’s remaining was used to build Kano Castle. The first person to rule this area was Ieyasu Tokugawa’s son, Nobumasa Okuhira.

Okubo clan, Toda clan, Ando clan took control of the castle, but Nagai clan was the last clan before Meiji Restoration. Today, only some parts of stone walls and moats can be seen in Kanou Park today.

[Address,access]
Kano Marunouchi Gifu-shi, Gifu 500-8485

[Map]

[Description]
Sunpu Castle built in Muromachi era when Imagawa clan took over the land of Suruga. After Imagawa clan became a Sengoku Daimyo from Shugo Daimyo, head of clan, Yoshimoto Imagawa was slain by Nobunaga Oda’s surprise attack (Battle of Okehazama).

His successor Ujizane Imagawa did not take revenge or control his ministers; making him a good prey for Shingen Takeda and Ieyasu Tokugawa. Ujizane never appeared in history after fleeing to Houjyo clan.

Started as just allies, Ieyasu Tokugawa was becoming one of advisors for Nobunaga. Ieyasu moved his base to Sunpu Castle after given control of Suruga and improved infrastructure of cities around the castle.

But after Hideyoshi Toyotomi took control of Japan, he was forced to move to Edo with an order to rule the Kanto region of today, which belonged to Hojo clan.

Ieyasu stayed in Sunpu Castle after retirement, but Tadanaga Tokugawa, brother of 3rd general Iemitsu ruled the area after Ieyasu’s death. Tadanaga could not give up his ambitions to become a shogun, and was forced to suicide in the end.

Sunpu Castle changed its owner several times till Meiji Restoration. Sunpu Castle in Suruga was the area given to Tokugawa clan by new government force after giving up Edo Castle.

[Address,access]

Sunpu Park, 1-1 Ooi-ku Shizuoka-Shi, Shizuoka 420-0855

[Map]

[Description]
Noda Castle is located in Shinshiro, Aichi and was built in early Sengoku era by Suganuma. It was known for its stellar defense which came from its terrain.
Sadamitsu Suganuma used to serve for Imagawa clan but left after the battle of Okehazama. They were forced to flee from the castle after being attacked by Imagawa clan, but successfully gained back control after a night attack.

They got in line after Motoyasu Matsudaira (Ieyasu Tokugawa) took control of Miyoshi. In 1571, Shingen Takeda started making his way for Kyoto and Miyoshi, Masakage Yamagata’s special force started making their way for Noda Castle.

Sadamitsu surrendered after getting cut off water and retreated to Hamamatsu Castle, Ieyasu’s base. He followed Ieyasu after capital was moved to the west, but his successor Terumasa Ikeda abandoned and ultimately destroyed the castle.

During the siege of Noda Caste, there’s a myth that Takeda was sniped when he came out to hear the war horn from the castle. According to Suganuma’s sources, it states Takeda’s troops became boisterous, but did not specifically say Takeda was hit.

[Address,access]
Toyoshima Honjyo, Shinshiro-Shi, Aichi, 441-1345

[Map]

[Description]
Komikiyama Castle is a castle where Nobunaga Oda used as a base. After defeating Yoshimoto Imagawa of the west, Nobunaga joined forces with Motoyasu Matsudaira and started advancing east.

First, Nobunaga decided to conquer the land of Mino. Nobunaga moved his main base to Kiyosu Castle from Nagoya Castle, and ended up in Komakiyama Castle to attack Saito clan (Tatsuoki Saito) in Minou.

The battle went on for 5 years, and finally it because Nobunaga’s in 1567 when the top three generals of Mino (Ittetsu Inaba, Morinari Andoh, and Bokuzen Ujijie) betrayed.

Successfully conquering Mino, Komakiyama Castle was abandoned after Nobunaga moved his main base to Inabayama, which later became Gifu Castle.

[Address,access]
Komakiyama, Horinouchi Icchoume, Komaki-shi, Aichi 485-0046

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[Description]
Ohkawachi Castle is a mountain castle located in Matsuzaka, Mie. City Councilman Kitabatake ruled the land till beginning of Sengoku era.

However, neighboring Nobunaga Oda decided to make Saito from Mino and Kitabatake from Ise his next target after conquering Owari. Oda placed Ichimasu Takigawa in charge of northern Ise and marched through the area.

After taking over the northern Ise, Nobunaga tried to take control of all Ise. Tomonori Kitabatake and his son-in-law Tomofusa was sieged in Okawachi Castle. The battle ended after accepting Nobukatsu, Nobunaga’s second son, into the family.

This was equivalent to surrendering. Okawachi Castle was abandoned after Nobukatsu Oda. Kitabatake changed Ise’s main castle to Tamaru castle.

[Address,access]
Okawachi, Matsuzaka-shi, Mie 515-1105

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[Description]
Hamamatsu Castle was a flatland castle located in Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka.
The original chief of the castle was the Itao clan who worked for Yoshimoto Imagawa as his minister. The castle was called Hikuma Castle during this period.

After the death of Yoshimoto Imagawa at the Battle of Okehazama, Tsuratatsu Itao served for Ujizane Imagawa, who succeeded Yoshimoto. Tsuratatsu was killed for being suspected that he would betray the Imagawa clan. This incident divided Itao clan between Tokugawa side and Imagawa side.

Taking advantage of this instability within Ito clan, Ieyasu took over Hamamatsu Castle without trouble. Ieyasu moved into this castle with his intention to conquer the east, repaired the building, and changed its name to Hamamatsu Castle from Hikuma Castle.

In 1573, Shingen won over numbers of Tokugawa castles in Totoumi, but didn’t even paid attention to Hamamatsu Castle. That was a Shingen’s strategy to provoke Ieyasu.

Ieyasu fell for Shingen’s trick without the second thought, and it led to the Battle of Mikatagahara.

Ieyasu surrendered at the battle due to the difference in the number of Takeda and Tokugawa forces. Ieyasu himself went back to Hamamatsu Castle with a few ministers, and prepared for a siege. The Shingen force, however, passed by Hamamatsu Castle and marched forward to the west. On his mission, Shingen passed away from an illness. After Shingen’s death, Ieyasu reclaimed his lost lands and castles and established himself as a ruler of Totoumi.

At Meiji Restoration, Hamamatsu Castle was abandoned and destroyed. The castle ruin was restored as Hamatsu Castle Park in 1950, and a restored concrete castle tower was built in 1958. The next year in 1959, Hamamatsu Castle was chosen for a historic site of Hamamatsu-shi.

[Address,access]
100-2 Motoshiro-cho Naka-ku Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka 430-0946

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