Kubota Castle

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Kubota17.jpg

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
  • Map
  • Detailed depiction of the Honmaru Bailey and palace
  • 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
Nearby Samurai Homes
2.33
(12 votes)
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avatar

ARTShogun

38 months ago
Score 0++

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

Also, did Kakunodate get a structure? : o
avatar

FurinkazanDaimyo

107 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.