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Guide to Japanese Castles

Tsutsujigasaki Palace

躑躅が崎館

Tsutsujigasaki moat
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Alternate Name Takedashi-yakata
Founder Takeda Nobutora
Year 1519
Type Flatland
Condition Ruins
Admin's Rating ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Historical Site National Historic Site
Historical Value Top 100 Castles
Location Kofu City, Yamanashi Pref.
Map Google Map
Access 15 minutes bus ride from Kofu Station (Chuo Line)
Website Takeda Shrine
Visited November 15, 2003
Notes Currently, the grounds of this former estate are mostly occupied by the Takeda Shrine. If you are in Kofu and visit the site of <a href="kofu.html">Kofu Castle</a>, you might as well visit the Takeda Shrine and these ruins as well.
History

Founded in 1519, this was the home and center of power for three generations of the Takeda (Nobutora, Shingen, and Katsuyori). The Takeda reached their pinnacle under Shingen who actually participated in a revolution that overthrew his father and sent him into exile when he found out that Nobutora was going to make Shingen's brother Nobushige his heir. Shingen is made famous in an old poem that claims "men are your castle, men are your castle walls, men are your moats." This relates the emphasis that Shingen put in his people and during his rein he didn't build any castles beyond the fortification at Tsutsujigasaki.

The picture above is taken from the corner of Nishi Kuruwa (west bailey) looking across the moat of the main compound.

You'll notice this isn't called a castle here. It's not called a castle in Japanese either. It's really just a huge heavily fortified mansion or estate. For the time period in which it was originally built it would have surely been an impressive structure.
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Viewer Comments

(5) | Post Comment
  • Mizuki313    February 04, 2010 at 11:32 AM
    U guys are the only one with good info on Tsutsujigasaki castle.. :D Thank you so much Origato!
  • Mizuki313    February 04, 2010 at 10:56 AM
    Omg I think i kno u Sakura 000 in real life..... Orange hair i think reeely tall.. Ya well this REALLY helped me with a project thats due tommorow.. So thank u soo much
  • furinkazan    August 04, 2009 at 12:20 AM
    The Takedajinja is worth to visit. If you're looking for a castle here, you'll be disappointed. There is a little museum next to the shrine, very rewarding a visit. In the museum there is an original Furinkazan-flag. The site is about 4km from the Kofu station. If you're a Takeda Shingen-fan, like myself, you will find a lot of stuff in a shop just before entering the precincts of the shrine.
  • Sakura 000    February 06, 2008 at 08:18 PM
    Still helping with the research. Arigato (don't know how to spell it). If anyone has anymore info on Tsutsujigasaki Palace, please contact before 2/13/08. Thank you!!!
  • Sakura 000    February 06, 2008 at 07:02 AM
    This information has really helped me with my Tsutsujigasaki Castle research for my class report. Thank you for the information.